On the subject of leaving books and records when one dies: a friend of ours left a huge collection of both when he died. His instructions to his (adult) kids, was to take what they wanted, then take the rest along to his wake. Everyone present was invited to take what they wished and leave a suitable donation to his chosen charity. Anything left afterwards went to charity shops. Accordingly, I have two CDs which remind me specifically and fondly of him any time I play them (or indeed, hear the sings on the radio). A lovely idea I thought, which I would intend to do myself (although I fear our son may keep all the vinyl, but that’s okay too).
1. No notifications. None, apart fom possible some important people you need to be in contact with.
2. No algorithmic feeds. These are where the addiction happens. If there's no way to avoid them, avoid the platform. Xitter still has the "Following" tab, it's fine, you just see people you follow. the "For You" tab is not for you.
3. Fuck apps, use websites. Apps are usually just the website with a slightly smother experience in exchange for enhanced tracking. If possible use websites not logged in.
4. Block ads and trackers. Obvs. Adguard on Android. Adguard DNS can help on Apple. uBlock on browsers.
These principles have kept my internet usable for 30 years. I think because I was an early user, before any of this awfulness, each step has made me indignant and I've sought ways to block it. I still remember the first advertising on usenet. I'm still furious about it.
I'm using DuckduckGo which blocks sending of data. It even tells you, eg after 1 minute it has blocked 95 attempts to pass data.
Yes, use websites. It is the social media sites that are manipulating us. I've signed up for email newsletters from bands I like, works alright so far, not missing out.
On the subject of films and subscriptions, I highly recommend BFI player. There are many independently made and highly acclaimed gems, such as the beautiful Vermiglio. The platform has a large, constantly changing library of films and a subscription is ridiculously inexpensive at £6.99 per month. Also includes weekly recommendations from the brilliant Mark Kermode, beats all the other overhyped streaming services hands down in my view.
Readly is a great way to access print media, but if you can't justify the subscription library users can use their library card number to access press reader for free - I don't know if every library in the UK has signed up to it, but ours certainly has.
Thanks for mentioning this (I was going to post then noticed you already had) - small but important thing is it’s available to anyone regardless of your bank balance…….
And yes - tablets are the only tech way to read and reading is the only tech that can save us in the end assuming at least some of the writing is still done by other humans…..er……..oh dear me
I’m amazed how many people don’t know that they can read papers and magazines via their local library. For all I know, it may help libraries stay in business.
Great! Upgraded! Was barking at a restaurant this morning wanting me to order eggs on toast via bloody app rather than via the human being stood next to me - he was adamant I order online - and then looked pissed off as my phone wouldn’t connect and he had to take my order - as marvin the paranoid android said - ‘call that progress…because I don’t!’
It seems to be ubiquitous in the UK when we visit, especially at shopping centres and airports. Getting away from tech should be one of the joys of going out to eat
Sorry Ian, but I'm going to get all "nerdy" on you. The two examples you mentioned are not AI. And it really pisses me off that everything is now marketed as AI. I'm not pissed with you. I'm pissed that every man and his dog is now on the "AI bullshit bandwagon", because they know it will help sell their product.
Let me try to explain the difference between AI and good old-fashioned software.
Old-fashioned software: uses data to provide you with an answer. So Google Maps, for instance, knows where you are and where you want to get to. That's just data. It also has a massive database holding details of all the roads. Yes, it's clever, but it's not going to get any cleverer the next time you ask it for those exact same directions. It doesn't learn anything.
AI - real AI - uses something called Iterative Machine Learning. What's that in English? I'll give you an example. A long, long time ago, (more than 20 years ago), I wrote a very simple noughts and crosses game. Every time you played it, it recorded the sequence of moves and the result - i.e.: win/lose. If it lost, it didn't play that sequence again. The more you played it, the better it got. It started out, blindingly stupid, but eventually reached the point where it couldn't be beaten.
So, ask the question: is it learning from it's mistakes and successes?
Very interesting read. Like most technology, it was sold to us as a way of improving our lives, but in some way or another we have become slaves to it and the tech companies are becoming more aggressive to get our attention. One way I’ve tried to do this is to give up using my Apple Watch. I’ve always loved watches and have a very small collection of modestly priced mechanical timepieces, but the convenience of the Apple Watch with its many functions was too tempting to ignore. Eventually it just became another screen competing for my attention, so I limit its use to when I go for a run and am happy winding a mechanical watch in the morning.
Great piece that resonates so strongly. I love tech for many reasons: I use my tablet as a notebook with Goodnotes because physically writing notes makes them go into my head, but the electronic format makes organisation much easier. I also use it for band sheet music to save carrying 4 A4 lever-arch files around. I put a proper "book" cover on my eReader to replicate the physical feel of a real book while reaping the benefits of the electronics (adjustable font, illumination). However, I also try and have at least one day a week "off-grid".
What I find so sad - and I think you implied it without saying so explicitly - is "AI" (I refuse to call something that isn't sentient "intelligent") has so many great use cases as a wonderful *tool*; yet the makers seem to have so little faith in their own products that the only way to convince people of their utility is to persuade paper-clip counters that their key use is to replace expensive people. And the paper-clip counters don't realise that they are losing any differentiation from their competitors in the process.
Incidentally, I found the best way to break the doomscrolling habit was to start a part-time Master's at 55 and have to catch up 7-8 weeks in one go!
I moved to using Opera a European web browser. There are European search engines too in Qwant and Ecosia. I use Duck Duck Go though as although from the US has strict privacy controls. These small things help the European tech industry and breaks the US stranglehold on us.
Thanks Ian. I have a splendidly simple app for my hearing aids which make my life easier. I agreed with the thrust of your article whilst editing my clutter because I live in a small place.
👍👍👍 Maybe not your intent, but, as a result of this piece I have removed the Substack app from my phone - and installed if on my tablet instead. Trying to reduce phone usage back to being just a communication device.
On the subject of leaving books and records when one dies: a friend of ours left a huge collection of both when he died. His instructions to his (adult) kids, was to take what they wanted, then take the rest along to his wake. Everyone present was invited to take what they wished and leave a suitable donation to his chosen charity. Anything left afterwards went to charity shops. Accordingly, I have two CDs which remind me specifically and fondly of him any time I play them (or indeed, hear the sings on the radio). A lovely idea I thought, which I would intend to do myself (although I fear our son may keep all the vinyl, but that’s okay too).
This is really lovely
What a wonderful idea. I will tell my husband to put this in his will - he has about 25-30 unwrapped and unworn
Stevie Ray Vaughan t-shirts bought in the 80s, which I am
certain shall remain in a pristine form until the day he dies!!
It's possible to make the phone less obtrusive.
1. No notifications. None, apart fom possible some important people you need to be in contact with.
2. No algorithmic feeds. These are where the addiction happens. If there's no way to avoid them, avoid the platform. Xitter still has the "Following" tab, it's fine, you just see people you follow. the "For You" tab is not for you.
3. Fuck apps, use websites. Apps are usually just the website with a slightly smother experience in exchange for enhanced tracking. If possible use websites not logged in.
4. Block ads and trackers. Obvs. Adguard on Android. Adguard DNS can help on Apple. uBlock on browsers.
These principles have kept my internet usable for 30 years. I think because I was an early user, before any of this awfulness, each step has made me indignant and I've sought ways to block it. I still remember the first advertising on usenet. I'm still furious about it.
I'm using DuckduckGo which blocks sending of data. It even tells you, eg after 1 minute it has blocked 95 attempts to pass data.
Yes, use websites. It is the social media sites that are manipulating us. I've signed up for email newsletters from bands I like, works alright so far, not missing out.
On the subject of films and subscriptions, I highly recommend BFI player. There are many independently made and highly acclaimed gems, such as the beautiful Vermiglio. The platform has a large, constantly changing library of films and a subscription is ridiculously inexpensive at £6.99 per month. Also includes weekly recommendations from the brilliant Mark Kermode, beats all the other overhyped streaming services hands down in my view.
Readly is a great way to access print media, but if you can't justify the subscription library users can use their library card number to access press reader for free - I don't know if every library in the UK has signed up to it, but ours certainly has.
https://care.pressreader.com/hc/en-us/articles/215570263-How-to-apply-library-access-in-the-apps#:~:text=Using%20your%20library%20card%20number,authorized%20with%20the%20library%20card.
Thanks for mentioning this (I was going to post then noticed you already had) - small but important thing is it’s available to anyone regardless of your bank balance…….
And yes - tablets are the only tech way to read and reading is the only tech that can save us in the end assuming at least some of the writing is still done by other humans…..er……..oh dear me
I’m amazed how many people don’t know that they can read papers and magazines via their local library. For all I know, it may help libraries stay in business.
Letters, start writing letters.
After discovering a whole load of letters in the attic a few months ago I have started writing letters to my wife every time I travel away from home.
It’s lovely, I know they will arrive home later than me, but they can carry an unhurried message of love, of trivial observations and deep thought.
And they are clutter, that my wife carefully preserves in a beautiful box for memories.
No one will reread our emails once we are gone…
Great! Upgraded! Was barking at a restaurant this morning wanting me to order eggs on toast via bloody app rather than via the human being stood next to me - he was adamant I order online - and then looked pissed off as my phone wouldn’t connect and he had to take my order - as marvin the paranoid android said - ‘call that progress…because I don’t!’
It seems to be ubiquitous in the UK when we visit, especially at shopping centres and airports. Getting away from tech should be one of the joys of going out to eat
Sorry Ian, but I'm going to get all "nerdy" on you. The two examples you mentioned are not AI. And it really pisses me off that everything is now marketed as AI. I'm not pissed with you. I'm pissed that every man and his dog is now on the "AI bullshit bandwagon", because they know it will help sell their product.
Let me try to explain the difference between AI and good old-fashioned software.
Old-fashioned software: uses data to provide you with an answer. So Google Maps, for instance, knows where you are and where you want to get to. That's just data. It also has a massive database holding details of all the roads. Yes, it's clever, but it's not going to get any cleverer the next time you ask it for those exact same directions. It doesn't learn anything.
AI - real AI - uses something called Iterative Machine Learning. What's that in English? I'll give you an example. A long, long time ago, (more than 20 years ago), I wrote a very simple noughts and crosses game. Every time you played it, it recorded the sequence of moves and the result - i.e.: win/lose. If it lost, it didn't play that sequence again. The more you played it, the better it got. It started out, blindingly stupid, but eventually reached the point where it couldn't be beaten.
So, ask the question: is it learning from it's mistakes and successes?
“They give you purchase”: what a phrase.
Very interesting read. Like most technology, it was sold to us as a way of improving our lives, but in some way or another we have become slaves to it and the tech companies are becoming more aggressive to get our attention. One way I’ve tried to do this is to give up using my Apple Watch. I’ve always loved watches and have a very small collection of modestly priced mechanical timepieces, but the convenience of the Apple Watch with its many functions was too tempting to ignore. Eventually it just became another screen competing for my attention, so I limit its use to when I go for a run and am happy winding a mechanical watch in the morning.
"suggest it can tell me goddamn thing about writing." Oh, the irony. Loving your work as always, Ian.
"...the tyranny of excess options..." YES!
Great piece that resonates so strongly. I love tech for many reasons: I use my tablet as a notebook with Goodnotes because physically writing notes makes them go into my head, but the electronic format makes organisation much easier. I also use it for band sheet music to save carrying 4 A4 lever-arch files around. I put a proper "book" cover on my eReader to replicate the physical feel of a real book while reaping the benefits of the electronics (adjustable font, illumination). However, I also try and have at least one day a week "off-grid".
What I find so sad - and I think you implied it without saying so explicitly - is "AI" (I refuse to call something that isn't sentient "intelligent") has so many great use cases as a wonderful *tool*; yet the makers seem to have so little faith in their own products that the only way to convince people of their utility is to persuade paper-clip counters that their key use is to replace expensive people. And the paper-clip counters don't realise that they are losing any differentiation from their competitors in the process.
Incidentally, I found the best way to break the doomscrolling habit was to start a part-time Master's at 55 and have to catch up 7-8 weeks in one go!
Outstanding work on the masters, good on you
Thank you. Yeah, far from done yet, only started at the end of March, but the daily learning habit feels much more healthy.
I moved to using Opera a European web browser. There are European search engines too in Qwant and Ecosia. I use Duck Duck Go though as although from the US has strict privacy controls. These small things help the European tech industry and breaks the US stranglehold on us.
Thanks Ian. I have a splendidly simple app for my hearing aids which make my life easier. I agreed with the thrust of your article whilst editing my clutter because I live in a small place.
Great head’s up on the Wiim Ultra, but ironically in France only available via Amazon, who we have all agreed is the devil’s spawn….
Also loved the idea of committing to a film rather than mindlessly watching some Netflix tat as it’s a tired Tuesday evening.
And AI can fuck itself
👍👍👍 Maybe not your intent, but, as a result of this piece I have removed the Substack app from my phone - and installed if on my tablet instead. Trying to reduce phone usage back to being just a communication device.