Modula

Three “laws” of prediction

Eero — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:38:54 +0000

When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is probably wrong.

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

by Arthur C. Clarke

Man & computer

Eero — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:39:21 +0000

The film Man & Computer, made in 1965 by IBM’s UK branch, provides a basic understanding of computer operations. A large portion of the film shows the ways in which a computer can be simulated by five people using the standard office equipment of the day.

Starting in the 1940s, IBM became a major producer of films used for sales, training, documenting business processes, entertaining at company functions, and educating the public. Several IBM films were made by respected filmmakers and sometimes featured well-known actors.

Back in business

Eero — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:29:53 +0000

We spent spent June on the road, taking an Eastern Europe tour. Pardon our break in posting.

Web 3

Eero — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:58:01 +0000

A story about the Semantic Web by Kate Ray.

Interviews with: Tim Berners-Lee, Clay Shirky, Chris Dixon, David Weinberger, Nova Spivack, Jason Shellen, Lee Feigenbaum, John Hebeler, Alon Halevy, David Karger, Abraham Bernstein

Apollo 11 Saturn V launch

Eero — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:57:41 +0000

This clip is raw from Camera E-8 on the launch umbilical tower/mobile launch program of Apollo 11, July 16, 1969. This is an HD transfer from the 16mm original.

The camera is running at 500 fps, making the total clip of over 8 minutes represent just 30 seconds of actual time. Narration is provided by Mark Gray, Executive Producer for Spacecraft Films.

Interlude

Eero — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:59:14 +0000

Chisu — Baden-Baden

Enjoy.

Pixels

Eero — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:04:36 +0000

New York invasion by 8-bits creatures by Patrick Jean.

Home

Eero — Sun, 09 May 2010 08:48:51 +0000

HOME a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Watch it at Youtube.

Evil interfaces?

Eero — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:01:50 +0000

A good interface is meant to help users achieve their goals as easily as possible. But an “evil” interface is meant to trick users into doing things they don’t want to — misdirection of browsing, forced viewing of advertisements, malware that masquerades as anti-virus software, and pre-checked checkboxes for unwanted “special offers”. Evil interfaces are seen virtually anywhere profit is at stake.

There’s no doubt that bad user-interfaces can come from good intentions. Design is difficult, and accidents do happen. But when an accident coincidentally bolsters a company’s business model at the expense of its users’ rights, it begins to look suspicious. And when similar accidents happen over and over again in the same company, around the same issues, it’s more than just coincidence. It’s a sign something’s seriously wrong.

Evil Interfaces: Violating the User by Gregory Conti. From TheLastHOPE/Talks.

A world without planes

Eero — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:26:49 +0000

Northern Europe, April 18, 2010 at 15:00.

A screen capture from flightradar24.com, which shows live airplane traffic from different parts around the world.