Mixed Signals
Any sufficiently advanced information is indistinguishable from noise
Wednesday 6 June 2007, 9:54 PM
Nice things to think about
I've been out of the loop today, shooting the third Dialogue Box show with Charles. If you've been along for the ride of the first two, then good onya: we're feeling our way like explorers hacking our way through uncharted jungle, even if it means slapping away the mosquitoes and burning off the leeches. Much more fun than a pre-planned package tour, isn't it?
Show 3 is going to be different, and not just because it's shorter, snappier and much more potato-centric. What has the humble baked potato got to do with business IT? That would be telling... and we tell. Watch that space.
Meanwhile, Intel has been playing a straight bat over the USB key business. I got a call first thing this morning from a chap deep within the organisation, who said "Don't worry about the spyware on the key - it's the Polonium-210 in the ice cream that matters". After a jolly talk about decay chains and alpha emitters, he then passed on the name of the company that had supplied Intel with the keys - and so the research continues.
But I promised nice things to think about. If you're not already a fan, then check out John Battelle's Searchblog. After a day stuck in the studio, I have nothing but praise for a place that not only points me at some of the sanest discussions about Google Street View available - Boing Boing shows its class - but links to an exceptionally enjoyable clue on how the Web is becoming our default computing environment. Why are we worried about the details of Google's much-rumoured 'GoogleOS', when the operating system already matters less than tuppence to anyone who isn't writing code? The important thing is the user interface - and here's how Google is eerily mirroring Lisa - Apple's first steps on the way to Machood.
There are severe limits on how closely 2007's information environment parallels that of 1980, but humans haven't changed - and we still need an interface that's on our side. Without that, nothing's worth a candle.
Show 3 is going to be different, and not just because it's shorter, snappier and much more potato-centric. What has the humble baked potato got to do with business IT? That would be telling... and we tell. Watch that space.
Meanwhile, Intel has been playing a straight bat over the USB key business. I got a call first thing this morning from a chap deep within the organisation, who said "Don't worry about the spyware on the key - it's the Polonium-210 in the ice cream that matters". After a jolly talk about decay chains and alpha emitters, he then passed on the name of the company that had supplied Intel with the keys - and so the research continues.
But I promised nice things to think about. If you're not already a fan, then check out John Battelle's Searchblog. After a day stuck in the studio, I have nothing but praise for a place that not only points me at some of the sanest discussions about Google Street View available - Boing Boing shows its class - but links to an exceptionally enjoyable clue on how the Web is becoming our default computing environment. Why are we worried about the details of Google's much-rumoured 'GoogleOS', when the operating system already matters less than tuppence to anyone who isn't writing code? The important thing is the user interface - and here's how Google is eerily mirroring Lisa - Apple's first steps on the way to Machood.
There are severe limits on how closely 2007's information environment parallels that of 1980, but humans haven't changed - and we still need an interface that's on our side. Without that, nothing's worth a candle.
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