Tech

Thoughts here are my own In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), the decision by the new Labour government to shelve £1.3bn of funding promised by the previous Conservatives leadership for tech and AI projects will cast a long shadow over the future of AI, and scientific compute, innovation in the UK.1 This move, while framed as a necessary adjustment to restore economic stability, underscores a deeper, more systemic issue: the vulnerability of technological advancement to the whims of political change....

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force, with the promise to reshaping industries and redefining the way businesses operate. As organisations increasingly integrate AI into their operations, a new challenge arises: managing the financial implications of these powerful technologies. This is where Financial Operations (FinOps) comes into play, offering a strategic framework to maximize business value from AI investments. AI’s potential to drive growth and innovation is undeniable....

In the realm of technology, quantum computing stands as a beacon of future possibilities, and potential horrors. Its development, still in nascent stages, promises to revolutionize our approach to solving complex problems that are currently beyond the reach of classical computers. However, with great power comes great responsibility. The journey towards integrating quantum computing into our societal fabric necessitates a thoughtful approach to governance. This essay explores the initial steps towards establishing governance principles for quantum computing and underscores the importance of continuous evolution of these principles as the technology matures....

When ChunkHost, a hosting provider I’d been using since the mid-2010s, announced its closure last year, I missed the warning emails. This oversight could have spelled disaster but, on reflection, it was a serendipitous push towards reevaluating my hosting needs and expenses. This experience, while initially seeming like a setback, turned into an exploration of more sustainable and cost-effective hosting solutions. Hosting, especially on dedicated servers or virtual machines, can be a significant overhead for anyone running websites or online projects....

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and finance, a new cultural practice has emerged, one that promises to redefine the way organizations manage their cloud costs. This practice, known as FinOps, represents a blend of finance and operations, specifically tailored to the unique demands of cloud computing. It’s not just a strategy or a set of guidelines but a profound shift in organizational culture, where cross-functional teams—spanning engineering, finance, product development, and beyond—collaborate to achieve a common goal: maximizing the value derived from cloud investments....

In the realm of productivity, few practices are as simple yet transformative as the weekly review. It’s a ritual that, at first glance, might seem like an additional task to a already packed schedule. Yet, those who have integrated it into their routine know it’s not just another task; it’s a lever for intentionality, clarity, and progress. David Allen, the mind behind the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology, distilled this practice into a fine art....

In the realm of computer peripherals, the keyboard stands as a testament to the evolution of human-computer interaction. Among the myriad of designs, the split keyboard emerges as a fascinating study in ergonomics, customization, and the relentless pursuit of typing comfort. At the heart of the split keyboard’s design is a simple idea: that the traditional, monolithic keyboard layout does not cater to the natural positioning of human hands and wrists....

In a world brimming with distractions, achieving peak productivity seems like a Herculean task. Emails ping, Teams messages flutter in, and before you know it, the day has slipped through your fingers, leaving behind a trail of unfinished tasks. Enter time blocking, a deceptively simple yet profoundly effective technique that promises to reclaim your day and enhance your focus. This approach has saved me as I moved into a much larger role within my professional life, while juggling a new family and renovating a house - while trying to remain sane....

In the landscape of technological evolution, 2023 marked a significant milestone with the advent of readily available AI tools, ushering in an era where artificial intelligence applications burgeoned, promising to redefine how we tackle everyday tasks. These advances cut through, to the point where everyone and their Nan had heard of ChatGPT. Yet, amidst this digital renaissance, a paradox emerged—not of capability, but of integration. The true challenge lay not in the power of AI itself but in weaving it into the fabric of our daily lives....

What’s the problem? I use my phone to much. This is likely the modern refrain. If it’s not phones then it was TV before it and before that, heck, it was newspapers. For as long as we have been exploiting technology there has been a fear that perhaps, just maybe, that technology might be exploiting us. I feel this way about my phone. I spend way to much time daily on a device that I fear gives me little to no value for the investment put into it....