Companion to “The Replacement of geography by standards and what to do about it”

What is the relationship between standards and global flows of movement? This essay explains the replacement of geography by standards, bringing work I did in 2014 up to date, and laying out why you should care.

Coping 7: Being multiple

Coping is short posts on Fridays about coping methods for doing creative and focused things in an unfocused world. In Coping 7, the importance of being multiple.

Understanding work (part 2)

In part two of "Understanding work," a brief trip into productivity; the Luddites were onto something; and half the world now works in the tertiary sector. What happens when the quest for higher productivity comes for the service jobs? (Spoiler: it already has.)

Bookpile 6: Participatory Research in More-than-Human Worlds

Bookpile is short posts on Fridays about what I’m reading now and what I’m liking about it. This week, it’s Participatory Research in More-than-Human Worlds, edited by Michelle Bastian, Owain Jones, Niamh Moore, and Emma Roe.

Understanding work (part 1)

Work is a constant topic, with autonomy and human dignity under fire from increased use of automation, data collection, and casualization. Let's pause for a second and look at what work is, and at some of the core principles behind our view of work.

Coping 6: Collecting moments

Coping is short posts on Fridays about coping methods for doing creative and focused things in an unfocused world. In Coping 6, the importance of sometimes not being in the moment.

Anatomy of a smart garbage can

Everyday things are collecting and transmitting data. This was one of the promises of the Internet of Things. A humble member of the IoT, the smart garbage can is becoming a ubiquitous street appliance. So what exactly is this thing?

Coping 5: This

Coping is short posts on Fridays about coping methods for doing creative and focused things in an unfocused world. In Coping 5, a little bit of recursion as I explain why the very text you're reading is a form of coping.

Public-private predicaments

Public sector bodies can be very dependent on private sector software and technology providers, spending public money in ways that don't always put public values first. Some governments are beginning to demonstrate that there are other options.

Bookpile 5: The New Patriarchs of Digital Capitalism

Bookpile is short posts on Fridays about what I’m reading now and what I’m liking about it. This week, it’s The New Patriarchs of Digital Capitalism by Ben Little and Alison Winch.

The trap of significance

The feeling that it's mandatory to achieve significance, originality, or novelty can be paralyzing. Where does the impetus come from, and can we escape the trap of significance?

Coping 4: Wednesday focusday

Coping is short posts on Fridays about coping methods for doing creative and focused things in an unfocused world. In Coping 4, why I've made Wednesdays sacrosanct.