by Dwayne Phillips Sorry folks, “the algorithm found the answer that I used” is just another excuse. We choose what to do one way or another. “The computer made me do it!” Well, actually it was the algorithm underlying the software that runs on the computer. Hmmm. Who built the computer? Who created the algorithm? […]
Entries Tagged as 'Tools'
The Age of Algorithms (a convenient excuse)
July 5th, 2021 · No Comments
Tags: Alternatives · Choose · Decide · Design · Excuses · Tools
Some Essentials for Writers II
December 10th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips At last, I continue a series of essentials for writers. The first Some Essentials for Writers was posted December 10th, 2012. I actually promised that I would write some more parts to that post. Well, 7 1/2 years later, here we go. I have been working recently with things called Jekyll, Markdown, […]
…Unless You Have a Tool
October 19th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips There are many tasks that are difficult and require fine motor control and dexterity. They are darn near impossible—unless you have a tool. A few years ago, we were building a system that had a sensor. The sensor would sense the state of an other system and relay signals to a processor. […]
Tags: Alternatives · General Systems Thinking · Systems · Tools
WDYWT?
October 15th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I find a little trick that helps me write something “for the record” each day. I write. I tell myself that every day. Most days that is true. Most days I will write something of some substance or “for the record.” I have worked from home for the past six months (almost […]
Tags: Adapting · Remote Work · Systems · Tools · Visibility · Writing
Hire a Technician (Clerk) or a Scientist
July 27th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips What type of person are you trying to hire? The questions you ask answer this question. Please listen to yourself. Do you want a scientist or a technician or a clerk? Technicians and clerks are easy to find. Ask what tools they’ve used. Finding a scientist or analyst or other thinker … […]
Tags: Jobs · Questions · Science · Technology · Tools
The Democratization of This or That Technology
June 29th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Someone please give me a magic wand so that I won’t have to talk to those ogres. I currently work in what some people call “data science” and others call “artificial intelligence and machine learning.” Each day I read something about the “democratization of data science” and the “democratization of artificial intelligence […]
Tags: People · Technology · Tools
The Price of Tools and the Place of Work
December 16th, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Once again, the price of tools has fallen dramatically. This has shifted the place of work, and we are struggling to adapt. A few weeks ago, I went to a seminar where I connected a $100 gadget from Nvidia to a four-year-old $1,000 portable computer from Apple, used a bunch of $0 […]
Tags: Agility · Alternatives · Change · Tools · Trust · Work
Scientists or Technicians?
October 24th, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips It can be a sobering question, but one that we should address. Person A: Do you want to hire a scientist or a technician? Person B: A scientist, of course. Person A: But the job description lists a lot of tools, software and otherwise. Person B: Yes, of course. The person needs […]
Tags: Concepts · Employment · Jobs · Science · Technology · Tools
Automation and Time to Think
October 21st, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips There are many things we can do to reduce the time required to complete tasks. Is that always a good thing? If we do a task each day, let’s find a way to automate it. Surely we can write a little piece of software that will do it for us at the […]
The Amazon Written Memo Meeting: Nothing New Here
September 2nd, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Jeff Bezos and Amazon have received much praise for their use of written essays at meetings instead of PowerPoint and bullet points. Great, but not new. This is a good piece about Amazon’s use of written memos at meetings. Keep the thinking focused. Don’t waste time. Think. Communicate. Excellent. Great. I love […]
Tags: Communication · Thinking · Tools · Writing