So in computer science we’re in the business of formalising this how-to, imperative knowledge. How to do stuff. And the real issues of computer science… Read More »The Wizards (2): Harold Abelson on controlling complexity and real vs idealised systems
“This problem can’t be solved with technology.” In one sense, there are lots of problems that aren’t amenable to technological solutions – particularly problems caused… Read More »Technological Solutions
I had no idea that absolutely everything would be this complicated and take this long.
Does Not Compute These pairs have been on my mind recently. Some are ridiculous, others productive only in tension. Technology is killing us | Technology… Read More »Binary Oppositions
It can be helpful to think of your project or organisation as a black box – not a flight data recorder, but as something that… Read More »Black boxes
Great! Was it any good? What are you going to do to make your best get better? This might be about: Improving concrete skills Working… Read More »“I did my best.”
A good knot: Solves a problem Is easy to remember Is easy to tie Is easy to check Is strong (causes as little reduction in… Read More »Knotty problems
Covid-19 testing has been a mixed bag: Singapore and Korea seem to have been able to get on top of things quickly, while the UK… Read More »The onion strikes back: Maggie Koerth on the nested problems of Covid-19 testing
An ideology of “everyone for himself” will not work when the health of each of us depends so unavoidably on the health of all of… Read More »Gordon Brown: All for one
This is a nice illustration of a set of nested problems (a.k.a. “The Onion“) in development from Bill and Melinda Gates’ philanthropic work. Often –… Read More »Bill Gates’ onion