Tech, life and everything else
This is a collection of links I stumbled across and found worth sharing. Also see the blogroll for links to blogs I regularly read.
Many people have seen the videos of Boston Dynamics with their robots. While watching the videos, I always wondered what the possible use cases for such robots (dogs) are? Just millitary? But now Tom Scott clarifies it with a new video: Hydroelectric power plant inspection for example! With the robots it is cheaper and easier to monitor the power plants centrally.
Via Nicholas Danes I came across the video of Arun Maini (Mrwhosetheboss): “I’m worried about humanity’s future”. In this he addresses some good aspects. It’s about the impact of technology on our lives, society and behaviour. For example, he talks about the fact that algorithms are increasingly trying to keep us in front of the screen for as long as possible, that echo chambers are creating more and more negativity, and that we may soon no longer be able to distinguish between fiction and reality because of AI.
I just stumbled upon this video by “Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell”. It’s about the climate crisis and that the only solution might be a systemic change and I absolutely agree.
Guangyi Li has created a page that demonstrates quite well the current state of the web. You search for something on Google, land on a website and then the click torture starts, until you finally land on the content, but then you have to click again…
Nolan Lawson writes about his love-hate affair with technology.
I found this little open source app to wake up or even shut down my new code server using my smartphone: BootBoi. The whole thing even works via Tailscale, if I use a device from my home network as exit node. To wake up a Wake-on-LAN packet is sent and to shut down a SSH command is executed.
Another entry from my reading list: “Darker Corners of Go”. Rytis Bieliunas has taken the effort to write down all the points to consider when programming with Go. A lengthy list, even if I personally find Go simpler than, say, Java.
I had this link on my Reading List for a long time, today I finally took a look at it and I am thrilled: The Web’s Timeline.
When I watch YouTube videos on my Android phone, I almost always use the NewPipe app. It offers a privacy-friendly experience, protects me from ads, and offers a few more options that you would only get with YouTube Premium (downloading video or audio, for example).
I don’t know much about the technical background, but it’s kind of cool to see that a website can be hosted on a calculator (archive link).