Here is a list of articles I read this past year. They prompted me to learn something new or to change something in my life, so I thought I’ll share them.
Lessons from work
Messaging is the only interface in which the machine communicates with you much the same as the way you communicate with it.
Text messaging as an interface (vs. apps and voice-based commands).
Only 51% of US smartphone users still download new apps.
Just one of the reasons why apps are slowly dying out (statistics).
Those occupations that bank on creativity, empathy, and intuition will thrive despite IoT and AI replacing many white collar jobs.
“The Jobs IoT Will Remove — and the Ones It Will Create” was one of our most popular blog posts at Unified Inbox.
The #1 trend in 2016 was #IoT (the “Internet of Things”), closely followed by #AI (Artificial Intelligence) which could overtake IoT in 2017 already:
- The Race for AI – one of the reasons why 2017 will be a major year for artificial intelligence. And more specifically: What is AGI?
- How people and machines will communicate in the future – one my most popular LinkedIn Posts this year.
The rapid development of AI and IoT related technologies give an unprecedented rise to concerns about privacy, security and the future of the internet:
- Search engines are ‘distorting perception’ – users should have a right to know how and on what basis the information they received via search engines was channelled to them.
- Yahoo scanned all emails [and they were not the only ones] – a reminder that emails are not the best place to put confidential information.
- Conversations you didn’t know Google records – and how to delete them.
- Ways you didn’t know your wi-fi router can spy on you – how automatic lip reading through wi-fi radiation became a hacking thing.
- Internet and freedom – by definition that relationship has changed.
Developments in science & education
- Finland removes school subjects – encourages more collaboration and communication between pupils to allow them to develop their creative thinking skills.
- Meditation replaces detention in schools – the result: zero suspensions and increased attention span and focus in the kids.
- Researchers turn carbon dioxide into ethanol – a reminder that behind every accident there is an incident, even in science.
- There is no evidence that any amount of homework improves the academic performance of elementary students. Some even wonder why not ban it?
- The discovery of gravitational waves – was there a big bang and will we live to “see” it?
- College tourism in Europe – Germany’s move to make tuition free at all public colleges proves to be quite popular with American students.
- Bacteria that feed on electricity – what does this mean for life not just on our, but also on other planets?
- How natural & artificial light is impacting human’s endocrine system & hormones – the science of photoendocrinology.
- Sugar vs fat – I did a 6 weeks strict sugar diet after reading this article.
- Producing power from vacuum – India’s free energy program.
One of my passions – music
- Music and marbles – one hell of a machine
- Music – the key to success? – by developing collaboration, creativity, discipline and the capacity to reconcile conflicting ideas, it helps train you to think differently, to process different points of view.
- What music does to our brains – consider that article the next time you put your preferred music style on your C.V.
- One of the most talented young musicians takes lessons via Skype from teachers around the world. Teaching music lessons remotely is what my final paper at university was about – though my teacher told me this will likely never happen…
About startups, entrepreneurship and angel investing
- There is no roadmap, no blueprint for idea sex – you’re on your own until you develop the charisma and credibility to attract the talent you need to come with you.
- The myth of Silicon Valley’s greatness – why are so many entrepreneurs trying to fix things that aren’t broken? Hot air isn’t the only thing escaping the tech bubble.
- Good reasons not to start angel investing – doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start a company though instead.
- Digital nomading looks glamorous – for those who don’t do it.
- The winner takes it all – the tough new (old) mentality, at least in the technology domain.
- I will continue to practise these 11 habits of highly successful people – stay tuned.
Meanwhile in society
- Icelanders took control of their government, they effectively own the banks. They now get paid for selling the banks back to the government. But then what?
- Violence is just fine if you are a Good Guy. Is it?
- Basic income – a discussion I’m following for two decades is finally being taken seriously and properly investigated.
- Why it’s more important than ever to travel – it’s one of the essential factors in addressing the hatred and fear that endanger our planet.
- More nuclear weapons have been built this year.
- An amazing account of journalistic collaboration in today’s time: the panama papers.
- The Kardashev Scale – Type I, II, III, IV & V Civilization.
- Parks are people, too – this national park in New Zealand has the same rights and powers as a citizen. Meet “Te Urewera”:
Work life balance and productivity
Don’t promise when you’re happy, don’t reply when you’re angry, and don’t decide when you’re sad.
It’s imperative to control your emotions if you truly want to be productive.
- The high cost of cheap messages – one of the many attempts to eliminate email.
- There is a relation between feeling youthful and productivity.
- How technology hijacks people’s minds – to liberate yourself, think like magicians do and design for time well spent.
- Five and six hour work days – the solution for the free time paradox America has today?
Personal Development
You will never get any more out of life than you expect.
These never before seen writings from Bruce Lee are an excellent reminder that we still have a long way to go to truly utilize our minds’ full potential and how important it is to cultivate that.
Other learnings:
- You can do everything right and still lose – so never stop learning, always have an open mind and read the tides of time.
- The difference between responsibility and accountability – strategies for living a “no excuse” world.
- Dictionaries aren’t final – they keep growing. Would love to come up with a word which spreads in society and becomes part of that language’s fabric one day.
- Small talk should be banned – stop seeking (and settling) for the lowest common denominator.
- The desire to prove something is a strong motivator – and can lead to a major power shift.
- Invention is only the first step of innovation – it takes 30 years for a new idea to seep into the culture.
- Being unreasonably optimistic is the key to success – if you can’t believe you’re going to get there, you most definitely won’t. Or, with words from Henry Ford:
Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.