I’m an IBMer
When I see a piece like this it reminds me why I love doing what I do. Technology can take us forward and help to improve the human condition, and I’m part of an organisation that has been helping to …...
View ArticleHistorical perspectives
For those of you who have never read my About page, you may be surprised to know that as well as being a “techie”, I’m MA in Modern History (the story of how I came to have a career in … Continue...
View ArticleCentennial
On June 16 2011, IBM is 100 years old – a little older if you include the companies that existed before the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (that was later renamed to International Business...
View ArticleDogear Nation 200, and 250 hours of podcasting
We’re just about to record episode 200 of Dogear Nation, a regular (weekly, barring a few more recent gaps) podcast summing up opinions of what’s new online and in tech. I actually only joined Michael...
View ArticleGetting all philosophical about Software
A few weeks ago, my friend Paul Squires from Perini Networks contacted me wondering whether I’d be interested in taking part in Imperica’s “In Conversation With…” series. The idea was to pair me up...
View ArticleReflections on IBM
For the past couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about the company I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life with – IBM. A few months ago I wrote about the company’s centennial. As an historian this has...
View ArticleAt the edge of history
On Saturday, I attended the Unite for Europe March in London. Together, for now It was the first time I’ve ever taken part in an organised protest or march, and it was probably also the first time I’ve...
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Historical perspectives and propaganda
I work in the IT industry, and it often surprises people when I mention that my academic background is as an historian. Looking back on my school career, when I came to choose options for A-levels I...
View ArticleDaddy, where did the Internet come from?
I’m a big fan of podcasts. As a podcaster myself, you might expect me to say that. I know many people are not fans, and that’s OK – it’s a matter of taste, I think. For me, it’s convenient to be able...
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Never mention politics or religion
Disclaimer: as it says over in the right-hand sidebar of this personal blog which belongs to me, and no-one else, the opinions stated here are my own and not those of any organisation that employs me...
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Progress is easy to miss
Fair warning – I’m likely to struggle to make a clear point in my post today; this will be a little rambling… but, you know what? that’s part of the reason that I want to write it out. I’m processing...
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MQTT turns 25 – here’s how it has endured
It’s October 2024 and I’m sitting here in my creative maker studio, wearing a bright t-shirt that excitedly bellows “MQTT 25”! To my left is a top-end Bambu Lab X1C 3D printer, that uses MQTT...
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Where is the Art?
My talk from Electromagnetic Field 2024 is now available to watch on YouTube. This was a shorter version of a talk I gave as the closing keynote at QCon London1. It covers the work we’re doing with...
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Pen plotters and the history of computer art
Last year, I gave a number of talks on the subject of pen plotters / drawing machines, and how they have been used in different ways to realise different forms of art. I wasn’t immediately able to...
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