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I don’t find just Tony Seba believable, I find his conclusions inevitable. While I am sceptical on driverless cars, it’s because of human nature not because of doubts about the technology. When you add the variables of the efficiency of electric motors, the possibilities of software for improving how we drive and the virtually endless … Continue reading “100% electric transportation and 100% solar by 2030”
I don’t find just Tony Seba believable, I find his conclusions inevitable. While I am sceptical on driverless cars, it’s because of human nature not because of doubts about the technology.
When you add the variables of the efficiency of electric motors, the possibilities of software for improving how we drive and the virtually endless resources of renewable energies, the result is plain.
This is why I’m starting a new thing. This.
In today's #MondayNote: "Legacy Media vs. Digital Native, the culture shock, in one chart. http://t.co/sUO5zbBQEA pic.twitter.com/kdxxSRqcDd — filloux (@filloux) November 24, 2014 How the diagram describes traditional media? Weak, insufficient, short-sighted. structurally limited, barely sustainable, ossified, weak leadership, terrible, no tolerance for failure, lost, outdated, impaired development. YIKES! I would add “blissfully ignorant in the … Continue reading “Legacy Media vs. Digital Native, the culture shock, in one chart”
In today's #MondayNote: "Legacy Media vs. Digital Native, the culture shock, in one chart. http://t.co/sUO5zbBQEA pic.twitter.com/kdxxSRqcDd
— filloux (@filloux) November 24, 2014
How the diagram describes traditional media?
Weak, insufficient, short-sighted. structurally limited, barely sustainable, ossified, weak leadership, terrible, no tolerance for failure, lost, outdated, impaired development.
YIKES!
I would add “blissfully ignorant in the way the dinosaurs must have passively admired a falling star”.
Jase Bell is mostly, pardon the pun, on the money: Put bluntly it’s a big stand off. The startup founder (“Hey, I’m the ideas guy/gal!”) goes tail wagging desperately looking for a tech co founder, someone who can look at the holistic view of the startup, the long term, code the iOS app, the Android … Continue reading “The CTO CoFo and other quasi-mythical beasts”
Jase Bell is mostly, pardon the pun, on the money:
Put bluntly it’s a big stand off. The startup founder (“Hey, I’m the ideas guy/gal!”) goes tail wagging desperately looking for a tech co founder, someone who can look at the holistic view of the startup, the long term, code the iOS app, the Android app and the back end, the reporting…. those unicorns don’t come cheap, circa £75,000 p/a if you want a quality tech co-founder, someone who will be “all in”. Your short runaway will become a lot shorter, that £300k seed you need to get going is basically mandatory.
Of course there is another side to this. A finder needs to identify a good CTO.. It’s not like there is a large supply.
I’ve been on the fringes of the local software industry for the last 20 years I can count on my fingers the people I’d approach for such a vital role.
Part of this is their ability: they have to command respect, have a good reputation, be pro-active and have a can-do attitude and probably have done more than just worked for a wage in a local company.
The other part is my ability. Will I have to manage them? Am I a good judge of ability or character? Can I raise the cash to get them paid? And if I can, have I judged correctly; is this just another job or are they part of the team?
Over the years I have, with friends, built a heap of stuff you’ve never heard of. The 23rd Letter, SpaceNinjaCyberCrisis, ZOMBI, Syncbridge, Rickshaw, Infurious Comics, Eagle Lake; stuff that was always ahead of the market and if I had been smarter, better connected, more business-savvy, more predatory then I might be talking to you from a private island.
My opinion is this.
CTOs are incredibly rare in Northern Ireland. And when you find them, chances are they will be working for a high five-figure salary with benefits within a secure FDI company doing work well beneath their ability. Their lifestyle will have grown to demand that salary and only inspiring friendship or a mid-life crisis will urge them to move. That will be a lot of risk for the aspiring CEO – because you’re banking someone’s life on the strength of your idea and using your relationship as collateral. And the money had better follow.
As you get older it will be more about the money and less about the relationship: so start young.
Chris Hazzard of SF doesn’t like the current mess in our education system to be defined as “segregated”. I don;t know if he has a separate word but even his language belies sectarian divides. Of course, it is John O’Dowd, Education Minister and SF MLA who presides over the education policy that Integrated Education is … Continue reading “Integrated Education – Segregated Education”
Chris Hazzard of SF doesn’t like the current mess in our education system to be defined as “segregated”. I don;t know if he has a separate word but even his language belies sectarian divides.
Of course, it is John O’Dowd, Education Minister and SF MLA who presides over the education policy that Integrated Education is the policy – but never have I seen less of a policy-adhered-to than this.
The 11plus, for segregating on ability, was too “integrated” for SF so they abolished it. Meaning that Catholic Schools train their indoctrinated charges for the “GL” while Protestant* Schools train their children for the “AQE”. Both of them unregulated, unstandardised and it’s a few select schools that actually require results from both sets of exams.
We can harp on about how Health is failing under the DUP but Education is failing under SF. And if there were ever two departments, out of the thirteen we have, which absolutely were required, it would be health and education.
Asked Integrated sector not to continue using term "segregation" when discussing schools – many parents proud to chose Catholic education
— Chris Hazzard (@ChrisHazzardSF) November 19, 2014
@ianjamesparsley loaded language suggests parents are actively segregated into camps – not fair or reflective of complex situation
— Chris Hazzard (@ChrisHazzardSF) November 19, 2014
@ChrisHazzardSF @dmcbfs @ianjamesparsley 80% of parents say they'd choose integration if it was available. Segregationists ensure it's not.
— Newton Emerson (@NewtonEmerson) November 19, 2014
Arlene has been playing around with an app on the Internets that seems to transform anyone into Simon Cowell. I've given @cimota the Facetune treatment. So subtle, right?! #whocouldtell #undetectable #simoncowell pic.twitter.com/NHcopSFP0Q — Arlene (@MaidofMuscle) November 17, 2014 Related posts: Top 3 issues… Integrated Education – Segregated Education People Pay More For Design Digital Society … Continue reading “FaceTuned”
Arlene has been playing around with an app on the Internets that seems to transform anyone into Simon Cowell.
I've given @cimota the Facetune treatment. So subtle, right?! #whocouldtell #undetectable #simoncowell pic.twitter.com/NHcopSFP0Q
— Arlene (@MaidofMuscle) November 17, 2014
One of the highlights of my week is two hours at the Magee Campus of the Ulster University with the Creative Technology students The assignment I give them are about building practice in the business skills needed for being a good entrepreneur as well as being a good employee. It’s just as important for employees … Continue reading “Getting started in crowdfunding…an assignment”
One of the highlights of my week is two hours at the Magee Campus of the Ulster University with the Creative Technology students
The assignment I give them are about building practice in the business skills needed for being a good entrepreneur as well as being a good employee. It’s just as important for employees to understand balance sheets and profit and loss though these classes are often reserved for those who volunteer to take them.
My assignment on Tuesday was on the subject of crowdfunding. The last assignment involved building brand materials, product design, presentation skills (and attempting humour and delight) for a nonsense product they dreamed up. This time it’s about building awareness, gathering followers and backers and generally raising the profile of a Kickstarter for a local company, Billygoat Entertainment. It’s important to note that I have no links, financial or otherwise, to this company.
Here’s their KS link: https://…./projects/billygoat/hm-spiffing-a-comedy-3d-space-themed-adventure-gam
And here’s their video:
They also have demos available for Mac, Windows and Linux.
The assignment should be challenging, it should be helping them become aware of the steps needed to promote a Kickstarter campaign and if it helps Billygoat Entertainment too, that’s a bonus.
The Belfast Media Festival is in one week and they’re looking for 2-3 companies who would have something “transmedia” to demonstrate. If you’ve got anything that is translational like mock ups for Doctor Who or Sherlock, film tie-ins, story-heavy games, demos for Oculus Rift and you want to spend a couple of days at the … Continue reading “Belfast Media Festival ’14”
The Belfast Media Festival is in one week and they’re looking for 2-3 companies who would have something “transmedia” to demonstrate.
If you’ve got anything that is translational like mock ups for Doctor Who or Sherlock, film tie-ins, story-heavy games, demos for Oculus Rift and you want to spend a couple of days at the BMF, then let me know.
And if you need/want a student to help host you, ping me ASAP so I can ask them.
Lastly, if anyone wants to come to SuperUnityFriends and help me hack something together, please do.
And yes, they gave us a week to prep. This is something I used to help with back when DC was getting project funding but the mess at Stormont has kinda put the kibosh on that. Here’s hoping they sort that out this week.
So anyway. Anyone doing anything great and fancies talking to TV PEOPLE?
Earlier this year I took a chance in politics and I didn’t win. I didn’t even place. But what I learned was useful. I learned that you can’t run an election campaign in 6 weeks. I learned that you need even just a little bit of money behind you to do it. I learned that … Continue reading “Earlier this year…”
Earlier this year I took a chance in politics and I didn’t win. I didn’t even place. But what I learned was useful. I learned that you can’t run an election campaign in 6 weeks. I learned that you need even just a little bit of money behind you to do it. I learned that Northern Ireland is trapped in the past and even those who are apolitical will work to maintain the status quo.
But my hope is not deterred. Nor am I entirely dissuaded from the path.
For all of the talk, our education system is failing more and more children; our healthcare system is beset by paper pushers and front line staff are taxed beyond belief; our public services are failing with uncleared drains, broken street lamps and reduced refuse collection.
I believe that while the two men at the head of the party were deeply flawed, petty and ultimately couldn’t be trusted to do the right thing; the idea of NI21 was absolutely on the money.
I’m tired of hearing nothing but whataboutery when the DUP and SF are given the mic. I’m also tired of hearing from the UUP/SDLP/APNI about how they’re ultimately powerless in the Executive where they serve because of a divvy of power between the two big parties. I’m tired of hearing parties in a government coalition constantly blame each other for the troubles of the day.
I’m sure others agree. I’m sure a load of people think that nothing will change. But this is where they (and Russell Brand) are wrong.
Brand is right that the second clause of
“Don’t vote; there’s no one to vote for”
is actually the most poignant part. So let’s find some people to vote for. Let’s pick them and help them raise their deposits and get them into Westminster. And then let’s pick more for the Assembly.
Let’s base it on sustainable economy; sustainable environment; sustainable education. Let’s change the world because we’re sick of the way things are.
I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up! from Dave Fothergill vfx on Vimeo. Related posts: Take a couple of minutes to appreciate genius. OpenMoko FreeRunner: *sigh* The Crisis of Credit Paul Graham at TechCrunch50
When I sleep at night I am rewarded with visions of electric vehicles. The cars we have received from automobile manufacturers are not much further developed than the car you see below. Charging an electric car in 1905 pic.twitter.com/16OYG5WAYH — Old Pics Archive (@oldpicsarchive) October 18, 2014 Electric vehicles are awesome. You may not realise … Continue reading “Cars … Are Friends Electric”
When I sleep at night I am rewarded with visions of electric vehicles. The cars we have received from automobile manufacturers are not much further developed than the car you see below.
Charging an electric car in 1905 pic.twitter.com/16OYG5WAYH
— Old Pics Archive (@oldpicsarchive) October 18, 2014
Electric vehicles are awesome. You may not realise how awesome but they are beset with some issues which are resisting general acceptance.
Consumer-grade electric cars tend to be limited to around 100 miles. Only the electric super-cars (like Tesla) have the range that we expect from cars. My diesel has a range of around 300 miles on a full tank that takes about three minutes to replenish. The Tesla still takes about an hour to charge (at a SuperCharger) and while the cars with 100 mile ranges can get an 80% charge in 20 minutes on a turbo charger.
A supercar like a Ferrari F40 has a range of 750 miles.
Electric cars are expensive. My diesel, with all of the mod cons and dead-cow interiors cost me 50% less than a Nissan Leaf which has a range of 120 miles on a full charge. But it’s hard to deny that electric cars are cost-effective to run. With operating costs of 2 pence per mile, the Leaf is excellent. My car has a 300 mile range on a £60 tank of fuel – which works out at 20 pence per mile.
The operating costs of internal combustion engines, including wear and tear, tend to be higher too.
Batteries are awkward. They’re heavy, they’re expensive.
The lithium-ion battery pack in a Tesla Roadster weighs about 1,000 pounds (453.6 kg). That’s a lot of weight to carry and it can greatly reduce the car’s range. However, the designers of the Roadster have offset this battery weight with a light frame and body panels. The entire car only weighs 2,690 pounds (1220.2 kg)
One of the advantages of a heavy battery is that if you put it at the bottom of the car, it really lowers the centre of gravity.
Any one want to help me re-think personal electric transportation?