Phil Smeeton's Tech Thinking Blog

The way users often view hardware is that it is mostly similar to another configuration, when thinking about the equipment involved in online virtual meetings we can see a screen, camera, keyboard etc. I think most tech professionals would agree that a certain hardware configuration produces certain results as the hardware configuration differs, so do the results to an extent. One point I think is of value (particularly to western people) is the symmetry, hair line and aging of users appearance on virtual meeting calls. I propose a software application that runs either as part of the virtual meeting software or as a separate application. The function of the application is to make subtle but relevant adjustments to the appearance of the users, for example making the users face 5-10% more symmetrical without over doing any particular enhancement.

With a good number of users using generative AI to help them solve problems and explain complex ideas as well as for code generation and content creation, how are these users getting on with it? Some early research by Microsoft suggests that the technology is a success with a high percentage of users reporting they feel more productive and capable in the workplace whilst using Gen AI. I recently attended a tech conference where AI LLMs where compared (there are quite a few to choose from currently) and one point that was raised was how your company's LLM ought to be designed to produce (Gen AI) advice in alignment with organisational policy. So it's important to know how your Gen AI LLM is biased and you might want to train in your organisations own policy/ideology/bias so that your staff users are given the right advice in the context of the organisation. Also at the same conference the topic of speed appeared in the context of Gen AI, I'm personally less concerned about t...

When we think of the role of food in our human evolution we can see that it has played a large part in how we use our time, from hunting for food, growing it, preparing and serving it. I think that the role food is playing in our evolution is changing, I think that almost all of the things we currently do to create food will be replaced by new nutrition technology. For example how would you feel about taking a tablet once a day that contains all the nutrients including protein and carbs you currently receive from your diet? How about the time saving of this approach? How about a tablet that gives perfect nutrition that makes it almost impossible to have anything other than a great diet? Increasing the healthiness of our food will have a positive effect on other areas of our health, better health, longer life etc. Some of the aspects of the way we use food today include social elements, status of eating expensive foods, and enjoyment of eating, we have also rightly or wrongly associated...

Our circadian rhythms combined with melatonin production and sleep environment are important factors for gaining restorative sleep and creating good physical performance during waking hours. One way of benefitting the human is to use the data created by the wearable health tech to influence the environmental controls in the sleeping environment, like the amount of light and the temperature as well as humidity and maybe some other adjustments. As the user passeses through the different phases of sleep these different aspects of the environment can be optimised for gaining maximum restorative sleep. For example lowering the temperature during the first phase of rest to encourage quickly moving into full sleep. Should the user wake for some reason and wish to return to sleep the control systems will calculate the required heating and lighting changes needed to quickly re-start restorative sleep again.

 One way to extend the reach of the computer hardware is to stimulate some of the remaining senses that are yet to be exploited. For example the olfactory sense doesn't really get much attention at the moment and I think it is a great opportunity particularly in simulation and gaming. The system I am thinking about is an adapted USB device that is pre-loaded with a number of different scents. The USB device heats and diffuses these scents when notified by a software application or game. A few examples when this technology would increase the richness of the user experience are: Burning rubber scent during car racing games, environmental scents during gameplay, scents during online shopping, branded scents during advertising, new product scents when advertising, any time something online wants to be associated with a pleasant scent.

I think most people would agree that a superior memory is a desirable thing, one area that computers excel in is storing information. I have been studying professor Hawkins work on the human brain and I like the idea that our human memories are stored in many neocortical columns. Working memory is a crucial cognitive system that allows humans to temporarily store and manipulate information for various cognitive tasks. It serves as a workspace for the brain, enabling individuals to process and manage information in real-time. Here are some key functions of working memory: 1. **Temporary Storage:** Working memory holds and maintains information for short periods, allowing individuals to keep relevant data in mind while performing cognitive tasks. 2. **Problem Solving:** It plays a vital role in problem-solving by allowing individuals to keep track of intermediate steps and relevant information while working through a problem. 3. **Decision Making:** Working memory is involved in decision...

A few comments and questions: What is the scientificality measurable difference between an in person and virtual meeting? In human evolution the in-person meeting has been very important and influential. What is it going to take to convince the masses that virtual meetings are superior to in person ones? Do people have a genuine understanding of the environmental impact of travelling to other places and can they see how virtual meetings solve the problem of over use of non-renewal resources? The loss of opportunity to read facial expressions, micro expressions, gestures and body language does not matter when dealing with regular people and would only be required when enforcement agencies are meeting with a person of interest.