Fire and Knowledge

Kottke quotes from Wallace’s Infinite Jest on why videophones might die out. Here’s a summary quote:

The answer, in a kind of trivalent nutshell, is: (1) emotional stress, (2) physical vanity, and (3) a certain queer kind of self-obliterating logic in the microeconomics of consumer high-tech.

I think video is a great option to have and I’m sure I will use it (especially with family). But for casual long-distance conversation, audio-only will reign for a while yet.

This is by far my favorite Desiring God conference video trailer. Great work DGers!

Also, I think only good things can come from encouraging people to think.

Here is Sam Harris on the relationship between science and morality:

The future of magazines is coming soon. This look like a much better experience than browsing a magazine’s website:

This is really exciting from a design & reading standpoint. It will be the experience of reading a magazine, but with the interactivity of the web. It’s going to be a really fun decade.

I’m really impressed with this demo, and I feel confident that something like this is going to be the future. I love how they solved the problem of arm/neck fatigue, and how they kept a physical keyboard. I can’t wait to use a real demo of this.

For more information, see 10/GUI.