The attention of a goldfish?
Arts and Humanities
Cognitive Politics
In the preface to Harold D. Lasswell’s (1936: v) book entitled Politics, he famously defined politics as the study of ‘who gets what, when, and how’ – also the subtitle of his book. He went on to argue that influence is central to politics and that “[c]oncepts for the study of influence must be changed … Continue reading Cognitive Politics
Saving Strunk and White
Looking into one of my College’s hallway recycling bins, as one does, I found a fourth edition paperback of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Arguably, for my generation, as Strunk died the year before I was born, this has been one of the most useful and inspiring books for any young writer or … Continue reading Saving Strunk and White
The Magic of Networking in Life and Work
Last week I had the opportunity to speak to an incredibly talented group of rising stars in their respective fields. They were the participants in the Young Muslim Leadership Programme, organized and supported by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, and The Prince’s Charities. Participants included a British Muslim doctor, a physicist, a senior business … Continue reading The Magic of Networking in Life and Work
Technology is Catching Up with Seminal Thinkers in Education
I read with interest today that some leading computer scientists believe that AI innovations might well transform basic educational practices, such as what goes on in the classroom. While I agree and believe these changes are most likely to be quite positive, let me suggest that the sequence is somewhat the opposite of what the … Continue reading Technology is Catching Up with Seminal Thinkers in Education
AI and The Fifth Estate: The Power Shift of the Digital Age
The emergence of ChatGPT and related Artificial Intelligence (AI) tied to Large Language Models (LLMs) is the hot-button issue of the day. There are those who see AI as the new-new thing that will boost productivity and jobs. Others have raised concerns over LLMs being error prone – like other media, in not getting the … Continue reading AI and The Fifth Estate: The Power Shift of the Digital Age
A London Forum on Histories of the Internet
AIT Forum on the Histories of the Internet: Call for Papers Archives of IT (AIT) is organising a one-day academic-practitioner forum on the Histories of the Internet in January 2024. The forum is designed to: foster more critical, multidisciplinary perspectives on the history of computers, telecommunications, the internet, and related digital media; illuminate how people, … Continue reading A London Forum on Histories of the Internet
Oral Histories of your Family
Oral Histories of your Family: Questions I Failed to Ask With age, I’ve become more aware of the questions I should have asked my parents and grandparents. Like many others, I was interested in my family’s history. For example, I have long treasured my “Aunt Ann’s” family bible with key dates and events recorded in … Continue reading Oral Histories of your Family
The Power of Music – Orchestra Vox at Gatehouse
It is easy to take music for granted when we are surrounded by gadgets that can connect us with any musician or genre of music in an instant. However, last Friday evening at the Gatehouse in Oxford, I saw the power that music can play in a way I should never forget. Gatehouse is a … Continue reading The Power of Music – Orchestra Vox at Gatehouse
New Histories of Information and Media Technologies
New Historical Perspectives on Media and Information Technologies? For decades, students of media, communication, and internet studies have been so focused on the future that the past is too often ignored. Is there a rising interest in the history of media and information technologies and policies? Might more attention to the past hold promise for … Continue reading New Histories of Information and Media Technologies