The Last Temptation of Mankind?
One of my professional interests is in Artificial Intelligence - AI. I think I've had an interest in the simulation of human personality by software for as long as I've been interested in programming…
Tagged: software-development
The PAYG Laptop?
You write one article about Appliance Computing and the following morning this BBC story pops up - Laptop Launched to aid computer novices'. The 'Alex', a Linux based laptop, is aimed at people who'r…
The Appliance Computer?
Well, the fuss over the launch of the iPad has died down somewhat - it wasn't the Second Coming or the Rapture, the world didn't suddenly turn Rainbow coloured (not for me. anyway) and the Apple Fans …
UK Government Data Release - much ado about nothing?
Back in January the UK Government opened a web site upthat was described as "a one-stop shop for developers hoping to find inventive new ways of using government data". The site, http://data.gov.uk/…
Google to phase out IE6 support - first shots in their war for browser dominance?
I really dislike IE6. I hate having to support it for some of my clients, and really wish they could work out how to convince their customers to upgrade. But, my clients are real world guys; they de…
Innovative is not the same as useful
I recently found this on my Twitterfeed: @jakebrewer: Yes! Note from newly devised Hippocratic oath for Gov 2.0 apps: "Don't confuse novelty with usefulness." It is so true - and that comes from some…
iPad - third way or solution looking for a problem?
Well, I guess that as someone with technical credentials I should comment on the unveiling of Apple's new tablet machine, the iPad. The first thing I will say is that I'm not an Apple fanboi, and so …
Web 2.0 Jumps the Shark
There is a wonderful phrase in film and TV script writing -'to jump the shark'. It's that point in the history of a TV series where the scripts veer off in to the surreal or when characters suddenly …
Iframes in phpBB
I am currently tinkering with a phpBB3 installation for a forum I ran until the summer of this year – Coffeehouse Chat. I shut the site down in the summer, but am now contemplating opening it up again…
WPMU Installation to support sub-domain blogs
I'm currently renovating a site of mine -Coffeehouse Chat- with a possible view to re-opening the Forum side of it with new and improved features - including better integration with Social Media and U…