Month: August 2026

Machine readable wishes + Quantified Self = Digital legacy?

Machine readable wishes, with a picture of Ian Forrester on stage Text reads: Ian Forrester, founder of QS-Manchester back in the day, gave a fascinating talk a couple of weeks ago at EMF Camp on machine-readable wishes: applying the logic of automation rules to the question of what should happen to your personal data after you die. Ian’s talk made me think about my personal archives in a different way. He makes the case that a personal archive should contain executable instructions and provides an open-source framework to help you do this without entangling yourself even further in rent-seeking cloud services.The whole video (17.5 mins) is available on Peertube and now legacy media (Youtube). Small enough for a TED talk even…

I was reading through the Quantified Self newsletter and had a shock when I saw my talk about machine readable wishes from EMFCamp featured. I shared it on Linkedin quickly but not on my blog.

Ian Forrester, founder of QS-Manchester back in the day, gave a fascinating talk a couple of weeks ago at EMF Camp on machine-readable wishes: applying the logic of automation rules to the question of what should happen to your personal data after you die. Ian’s talk made me think about my personal archives in a different way. He makes the case that a personal archive should contain executable instructions and provides an open-source framework to help you do this without entangling yourself even further in rent-seeking cloud services.

I do think Gary, has the right idea. Machine readable wishes could be used to connect items and (for example) open source data sets for the public research. Or more realistically, create a custom last note to friends and family. Imagine leaving a beautiful infographic of the key moments in your life which were super meaningful to you. I am always reminded of Fabio who tracked all his conversations. Imagine if that conversation after the Quantified self was so impactful and then 40 years later you have a message reminding you how much it meant to the person who recently passed?

Ok bit far out or even creepy, but I was reminded of someone who helped me through my divorce without really knowing how impactful it was to me at the time. Sadly I think that person died.

I do have a markdown document of all the key moments in my life using the markwhen syntax. It wouldn’t take a lot to convert the document to something more readable then provide a few lines in my machine readable wishes to convert it into something beautiful to maybe part of the funeral booklet/order of service; if my executors allow it.

Public Service Internet monthly newsletter (Aug 2026)

Ecosystem of tree roots in a forest
Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay

We live in incredible times with such possibilities that is clear. Although its easily dismissed hearing how Meta’s Instagram approving illegal adverts, Claude AI chats appearing in public searches along many others and how did we all let one company break the internet?

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.“

You are seeing aspects of this with Google losing its appeal in the EU anti-trust android case. LG’s 32inch power friendly eink display and with the UK culture secretary leaving X.

Play has limits: The year of the Linux game machines

Ian thinks: Sony is well known for their stance on licencing not owning, recently making their platform even more painful to own. Micrcosft looks to follow suite too. Doubled with the huge costs of memory and console prices rising as discussed on tech won’t save us…Which begs the question, is the next year the year of the Linux game machine?

Libraries to the rescue

Ian thinks: When talking about public service, the importance of librarians is never forgotten. In this discussion with Paris Marx, a number of topics are covered including the notion of library values, algorithmic literacy and libraries as the grass-root resistance to AI.

Rushkoff’s history lesson for us all

Ian thinks: Rushkoff has a lot to say usually and although I don’t always agree. This reminder of history monologue, is so very fitting for where we are now and where we are heading if the status-quo isn’t challenged and changed. A stark warning from history.

Sovereignty: build ecosystems not monocultures

Ian thinks: As a advisory member of the Open Rights Group, I found this essay via a recent live cast about sovereignty. The essay connects and credits a lot of the key points mentioned over this newsletter including rewilding, climate collapse, and open ecosystems. Its needs more attention and I say it deserves it.

Setting light to your community

Ian thinks: I have always been a fan of bonfire, and seeing the direction they have taken the fediverse has been enlightening. This new announcement really cermets their aim to centre the community and their leaders. This is a shining example of the open social future with backbone. Why would deploy anything else?

Modular is the new under-rated metric?

Ian thinks: I usually ignore reviews of consumer technology but watching Marques Brownlee review the Framework 13 pro was enlightening. The key point of why I have included it is because Marques comes to the realisation the longevity of modularity is a feature which is unmeasurable and ignored in reviews

How dating data became a national security problem

Ian thinks: Data and data brokers is a huge problem which is causing too many headaches. In this vid/podcast from 404media, the data which is collected by apps is highlighted and in one case became a national security problem, and I could completely understand why. But you should listen to hear the whole story. Expect chills afterwards.

What are the facts and learnings in the OpenAI LLM cyberattack?

Ian thinks: There has been a lot of talk and disinformation about the Open AI LLM cyber attack on Hugging face. Well Simon Willison’s walk through does underline the lack of security from Open AI, the lack of cooperation and trust in the commercial AI space.

Explaining the AI bubble credit swaps

Ian thinks: This is likely the best and clearest explainer of what is happening with the AI bubble, in regards to the amount of debt which is growing for a number of the AI companies. Ed Zitron has a lot to add to this.

Wearables, making your doctor concerned

Ian thinks: I found this discussion via the quantified self newsletter, In the short video there is a number of questions about how useful user controlled/wearable data is for the medical industry. Its a long running challenge between data and insight.

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