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I'd be happy building a personal computing system that wasn't centred around a glowing screen and keyboard. One where the "computer" is practically invisible an

I'd be happy building a personal computing system that wasn't centred around a glowing screen and keyboard. One where the "computer" is practically invisible and hidden from view. Think decentraland, screenl.es, etc. e-Ink tablets, chalk boards, voice, gesture... any humane interface that works for you would be suitable rather than distinctly designed experiences sold to you. It came from a dream of wanting to be able to do my job, software development, with theorem provers and code synthesizers using interactive assistants and hand-writing recognition on e-Ink devices. It'd be nice to have a space that was truly intuitive in the human-scale sense: a device that isn't a device; that doesn't slowly ruin my body as I adjust myself to it, etc. A device that wasn't co-opted to keep me engaged and spending, spending, spending. It'd also be nice if I could build these things out of commodity parts with commodity interfaces so that we can up-cycle and maintain these computers well into the future without dumping them every few years for the new shiny. ... it's a distinctly uncapitalist computer which is probably why I'll never be able to build it unless I win the capitalist lottery. But hey, one can dream. f-u money is what I look forward to.

lioeters 5y ago
I like your dream! An invisible computing system and environment with a range of inputs/interfaces and software to extend the human intellect. You probably mean Dynamicland of Alan Kay and Bret Victor? https://dynamicland.org https://dynamicland.org In contrast, "decentraland" seems like a project involving virtual reality and blockchain/web3 stuff. https://decentraland.org https://decentraland.org "The Screenless Office" was new to me, an intriguing concept. http://screenl.es http://screenl.es It makes me think of screen readers, and how I imagine blind people interact with the computer and navigate the web with auditory feedback instead of visual. > ..if I could build these things out of commodity parts It feels like you might get pretty far with commodity hardware, like microcomputers, sensors, electronic parts and so on. The software side sounds like years of work though. I can picture it as a long-term passion project, growing a personal computing ecosystem.. Your description sparked some imagination for my own take on the vision, involving MIDI keyboards and instruments with knobs, dials, touch screen; and a projector that turns a whole wall into a computing interface. Some microphones and cameras as input devices, parsing hand and body gestures..
- agentultra 5y ago
  Yes, I did mean Dynamicland. Thanks for noticing. Definitely didn’t mean that other thing.
tagami 5y ago
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.

lioeters 5y ago

I like your dream! An invisible computing system and environment with a range of inputs/interfaces and software to extend the human intellect. You probably mean Dynamicland of Alan Kay and Bret Victor? https://dynamicland.org https://dynamicland.org In contrast, "decentraland" seems like a project involving virtual reality and blockchain/web3 stuff. https://decentraland.org https://decentraland.org "The Screenless Office" was new to me, an intriguing concept. http://screenl.es http://screenl.es It makes me think of screen readers, and how I imagine blind people interact with the computer and navigate the web with auditory feedback instead of visual. > ..if I could build these things out of commodity parts It feels like you might get pretty far with commodity hardware, like microcomputers, sensors, electronic parts and so on. The software side sounds like years of work though. I can picture it as a long-term passion project, growing a personal computing ecosystem.. Your description sparked some imagination for my own take on the vision, involving MIDI keyboards and instruments with knobs, dials, touch screen; and a projector that turns a whole wall into a computing interface. Some microphones and cameras as input devices, parsing hand and body gestures..

agentultra 5y ago
Yes, I did mean Dynamicland. Thanks for noticing. Definitely didn’t mean that other thing.

tagami 5y ago

Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.