Sadly this is based on a true (sic) story,
Aliens helped the progress of computing to our current point of robot and automation in preparation for their arrival, we are close to the next development of technology - portals.
A shocking opening sentence from an over paranoid human, decimated by the fiction of films and books?No I am talking about some revelled humans, some you will know and stand up their in history. Hubbard for his writing, Tesla for his science and Da Vinci for his visions, all greats but they have one thing in common - they all spoke to aliens. Remember Ron Hubbard, he put forward a religion to try and change the worlds attitude to aliens, that of Scientology. The theory is computers from their early days of Babbage and earlier have been using borrowed technology, how else did these pioneers invent and discover such advancements in human understanding?
Maybe scientology has been affecting us without anyone realising, maybe aliens have been implementing ideas without you thinking (sub-consciously). Many people have read science fiction, from Asimov and Clarke to K Dick and Adams, well maybe they were clues. Hitchiker was no fiction, it was a manual after all, they helped us understand what is it come, get your towels ready, cause i'm working on my babel fish.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
A normal day only a few years in the future
Imagine this, its just a few years from the present day, a day in your future?
You wake up to the sound of your favourite artist's latest track, set nice and low, then you realise its time to arise. On your side of the bed you are surrounded with images and messages on the walls and ceiling telling you to get up, get organised.
So up you get, you plug in your watch, put your glasses on, your ear phones, then you attach your exercise equipment and jolt your way to those perfect abs, quads and biceps. You walk to your kitchen which has already warmed up the coffee, spoke some breakfast choices to you and adjusted the room temperature despite the chill of winter setting in. You switch on your glasses (!) and your watch and listen to this mornings news from your favourite channels all compressed in to quick fire manageable sections.
You eat your breakfast while telling your watch to read your emails and stream video's you had saved the day before to your kitchen worktop. You reply to the odd email and tell it to delete the rest then ask what your agenda is for the day.
You set off out the door and sure enough your trusty reliable Prius is sat waiting to take you to today's meeting. In you get and make relevant phone calls, do a little studying on the people you are going to meet before your car drops you off at your destination and reminds you it will pick you up again later at the set time.
Refreshed and ready for work, time to crunch numbers and go about your daily business.
Is this the future you want, is this helpful? Do you want a robot to do everything for you, would you prefer not to make any choices, to sit there and bask in your gadgets all enabling you to do your job without going anywhere or learning anything? Do you believe the human race should be replaced with algorithms - since they are calculating all the choices in this technology. Maybe one day the likes Apple and Google will know you better than yourself???????
You wake up to the sound of your favourite artist's latest track, set nice and low, then you realise its time to arise. On your side of the bed you are surrounded with images and messages on the walls and ceiling telling you to get up, get organised.
So up you get, you plug in your watch, put your glasses on, your ear phones, then you attach your exercise equipment and jolt your way to those perfect abs, quads and biceps. You walk to your kitchen which has already warmed up the coffee, spoke some breakfast choices to you and adjusted the room temperature despite the chill of winter setting in. You switch on your glasses (!) and your watch and listen to this mornings news from your favourite channels all compressed in to quick fire manageable sections.
You eat your breakfast while telling your watch to read your emails and stream video's you had saved the day before to your kitchen worktop. You reply to the odd email and tell it to delete the rest then ask what your agenda is for the day.
You set off out the door and sure enough your trusty reliable Prius is sat waiting to take you to today's meeting. In you get and make relevant phone calls, do a little studying on the people you are going to meet before your car drops you off at your destination and reminds you it will pick you up again later at the set time.
Refreshed and ready for work, time to crunch numbers and go about your daily business.
Is this the future you want, is this helpful? Do you want a robot to do everything for you, would you prefer not to make any choices, to sit there and bask in your gadgets all enabling you to do your job without going anywhere or learning anything? Do you believe the human race should be replaced with algorithms - since they are calculating all the choices in this technology. Maybe one day the likes Apple and Google will know you better than yourself???????
Saturday, 5 January 2013
The year that was (2012)
Wow, what a year, this post is the first with a little more information on my life over the year that has just passed. A crazy year, perhaps the busiest, most rewarding and fruitful in my time...
It all started at the beginning of the year, I was struggling with university, after contemplating quitting or going part time to ease the burden. The burden of working, trying to be a father and a full time student, or more importantly trying to fulfil these things to my ability. But my ability was limited by time and time was affected by work and being a good father, the cracks took place, my work was chaotic and read badly. Sadly the effects of late nights, early mornings and long days caused my university work to suffer.
Towards the end of term my university life was aborted or halted to the arrival of my second daughter, finding the motivation after spending a couple of weeks with this new bundle was difficult, knowing I would soon have to concentrate and prepare for exams very quickly. But alas these shortcomings were overcome, with dedication came clarity, which paid off in my examinations, my dissertation and final assignments, which would become my best results! My daughter was a very good baby, smiled so much, every morning was rewarding in itself and she slept through from only a few months, a blessing indeed.
After many weeks anticipating results I looked over my web page in shock, I had actually achieved higher than I thought, obviously with my level of confidence I assumed it was a mistake. Truthfully I contacted friends to find out what there's said, could it be right, I was so happy for my friends, those that had worked got their rewards. The graduation was easier, having been there the year before, but this felt something more, having worked so hard, making sacrifices (especially monetary) and took some pictures with my fellow graduates. I also managed a quick talk with one of my peers and introduced them to my family, whom quickly realised what a nice gentleman he was and how he had helped me (he suggests nothing of the sort though and refutes he helped at all)!
The year was closing after spending endless nights writing blog entries, typing up covering letters, cv's and filing in application forms in the hope of finding new work. I had hit my stumbling block, work, because of university I had changed, I longed for change, for curiosity and stimulation (intellectual). My progress was slow, so so many chats to perspective recruiters, some great interviews, I was getting my interview style to a tea. I had limited experience for the jobs I applied for, but I had something to offer most others didn't have or wouldn't ever have, willingness. After working voluntary at some stage in all 3 years I had worked in the industry in the only means possible, after all I was only working 3 days a week in paid employment. This is the reason I believe I got interviews, who else had worked for the last 4 years on a 4 day week and then thought I will give up a further day and volunteer - and yes before you comment I had children and a mortgage and high petrol bill!
So there I was fretting over a great interview at university I recently attended before I got the ever so common sorry, though I admit they were ever so nice and urged me to try next time - it was just not my time. Luckily a position came up working in a school a bit further a field, but I felt terrible, full of cold and barely eating I went for it. I felt I pitched myself badly in a way but I got my points across and unbelievably I got the job, i was so shocked. The weirdest feeling, leaving a job after 20 years, what do you do, I had no experience of swapping jobs!
So I left my job and entered IT full time in the educational sector (at long last) and thoroughly enjoy the endeavour, the learning and frequent lack of knowledge I realise many people have, it wasn't just me after all! the job has meant diversity through learning web stuff (soon) to audio and visual work with stage lighting, school disco's and concerts.
The build up to Christmas was a very busy period for my new role, but I'm thankful for learning and pushing myself, I got my wish. I had a new career, I was getting challenged in many ways, I was working with intellectuals and I was now an experienced father of 2.
What a year, a degree, a child, a new job, and after all that time with my old job what did I feel after leaving you may ask? Well to be frank, I felt nothing, it was so odd, I assumed I may break down on the last day, but no, we didn't even go for a drink!
I believe now after years like this and learning in both education and parental speaking I have found my calling, I have arose from a slumber. I now embrace and look forward, whatever is in the future is out of my hands, but bring it on I say!
It all started at the beginning of the year, I was struggling with university, after contemplating quitting or going part time to ease the burden. The burden of working, trying to be a father and a full time student, or more importantly trying to fulfil these things to my ability. But my ability was limited by time and time was affected by work and being a good father, the cracks took place, my work was chaotic and read badly. Sadly the effects of late nights, early mornings and long days caused my university work to suffer.
Towards the end of term my university life was aborted or halted to the arrival of my second daughter, finding the motivation after spending a couple of weeks with this new bundle was difficult, knowing I would soon have to concentrate and prepare for exams very quickly. But alas these shortcomings were overcome, with dedication came clarity, which paid off in my examinations, my dissertation and final assignments, which would become my best results! My daughter was a very good baby, smiled so much, every morning was rewarding in itself and she slept through from only a few months, a blessing indeed.
After many weeks anticipating results I looked over my web page in shock, I had actually achieved higher than I thought, obviously with my level of confidence I assumed it was a mistake. Truthfully I contacted friends to find out what there's said, could it be right, I was so happy for my friends, those that had worked got their rewards. The graduation was easier, having been there the year before, but this felt something more, having worked so hard, making sacrifices (especially monetary) and took some pictures with my fellow graduates. I also managed a quick talk with one of my peers and introduced them to my family, whom quickly realised what a nice gentleman he was and how he had helped me (he suggests nothing of the sort though and refutes he helped at all)!
So there I was fretting over a great interview at university I recently attended before I got the ever so common sorry, though I admit they were ever so nice and urged me to try next time - it was just not my time. Luckily a position came up working in a school a bit further a field, but I felt terrible, full of cold and barely eating I went for it. I felt I pitched myself badly in a way but I got my points across and unbelievably I got the job, i was so shocked. The weirdest feeling, leaving a job after 20 years, what do you do, I had no experience of swapping jobs!
So I left my job and entered IT full time in the educational sector (at long last) and thoroughly enjoy the endeavour, the learning and frequent lack of knowledge I realise many people have, it wasn't just me after all! the job has meant diversity through learning web stuff (soon) to audio and visual work with stage lighting, school disco's and concerts.
The build up to Christmas was a very busy period for my new role, but I'm thankful for learning and pushing myself, I got my wish. I had a new career, I was getting challenged in many ways, I was working with intellectuals and I was now an experienced father of 2.
What a year, a degree, a child, a new job, and after all that time with my old job what did I feel after leaving you may ask? Well to be frank, I felt nothing, it was so odd, I assumed I may break down on the last day, but no, we didn't even go for a drink!
I believe now after years like this and learning in both education and parental speaking I have found my calling, I have arose from a slumber. I now embrace and look forward, whatever is in the future is out of my hands, but bring it on I say!
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Education or Vocation?
Many students face decisions in their life's, on what GCSE options they can take before there spiral to further and adult education. However we have come to a paradox in school education, where we either go back to history and copy the regime of GCE O'Levels. Despite clear evidence from our European neighbours that the route forward should be quite the opposite, where less testing and flexibility is the key to success.
So what is the right route, well maybe the students of today will not have an option, they cannot vote and their voices are relatively unheard and maybe their lack of education proves there knowledge of matters. But then again as a teenager why would you care, its one of the hardest times in your life, battling your parents, freedom, anger, sexuality and puberty.
What I notice from working in the industry is that education only works in one that - the teacher inspires and entertains the student, nothing else works. You can try and be tough or you can be relaxed but these will subsequently not provide the person you want to be or the person you want to employ. Students quickly tire of the monotony of education, the lack of hands on experience, sitting, listening, thinking of other things. So being tough is great but does it help all abilities, it may help the average student work, but what about those already gifted or those who struggle? Clearly choices would help students individualise their learning to their needs and interest, it is far more useful in life to do the things we enjoy and are good at. Some people are suited to the arts, of music or drama, some are scientific and become programmers, some are leaders, some are fighters, everyone has some talent and school should help you prepare for this. Whether this means BTEC's or something more in line with apprenticeships, I believe a change is required. These students need to learn using practical skills, tease their intellect, provide interaction, work with other students and peers, gain experience and more than anything work hard. You cannot possibly sit there, listen and take in everything everyday for all your school life, you will become bored, lose concentration, act up and even get in to trouble. Let the students get their hands dirty and learn real life skills, show them how you use things, then discuss why, or do this together.
So what am I rambling for, well I believe even after my academic experiment with university that a vocational education prepares you for the real world. The academic route provides an excellent experience that is not comparable to training and learning on the job. Take training over certification, take real life over theory, take a paid income over debt! I am not condoning everything should follow this advise, I more than anyone I know enjoyed my university experience and would have loved to have carried on further to a masters, but would I do this straight from school and college???
Their is a Chinese that goes "Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand." Makes you think????................
So what is the right route, well maybe the students of today will not have an option, they cannot vote and their voices are relatively unheard and maybe their lack of education proves there knowledge of matters. But then again as a teenager why would you care, its one of the hardest times in your life, battling your parents, freedom, anger, sexuality and puberty.
What I notice from working in the industry is that education only works in one that - the teacher inspires and entertains the student, nothing else works. You can try and be tough or you can be relaxed but these will subsequently not provide the person you want to be or the person you want to employ. Students quickly tire of the monotony of education, the lack of hands on experience, sitting, listening, thinking of other things. So being tough is great but does it help all abilities, it may help the average student work, but what about those already gifted or those who struggle? Clearly choices would help students individualise their learning to their needs and interest, it is far more useful in life to do the things we enjoy and are good at. Some people are suited to the arts, of music or drama, some are scientific and become programmers, some are leaders, some are fighters, everyone has some talent and school should help you prepare for this. Whether this means BTEC's or something more in line with apprenticeships, I believe a change is required. These students need to learn using practical skills, tease their intellect, provide interaction, work with other students and peers, gain experience and more than anything work hard. You cannot possibly sit there, listen and take in everything everyday for all your school life, you will become bored, lose concentration, act up and even get in to trouble. Let the students get their hands dirty and learn real life skills, show them how you use things, then discuss why, or do this together.
So what am I rambling for, well I believe even after my academic experiment with university that a vocational education prepares you for the real world. The academic route provides an excellent experience that is not comparable to training and learning on the job. Take training over certification, take real life over theory, take a paid income over debt! I am not condoning everything should follow this advise, I more than anyone I know enjoyed my university experience and would have loved to have carried on further to a masters, but would I do this straight from school and college???
Their is a Chinese that goes "Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand." Makes you think????................
Thursday, 4 October 2012
The future of the internet
Maybe like myself you have got used to your internet speed, maybe you are quite content, it works and you don't need any further improvements nor do you understand what this would achieve.Well 4g L.T.E. is coming to a city near you soon! This is great in two ways, firstly it means the government is expected to earn about £4billion in licensing, which is great for the state of this country. Maybe they took advice of Microsoft and Apple how to license off intangbile stuff, I mean they are licensing radiowaves, sounds weird to the layman, but if it helps the country so be it.
4g and you
The second reason is that finally our "modern" society are privileged enough to be receiving faster mobile broadband (4g) or L.T.E. as it's known. Though of course we are not the first, look at this article I read last year, 4g in Russia! Though I should not complain a couple of villages away from my home have only had broadband (ADSL) a few years and have been on dial up up until then! Also you must remember that the government promises fast broadband to all of the UK BY 2015 so you may have the option of mobile or land line broadband or both (for the greedy)!
To some of you this means nothing, but fast broadband is such a big deal to many people and businesses, that media companies can finally offer useful services to mobile people. With streaming becoming mainstream to many households you will finally be able to access everything everywhere (I don't work for orange) just like the slogan goes. For those unaware EE (everything everywhere) is the new trading style of Orange and the first to role this out around the major UK cities, which is great considering I just moved to the country!
Imagine your watching your favourite program or recording or a live event and someone says hey wana meet down the pub, well you can get your mobile out and watch it till you arrive at the destination. Or for those households that someone hoggs the tv, you will be able to watch something else on your phone, tablet or pc whilst your downloading your favourite legal music downloads, your kids are playing on the latest angry birds etc. It will also mean technology could change so that computers no longer need storage capabilities (cd drives/dvd drives/hard drives) so everything you ever do is in the cloud and accessible everywhere, but hey I expect we are going that way anyway.
I think the great thing about the potential of the technology is it will offer you choice, so for those who don't want landlines or move frequently, they can simply get a mobile contract that offers the benefit of quality internet where ever they go and not just one house in a street. My (business) thoughts are that you could get a mobile contract and share this connection around a local area and share the cost and speed, maybe something I could suggest and create my own start up.
Anyway, as the advert says, the future is bright, the future is orange?
4g and you
The second reason is that finally our "modern" society are privileged enough to be receiving faster mobile broadband (4g) or L.T.E. as it's known. Though of course we are not the first, look at this article I read last year, 4g in Russia! Though I should not complain a couple of villages away from my home have only had broadband (ADSL) a few years and have been on dial up up until then! Also you must remember that the government promises fast broadband to all of the UK BY 2015 so you may have the option of mobile or land line broadband or both (for the greedy)!
To some of you this means nothing, but fast broadband is such a big deal to many people and businesses, that media companies can finally offer useful services to mobile people. With streaming becoming mainstream to many households you will finally be able to access everything everywhere (I don't work for orange) just like the slogan goes. For those unaware EE (everything everywhere) is the new trading style of Orange and the first to role this out around the major UK cities, which is great considering I just moved to the country!
Imagine your watching your favourite program or recording or a live event and someone says hey wana meet down the pub, well you can get your mobile out and watch it till you arrive at the destination. Or for those households that someone hoggs the tv, you will be able to watch something else on your phone, tablet or pc whilst your downloading your favourite legal music downloads, your kids are playing on the latest angry birds etc. It will also mean technology could change so that computers no longer need storage capabilities (cd drives/dvd drives/hard drives) so everything you ever do is in the cloud and accessible everywhere, but hey I expect we are going that way anyway.
I think the great thing about the potential of the technology is it will offer you choice, so for those who don't want landlines or move frequently, they can simply get a mobile contract that offers the benefit of quality internet where ever they go and not just one house in a street. My (business) thoughts are that you could get a mobile contract and share this connection around a local area and share the cost and speed, maybe something I could suggest and create my own start up.
Anyway, as the advert says, the future is bright, the future is orange?
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Return of slavery?
Technology has certainly changed many peoples lives, whether this is for the good or bad of humanity, but along with this brought a whole new level of intelligence. Although this story relates to the ability of humans working algorithms, I am more referring to the level of autonomous systems or applications available, at the touch of a few key strokes.
Over the last few decades, only the educated scientist and geek could program his computer device to do things for him, this has radically changed over the last few years to the extent that we rely on computers and have no idea how to do things for ourselves. You can think back to simple things like passwords, years ago you had to remember your password otherwise you would be in trouble with your IT department, now you can choose "remember your password" on your browser.
Moving this level of intelligence forward there are tools available now to help you automate tasks, that can save you time and stop you from boring repetitive tasks, after all computers were invented to help humans. I draw your attention to ifttt.com, a truly useful and unique site that allows you to perform so many different tasks its unbelievable. You can automatically get it to email you, text you, search for you, grad RSS feeds, grab news, upload, download to many of the popular tools and social media sites you use. This may sound good, but think of the practicalities, if someone updates a web page it will trigger to send an email to you, wow, this saves time. How about downloading photo's from facebook when you get tagged, imagine how much time that costs you, looking through feeds! How about emailing or texting you today's weather forecast? Really the only limits are the sites they can work with and your imagination.
Then suddenly I read today about a similar service but this one is an (beta) app for Android (iOS in development) that uses trigger in the same way iftt.com does, so this could perform tasks for you on your phone while you drive or walk around or go for a jog. The product is called Atooma and looks nice and simple to use. All you have to do is think of what actions a phone can perform, text, telephone, record, speak and of course has built in GPS if enabled, so you only have to imagine how location could be used with events.
Taking an overall look at these facilities you can look forward to many more services to make your life easier, soon you may not need to do anything for yourself. With autonomous systems advancing maybe they will run your life, remind you to occasionally think, do your work for you, tell you the best response to immortal human questions. Hell, maybe they will learn enough to communicate with each other, so we no longer have to go out and work for our salary? So who will be the slave, us or machine?............... Times are changing, technology advancements will change history, excited?
Over the last few decades, only the educated scientist and geek could program his computer device to do things for him, this has radically changed over the last few years to the extent that we rely on computers and have no idea how to do things for ourselves. You can think back to simple things like passwords, years ago you had to remember your password otherwise you would be in trouble with your IT department, now you can choose "remember your password" on your browser.
Moving this level of intelligence forward there are tools available now to help you automate tasks, that can save you time and stop you from boring repetitive tasks, after all computers were invented to help humans. I draw your attention to ifttt.com, a truly useful and unique site that allows you to perform so many different tasks its unbelievable. You can automatically get it to email you, text you, search for you, grad RSS feeds, grab news, upload, download to many of the popular tools and social media sites you use. This may sound good, but think of the practicalities, if someone updates a web page it will trigger to send an email to you, wow, this saves time. How about downloading photo's from facebook when you get tagged, imagine how much time that costs you, looking through feeds! How about emailing or texting you today's weather forecast? Really the only limits are the sites they can work with and your imagination.
Then suddenly I read today about a similar service but this one is an (beta) app for Android (iOS in development) that uses trigger in the same way iftt.com does, so this could perform tasks for you on your phone while you drive or walk around or go for a jog. The product is called Atooma and looks nice and simple to use. All you have to do is think of what actions a phone can perform, text, telephone, record, speak and of course has built in GPS if enabled, so you only have to imagine how location could be used with events.
Taking an overall look at these facilities you can look forward to many more services to make your life easier, soon you may not need to do anything for yourself. With autonomous systems advancing maybe they will run your life, remind you to occasionally think, do your work for you, tell you the best response to immortal human questions. Hell, maybe they will learn enough to communicate with each other, so we no longer have to go out and work for our salary? So who will be the slave, us or machine?............... Times are changing, technology advancements will change history, excited?
Friday, 28 September 2012
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