Nathan Taylor

Multiple TV remotes showcase the evils of complexity. Smart TVs just make it worse.

As always, TVs were a big part of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). And as expected, Smart TVs had a hard sell. But a Smart TV is the last thing a normal human being needs. I’ve written about TV before, but inspired by a recent Ben Thompson post on the costs of complexity, want to… Continue reading Multiple TV remotes showcase the evils of complexity. Smart TVs just make it worse.

Mobile Telecoms. Not just big. Really really big.

In keeping with my new year’s resolution/prediction to avoid publishing longer articles until they’re fully baked, this first post of the new year won’t be the (unfinished) article I’m working on. Instead, it’s links and commentary to other people’s work. If you follow tech, you’ve already seen everything below. But this blog has a futurist,… Continue reading Mobile Telecoms. Not just big. Really really big.

10 Praxtime predictions for 2014

I’ve always had a soft spot for year end predictions. Especially from people foolish enough to grade their previous year’s “claim chowder“. Which I did last week (7 out of 10). And fun, falsifiable and interesting beats vague and boring. So I’ll avoid predicting that, you know, this whole mobile tech thing could get kinda… Continue reading 10 Praxtime predictions for 2014

Grading last year’s predictions for 2013 (my 2014 predictions coming next week)

Last December I posted “I’ve always had a soft spot for year end predictions, even though they usually turn out to be wrong.” Then added, “if I’m still blogging in December 2013 I’ll scorecard these then.” So the time has come.

Average is Over could use more focus on the Zero Marginal Cost Economics of software

Tyler Cowen’s excellent and widely discussed Average is Over argues computers will accelerate our existing trend toward a more stratified society. People adept at teaming up with computers will get richer, while those who aren’t will get left behind. Hence the title. Average is Over. What I found most striking was Cowen’s causal mechanism. He argues… Continue reading Average is Over could use more focus on the Zero Marginal Cost Economics of software

The Reproducibility Crisis in Science. Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love nukes with a side of bacon.

On the left, Peter Sellers from the classic cold war satire “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb“. On the right, a side order of bacon. Here’s how I learned to love them both.

Coal is so bad it makes fracking good

Support is roughly split for hydraulic fracking, the process of extracting shale gas using chemically treated pressurized water. A recent United States poll shows 45% support, 41% don’t support, and the rest don’t know what it is. But of course that same poll shows fracking support is highly polarized, with Republicans supporting 71%/20% and Democrats against 22%/60%. Since… Continue reading Coal is so bad it makes fracking good

Avoiding “Sagan Syndrome.” Why Astronomers and Journalists should pay heed to Biologists about ET.

A new paper using data from NASA’s Kepler telescope came out recently, estimating that 22% of Sun-like stars harbor Earth-sized planets. This is a big increase over previous estimates. It’s very cool work. Love it. But the news spin was predictable:

Area man reports “I’m in a promising local blog.” Which is why Twitter needs Pandora style timelines.

Back in the day I would sometimes wear my Onion shirt above to gigs at the Cannery in Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The Cannery was always an easy outdoor gig. Tourists provided a self generated audience. They were happy to while away an afternoon having a few drinks, listening to live original music. Afterwards… Continue reading Area man reports “I’m in a promising local blog.” Which is why Twitter needs Pandora style timelines.

What Star Wars teaches us about being “wrong on the internet”

Recently my son came home from kindergarten and told me: “Dad. Darth Vader is Luke’s father.” He had never watched Star Wars. So I asked how he knew. He said “they told me on the playground.” Hmmm….on the playground. Then I recalled the only Giants baseball game we went to this summer had a Star… Continue reading What Star Wars teaches us about being “wrong on the internet”