So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu to Ada Lovelace Day Live

Ada Lovelace Day, 9 October 2018, at the IET.

Photography by Tracy Howl, sponsored by Clarivate. Via Paul Clarke on Flickr.

I've just read the news that the long-running Ada Lovelace Day and campaign is closing its doors. Founder, Suw Charman-Anderson explains the demise in a blog post over on Facebook. I hadn't realised how much DEI work in STEM in particular had closed. Alas, this is a sign of the times. I am sad that the term 'DEI - diversity, equality, inclusion' is now toxic. It's time to reframe it so we can do the same work without the baggage that some associate with the term. Just because large corporates are dismantling their DEI efforts, it doesn't mean the work is over.

As for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), yes it's important. But it's even better if you add the A for Art to make STEAM. I'd rather be steaming ahead than a wilting stem. Maybe that's a personal bias given my passion for the arts as well as technology. I'd like to think it's more about having well-rounded people creating and managing systems, processes and software that humans can actually use. There is an art to most science, no?

And as for events, it's a tough time. Without question, live business events have not recovered fully post-pandemic. There is a whole generation of workers who started their work life in 'work-from-home' mode and never experienced the benefits of learning by osmosis by being with the right people in the room. And more so, they have not had the same exposure to live knowledge and networking events early enough in their careers.

Don't get me wrong, working remotely can be great and I have routinely worked this way for 20 years. Most of that time, however, I was also going to networking events, probably at least two a month. And at times, it was probably two a week in the early noughties. Networking in person was crucial for me to build my network and to learn from others - not just from speakers or panellists, but the other people in attendance.

It feels like everything has become more transactional - I do this for you and you do this for me in return. Unfortunately, real life and work are not like that. The returns you get for spending time developing relationships in business and/or spending time learning may take many years to reap rewards. Those who view networking as purely transactional are missing the point. It's not who you know, it's who knows you. It's about building your personal brand. It's about learning from others. It's about developing your communication skills.

So yes, I'm sad that Ada Lovelace Day is the latest to close its doors, but I can't say I'm surprised. I also think it's important to recognise that knowing when to quit is also a great skill and a huge challenge - more so when your work is mission-led.

I hope we'll see a future iteration of ALD and wish Suw Charman-Anderson every success in whatever comes next.

AI and the Frontier Paradox

This thought leadership piece by Konstantine Buhler at Sequoia is well worth a read. I remember a conversation over a decade ago about AI with futurist, David Wood and he told me at the time that the dot on Google Maps showing us where we were was a type of AI. We don't call it that any longer - it just works on our phone and the technology is invisible - as many of the best technology tools are. I can certainly see how it will become quite commonplace to use tools like Bard or ChatGPT and not think anything of it. It will just be part of our routine use of phones, laptops and smart speakers.

I'm now beginning to see the rise of many of these tools as, perhaps, more like the switch from DOS to Windows - a much more intuitive interface with which to do what you need to do to get your tasks done. Or the switch from using laptops to phones which gave access to the internet and digital capabilities to many millions more people across the world. 

And yet, what is coming feels like it's so much more than that and more far-reaching in terms of giving anyone the ability to engage with digital tools using talking or text chat. That feels revolutionary to me rather than evolutionary. Or is it way over-hyped and it will all calm down again in a few months? After all, this AI thing has been in the human imagination for more than a century with the first place about 'robots' being written in 1921. And it has been in development for more than 70 years. We are now living in the future that scientists were imagining back in the 1950s and 1960s.

https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/ai-paradox-perspective/

A 1976 Herzog prompt and thoughts on AI and ChatGPT

Following a post from friend, Tom Hume, I gave ChatGPT (the free version) a prompt from Werner Herzog.  He wrote this in 1976 in relation to working on his film, Heart of Glass. Tom pointed out that perhaps Herzog had invented the 'prompt'. 

As such, I thought it would be fun to try it out and see what came out. I've adapted the last line if the prompt to say 'write' rather than 'read aloud'. The full transcript is at the bottom of this blog post.

I don't know if the AI has had this prompt before, and if so, how many times, nor if it gives a different result each time. I haven't played with it enough yet to understand it's current capability. But as synthetic writing goes, it really isn't bad at all, albeit a bit flowery and clichéd. I'm sure there will be literary critics and avid readers who can pick further faults with it. But for most of us, it reads pretty well. 

What is interesting about this experiment is that although this is a natural language conversation, the AI doesn't understand it as such. It didn't get that I just wanted it to write me the poem that the monk had written. But instead wrote a piece of prose further elaborating what I had already written. I needed to ask an additional question to get the poem.

For the ordinary person to get the most of this technology, we're going to have to learn how to talk to a computer, how to give crystal clear instructions. The conversation style we might have with each other won't cut it. Most people's communication skills are lacking - communication is a two way street. You may be very eloquent but the person you're communicating with may not receive the message as intended. Not only that, we have so many additional layers of communication to add to the message beyond the words alone - tone of voice, body language, context, life experience, setting and more. Natural language is just one aspect of how we communicate.

I am fascinated by generative AI and what humans can achieve with it. It has taken decades for it to be where we are now and what feels like an overnight success. This is just the beginning though, and whether we like it or not, this thing isn't going away.

Here is the transcript of my conversation.

Me (quoting Herzog)

"You're the first one for centuries who has set foot on a foreign island. It's overgrown with jungle and full of strange birds. You come across a gigantic cliff, and on closer inspection discover the rock is actually green emerald. Hundreds of years ago a monk took a chisel and hammer and engraved a poem into the wall. You open your eyes and are the first one to see it. Please write what you see." 

ChatGPT 

"As I cautiously approached the gigantic cliff, my senses were immediately engulfed by the lush jungle that surrounded me. The air was heavy with humidity, the scent of damp earth and vibrant vegetation wafting through my nostrils. Strange birds of vivid hues flitted among the trees, their melodic calls echoing through the dense foliage. It was a surreal, untouched paradise.

With each step closer to the cliff, my eyes widened in awe. Towering before me was a majestic wall, its surface glimmering with an ethereal green radiance. The emerald sheen was mesmerizing, as if the very essence of nature had crystallized into this magnificent rock.

I reached out and traced the surface of the emerald with trembling fingers, marveling at the cool, smooth texture beneath my touch. The rock was firm and unyielding, a testament to the passage of time and the strength of nature.

As I studied the emerald more closely, my eyes discerned intricate engravings etched into its surface. The chisel and hammer had left their marks, crafting a poem that had stood the test of centuries. I stood back, allowing my gaze to absorb the delicate curves and flowing lines that composed the verse.

In ancient, weathered characters, the poem unfolded before me, a lyrical tale of wisdom and enlightenment. The words seemed to breathe with life, their meaning transcending the barriers of time. The poem spoke of nature's beauty, of the cycles of life and death, and the interconnectedness of all things.

As I read each line, a profound sense of gratitude and reverence washed over me. I was the first in centuries, perhaps even millenniums, to witness this testament to human artistry and the island's enigmatic allure. The enormity of the moment settled upon my shoulders, filling me with a deep sense of responsibility to preserve and honor this sacred place.

I took a step back, allowing the emerald cliff to reclaim its mystery, its green brilliance blending seamlessly with the surrounding foliage. The island had chosen to share its secret with me, inviting me into its realm of natural wonder and hidden treasures. With a heart filled with wonder and respect, I turned to leave, carrying the memory of the engraved poem forever etched in my mind."

Me (realising the AI hadn't quite understood my request)

"What was the poem exactly?"

ChatGPT

"As an AI language model, I can certainly create a poem for you based on the scenario you've described. Here's an example of a poem that captures the essence of the scene:

In emerald cliff's embrace, I find,

A poet's legacy, long confined.

A verdant canvas, nature's muse,

Whispers of wisdom, ancient and fused.

Amidst the jungle's vibrant bloom,

Where birds of hues paint the gloom,

The chisel's dance, a monk's endeavor,

Engraved in stone, this tale to treasure.

"Behold, the cycles of life's sweet breath,

Where birth and death dance till the end.

From earth's embrace, springs life anew,

As nature weaves its eternal debut.

Through verdant vines and towering trees,

A symphony of unity on nature's keys.

Each leaf, each creature, in harmony dwell,

Bound by a thread, weaved oh so well.

Embrace the mysteries, the depths untold,

The secrets this island, ages old.

For in this emerald sanctuary we find,

A timeless truth, to all humankind.

Oh, wanderer, cherish this sacred land,

Protect its wonders with gentle hand.

Let the echoes of this poem resound,

And may reverence for nature forever be found."

With the poem etched into the emerald cliff, it stands as a testament to the island's beauty, the wisdom of the ancient monk, and the interconnectedness of all living things."

Addendum.

I asked ChatGPT to critique its poem. This is where it really feels like it understands. It doesn't though. It's a computer that knows how to process 0s and 1s, albeit in a very sophisticated way.

Note that it doesn't answer the question 'what is bad about it?' Rather it talks about what could be improved. I'm guessing that's deliberate in the algorithm so it doesn't come across as too negative.

Transcript

Me:

'Can you critique this poem? What is good about it? What is bad about it?'

ChatGPT

Certainly! Here's a critique of the poem:

What is good about it:

Imagery: The poem uses vivid descriptions and sensory details to paint a picture of the lush jungle, the emerald cliff, and the vibrant birds. This helps create a vivid and immersive scene for the reader.

Flow and Rhythm: The poem maintains a consistent flow and rhythm, creating a melodic quality that is pleasing to read and listen to. It flows smoothly from one line to the next, maintaining a cohesive structure.

Theme and Meaning: The poem explores themes of nature's beauty, the cycles of life and death, and the interconnectedness of all things. It reflects a sense of wonder, reverence, and respect for the natural world, which is conveyed effectively.

What can be improved:

Originality: While the poem captures the essence of the scenario, it relies on familiar tropes and imagery associated with nature and its wonders. Adding unique or unexpected elements could enhance its originality and make it stand out.

Poetic Devices: While the poem is structurally sound, it could benefit from incorporating more varied poetic devices such as metaphors, similes, or symbolism to deepen its impact and evoke stronger emotions.

Specificity: The poem could include more specific details to enhance the reader's connection to the scene. Adding specific descriptions of the birds, the foliage, or the engravings on the emerald cliff could make the imagery more vivid and engaging.

Overall, the poem creates a pleasant and evocative atmosphere, but adding more originality, poetic devices, and specific details could enhance its depth and make it even more captivating.

The FT 1000 - The Complete List of Europe's Fastest Growing Companies 2018

For those of you interested in start-ups and growth businesses, this list will be invaluable. It's a link to the FT 1000 which lists the companies in 31 European countries that have achieved the highest compound annual growth rate in revenue between 2013 and 2016. Note the measurement is revenue not profit.

It's worth a glance if you have any interest in business. The data is downloadable as a spreadsheet and searchable. The FT also shares their methodology.

Top line findings:

• Technology dominates the list with 155 entries and Deliveroo at #1 replacing Germany's HelloFresh
• London has held on to its position as the most popular base for HQ with 74 entries (Paris has 62, Milan 25).
• Fintech has performed well (Good news for London).
• UK, Spain, Germany and France all have a strong presence in the Top 20.
• The lowest average growth rate in this year's ranking was 34.6% vs last year's 16.1%.
• Germany leads the way in the advertising sector as they also do in the Automobile sector. I would have expected the latter but not the former. I wonder why British advertising companies aren't showing similar growth.

I haven't heard of the majority of these companies. Am I out of touch? Maybe. Or is that successful companies very often get there completely under the radar? Or maybe it's down to my focus and visibility of British companies. I'm thinking probably the latter. Something for me to ponder on over a cup of tea...

You can find the list here.

Ugly Lies the Bone, Virtual Reality and The Power of Theatre

Much as I'm interested in new technologies, Virtual Reality (VR) has never been my thing. I suffer from vertigo from time to time and, from what I've read, VR experiences can trigger it. I already struggle with 3D movies (I rarely go to a 3D version of a film these days), and I really don't like sweeping film sequences as if in flight. I have to look away from the screen. So I'm not a natural fit for VR.

On the business side, beyond entertainment (immersive films and entertainment), I've also not seen a compelling reason for VR, yet it's one of those technologies that won't go away, has been invested in heavily and was ubiquitous at this year's Mobile World Congress. Admittedly, it was fun watching a colleague walk the plank off a virtual sky scraper, but that's a gimmick or a game and isn't going to be for everyone. So it's fair to say, I'm a VR naysayer. Or at least I was.

I'm now beginning to see some exciting uses for VR in terms of well-being. I, and several thousand others were moved by Tribemix's work with dementia patients by using Virtual Reality to take them back to places where they felt safe and could escape their dementia, even if only for a short while. I think it's extraordinary how the mind can be fooled and that you can immerse yourself in an alternate reality so readily.



Which leads me to the fabulous play I've just seen at The National Theatre - Ugly Lies the Bone. It's the tale of Jess, a US war veteran who was badly injured in Afghanistan and spent 14 months in hospital and is in constant pain. She moves back to her home town in Florida to live with her sister and as part of her pain management, she uses guided VR to help her overcome some of her physical and mental limitations.

I'm fascinated at the prospect that something non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical like VR might be used to heal and to manage chronic illness or chronic pain. That has to be better than pumping people full of drugs.

The play explores Jess's return to her hometown, and her rebuilding relationships with her sister and ex boyfriend and trying to establish a new life for herself. Jess also immerses herself into a VR experience and the audience also experiences it through some of the most stunning visuals I've ever seen on the stage. They're so good that they almost take away from the writing and performances. The tight cast do not disappoint. The relationship dynamics are really interesting as others, and Jess herself adjust to the disfigurements she suffered and to the triggers that send her back to the moment the bomb went off in Afghanistan that sent her on this painful journey.

The play is life-affirming, fascinating and beautiful. Go see it while you can! It may help you see another side to virtual reality beyond nerds gaming in darkened rooms. More about the play and how to book tickets on The National Theatre website.

In both the film and theatre examples above, the power of storytelling and the power of theatre is clear to me. Theatre has the power to take us somewhere else entirely, and in turn, that can be a fabulous healing experience.

The Trouble With Big Cities

Although I live in London, I spend a lot of time with my Mum in the city where I grew up. I say city, but Worcester is actually very small when it comes to town and city sizes. And it's a long way from anywhere. It's quicker for me to fly to Barcelona than it is to visit my Mum. Worcester suffers on the GWR Hereford to London line as part of the route is single track through the Cotswolds. I read somewhere that the train journey takes longer now than it did in the days of steam trains. There are local buses, but you really need to understand the timetables as most services are not very frequent and don't run every day and don't have services after 5pm. How you are supposed to use those buses to get to or from work, I really don't know! And let's not talk about the local motorway traffic which seems to get more congested year on year.

As a city, Worcester seems to be suffering from lack of job and career prospects, especially for young people, despite being home to a large university. It's a nice enough place to live with beautiful countryside nearby, a river running through it, a sizeable Marks & Spencer in the High Street and some lovely places to eat and drink. But that's the trouble, the new job opportunities in the city are all hinged on retail and catering jobs. Gone are the days of the big employers like Kays Catalogue, Dents Gloves, Cinderella Shoes, Worcester Royal Porcelain and Metalbox. Maybe, it was like this back in the 1980s when I left school. The majority of my generation left Worcester at the earliest opportunity. A few stayed, but they could be counted on the fingers of one hand. A lot of us left for London. I certainly did and I wasn't alone.

I'd love to see an innovation space in Worcester - in the city centre - showcasing young retail and creative talent and giving them the opportunity to try out their ideas in the city and providing a business hub. I've always thought the old Corn Exchange would make a great space for that. It has been lying empty for so long with a string of failed restaurants behind it, yet it's in a central  location in an interesting and historical building. Or failing that, the Angel restaurant could be reverted back to a market hall but focused on new retailers and have a mix of small office and retail units. I'm heartened to find out that there is an organisation who have similar desires called The Kiln. I'm interested to see what they come up with and wish them every success.

I mentioned all this in passing in a conversation I had with friend and retail expert, Eva Pascoe, and she was telling me that the network effect of new technology was boosting cities and was keeping smaller towns and cities down. It's not something I'd really heard before but it made sense. This article, 'The problem with London Guilt' explains how that works in more detail and why London has become so dominant over other British cities over the years.

I'm not sure where that leaves places like Worcester but it makes for interesting reading to understand the dynamics we're living in right now and why the focus is on 'smart cities' rather than 'smart towns' or 'smart villages'.

I welcome your thoughts and comments on the topic.

I stand by my words

I’ve been staying with my Mum for a few days. My father died earlier this year and we’re all still grieving and getting used to him not being around. It’s a little bit weird to be sitting at his desk, in his chair, using his things – where he would have been writing (there’s a lovely large ink blotter on the desk) and of course, where I’m tapping away at my laptop with a mobile phone also close to hand.
I happened to glance up from my screen and in the letter rack I spotted this clipping. My Dad’s written on it ‘Times July 1’. I don’t remember being in it so it was a bit of a surprise to see it. My father clearly took the trouble to buy a copy of the newspaper (he was a Telegraph reader as a rule) and then cut out and kept the clipping. It’s at least 5 years old – maybe older judging by the picture. I’m touched, and a little bit teary, that he did that.
And then I read the piece and I stand by my words. I think it’s from a talk I gave at a conference but I don’t remember. As it doesn’t appear to be available online, I’ve transcribed it here:

‘The future of mobile is that mobile will just be a normal part of the marketing mix. It will be almost invisible, in that people won’t know whether they are browsing on the mobile web of (sic) the ‘full fat’ web; they will just be looking at Facebook or the BBC, or checking email, so their consciousness of how they are doing that will disappear. The focus will be on making brands’ services and products accessible, however anyone wants to get hold of them and that’s the priority.
Mobile technology is moving forward, and there are some exciting innovations around and we will see mobile being used in some interesting ways in the future, but we should not get carried away with the new shiny thing, when a good, reliable mobile website and old fashioned SMS are still really important. There is a lot of mileage left in messaging for customer service, saying thank you, getting feedback, the simple things. It’s not about push advertising, it’s about having a proper relationship with customers who want to have a relationship with you.
It’s easy to get carried away with the technology, but good marketing begins and ends with good service. You have to make it easy for people to find and buy your stuff and do it again.’

The Guardian Tech Weekly Podcast–I’m in it!

In case you missed it a couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited in to The Guardian’s offices to join Alex Krotoski, Jemima Kiss, Martha Lane Fox (yes, *the* Martha Lane Fox) and Suw Charman-Anderson to discuss why the tech industries need more women and what we can do about it. This was part of Ada Lovelace Day on 16 October.

We clearly didn’t have long enough to chat and we didn’t have all the answers for sure. But hopefully there are some gems in there that makes it worthwhile listening to. This is a recurring theme. We know that where there is a gender balance on high performing teams – they do better than single-sex high performing teams. Boards who have female directors have more profit. This isn’t rocket science. So have a listen and let’s do something about it.

Click here for the links to download or listen http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/audio/2012/oct/16/tech-weekly-podcast-women-in-tech

Ada Lovelace Day Potluck Unconference

This sounds like it could be fun. If you’re in London Town on Wednesday 24th March and are interested in helping women do more in technology, then why not join the fun? Maggie Philbin and Suw Charman-Anderson will be on hand to kick start the proceedings and then it’s up to the attendees to chip in with what and who they want to talk about.

The potluck bit also refers to the self-catering aspect of it. There won’t be any refreshments provided but everyone who attends can bring their own food and drink to share.

Schedule

6.00 pm: Arrival, drinks, networking, attendees sign up to talk if you want to.
7.00 pm: Introduction by Suw Charman-Anderson, Maggie Philbin talks about her inspiration
7.15 pm: Unconference! Those who signed up can give a short, 3-4 minute talk about their tech/sci heroine.
8.00 pm: Drinks and networking.

It’s being held at the Centre for Creative Collaboration which is near Kings Cross. Find out more about the event and RSVP here.

Technorati Tags: Ada Lovelace Day,women in technology,events

Charge up your phone battery over the air

Now that's truly wireless. I once said to an industry colleague about 5 years ago, that to be truly wireless, we'd have to find a way to do away with plugs and cables entirely. He laughed at me saying we'd all be electrocuted and that that would be impossible. But it seems that that isn't the case.

In the article in Business 2.0 magazine, Powercast's platform uses nothing more complex than a radio--and is cheap enough for just about any company to incorporate into a product. A transmitter plugs into the wall, and a dime-size receiver (the real innovation, costing about $5 to make) can be embedded into any low-voltage device. The receiver turns radio waves into DC electricity, recharging the device's battery at a distance of up to 3 feet.

This is revolutionary stuff. The company behind it is PowerCast and they have a nice video explaining it all on their website.

I've seen a wire-free charging up device before called SplashPower and pretty cool it is too, especially for in the home as it's also quite nice to look at. I'm no guru when it comes to exactly *how* things work. But it looks to me like it works along similar lines to PowerCast in that you need a receiver attached to the device you want to charge up - the main difference being that your device then needs to touch the SplashPad (pictured left) as opposed to PowerCast where you need to be within 3 feet of the transmitter.

This is huge as it's an amazing technology breakthrough. Assuming they pass all the safety tests required with the various manufacturers they're partnering with you can imagine the scope for this - especially as the technology improves over time, which I'm sure it will.

Imagine the scenario with something like the Starsight Project... The solar-powered and wi-fi'd up streetlights could have these transmitters in them and the local people can charge up their mobile phones at their local lampost. I can imagine that being a real hit in developing nations. I guess that's a little while away, but hopefully sooner than we might think.

Via Tom Hume and Textually.