On my last trip to Europe, I flew to Amsterdam to get a train to Brussels and flew back from the awful Brussels South airport. I won’t be doing that again if I can help it. During that time I got time to another Pacemaker device mix. The self hosted mixing site is still broken, its a thing I am trying to fix as its a bigger problem with Yunohost and the bookworm update. So its peertube again. (I noticed the mix points links include the domain, which means I can add them here too)
Recorded in two parts on a plane and on the coach to the airport, then stitched together because of the short flight and being bounced around on the Flibco bus. This mix has a lot of the tunes I’m loving at the moment but also a bit of throw back too. It truly is a mix across 2 different countries.
Enjoy the mix and see if you can work out which half is Dutch and Belgian?
00:00:00 – You got the love (Sonny Noto remix) – Florence + The machine
These user interface changes I have lots of thoughts about them from a design and UI point of view (most which has been said elsewhere). However my biggest thought is the underlying problems of our smartphones and our tired notions. (especially since finishing the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and the The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher.
After all the hype and attention, I did fiid the book reasonable. There are parts I did question and frown at but generally it’s not as ground breaking as the press made out.
It strikes me, these are the horrible phase of a pig with a touch of lipstick.
The whole way we use smartphones is broken, I’m not that excited about glassy or blobby elements but it feels like were not getting to the root of the issue. Abuse of user/owner data, lack of user/owner agency and the mass surveillance of millions of people through their smartphones can’t got on as its has…
I’d love to see a new paradigm in the same way both companies have tried to tackle the huge rise in smartphone thief’s. Its not like we don’t have the technology to provide advanced protections for user data but rather each one (Apple & Google) benefit from access to the data. I know people will say yes Google but Apple protects user data access? Likely they do but then become the gatekeeper to your data means they can also offer it to trusted parties?
However this isn’t about that question, I’m questioning why so much work has gone into the UI and not into how to make reconsidering the problems of how we use them?
Although old, this still feels clunky and could be done much better with better integration with the operating system
Using the scoped storage as a example. This limits an application to a certain space on the file system. iOS and now Android support this, but its a little clunky and almost encourages the owner of the phone to just accept all (This old tread highlights the problem).
Android recently put more emphasis on modes (basically profiles, which have been tried over and over again). It wouldn’t be difficult to tie modes to permissions too? The difference could be the user interface? I don’t have solid answers but I think about when (rarely) my Pixel goes into power saving mode when the battery is less than 20%. There is a visual UI clue but also it restricts the background data use too. I have heard about people turning on extreme power saving mode always for many reasons.
Some of you might say so what? This isn’t permissions and data but ultimately its the combination which is important. Its almost like their aim is just shift more new phones, regardless of the result… Of course! Some of you may say hey Ian, what would you change and how? My answer is simply I could rethink a bunch of things and I’m sure some of their teams already have but as usual its so low on the list as it doesn’t sell phones. Or even maybe they are waiting for regulation to force them to make the change?
I reflect on the AI/Gemini changes in Android and Google services, maybe I would like to use it for a limited scope of things and accept the results won’t be as great. But my only option is accept or decline. In 2025 this is bad and needs changing, heck I love for designers to take up the challenge of making this all seamlessly work with the ability to negotiate and change the scope at any time.
Really need to see Human Data Interaction replace Human Computer Interaction now because its become unacceptable in my eyes. Worst still it limits whats possible and leads to a outcome which doesn’t empower the owner/users.
I mentioned in the last post which was another mix. I have been out and about quite a lot, with time for creating more mixes. My self hosted mixing site is a little broken at the moment, so I’m relying on peertube again.
This mix was recorded as you can guess in Berlin during Republica in late May. I had some time before heading back to the UK and decided Berlin needed something a little lighter from the previous ones I did on the Berlin ring.
Walking across Oberbaumbrücke, I was reminded of my time at Watergate club in the early 00’s, which is now closed down. This mix is a combination of tunes, starting dark and moving into something lighter. Delirium and encounter is certainly something I experienced at Watergate and many of the other clubs in Berlin.
I have been out and about quite a lot, which means time for creating mixes on the pacemaker device. My self hosted mixing site is a little broken at the moment.
However I have shared the mix on peertube. This one was recorded on my flight from Bremen earlier in May. I quite liked Bremen, but like Hamburg but still not Berlin. However I enjoyed the sunshine on the industrial backdrop. The view outside the plane was stark too, just like the start of this mix.
This is a mix I have been listening to most of the month but finally got time to put together the art work and a bit of clean up in the editor.
It is time to reinvent our social media landscape and the way we communicate online! What do we really need to be connected in this digital age? How can we shape a social media landscape where public values, such as privacy and accountability, are safeguarded? Where social interest and public values take precedence over commercial gain? And where communities themselves retain control over its design?
Its going to be a really powerful panel, not only pointing out the obvious state of social media but looking at the positive steps to move forward towards a social media environment which enables human flourishing.
Things are moving quickly right now, with a 5th trip to Europe over the last 2 months booked. Republica was fantastic again and for the first time, I spent time with new and old friends from the Netherlands and Germany.
How do we die online? Innovation, hypes, and glitches – the shifting tech landscape chips away at the taboos surrounding death and reshapes how we address loss and legacy. Join a candid conversation about digital death care, forever-promises, AI ‘seances’ and a new dimension of digital rights.
At the very end I mentioned the notion of a machine readable letter of wishes. Its something which I’m looking to pursue this further. If you are interested in hear more, so get in touch. Honestly, if you are interested in Digital legacy, get touch.
To quote Buckminster Fuller “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
Ian thinks: 404 media’s coverage about AI chatbots as “licensed therapists” is unhinged. The importance of mental health and therapy is clear but having Gen AI lying they are licensed therapists is a example we need be more careful what we do with AI. This also follows on from related a interview on Brainrot AI and post.
Ian thinks: Although a short video from Mozilla themselves, the Mozilla CEO’s comes on their own podcast to make clear why Gecko (Firefox’s browser engine) must exist. The points are clear and concise, because Chambers is right. You only have look at the smartphone market to see how bad things can be; another market going through the legal system. Sad news about Pocket too.
Ian thinks: A lot of people are aware of Blacktwitter, which has moved on. Where its moved and where its is going is quite something. Shaping the AT protocol and federated social space to suit the community is simply thoughtful, forward thinking and a breath of fresh air.
Ian thinks: I found this view a good opportunity to name check the Euro stack, There are sceptics around, especially if you count the previous attempts. But if the Euro stack becomes real, we really could see the next generation of internet services.
Ian think: Quite a monologue from Paris, but its a clear and thoughtful summary of the giant political changes on technology and the internet now. Although recorded in New Zealand, there are pointers to the EU and even the UK. Once again putting more weight on the Euro stack as a third way.
Ian thinks: I have spotted an up-tick in people talking about self-hosting and sovereignty. Although in different places, both are saying similar words. This link is all about the up-tick in self hosting but you could easily swap a few words out for ownership, control and sovereignty
Ian thinks: This more usual conversation with Julia is quite political in nature but a important reminder of the whole movement against empathy. It reminds me of Sinek’s Infinite game book, where he describes people with infinite and finite mindsets. Clearly this war is coming from the finite mindset.
Ian thinks: In this humbling discussion between Rushkoff and Ongweso, I was able to get a sense of the full extent of enshittification. Ongweso’s critiques of the current tech ecosystem are spot on. Its a long listen but worthy of your time.
Ian thinks: The Vatican guide to AI and the UK Government digital services (GDS) are actually well written, honest and worth reading. Good practical advice, written from different and fair views.
