Hooking up your computer to the World Community Grid is one of the easiest ways to make a difference to our world.

And you don’t have to do anything other than the initial sign up and download.

When you are not actively using your computer (eg you are on the phone, sipping coffee, or pondering a sentence on your screen), the processor on your computer automatically …

“…the term astroturfing describes formal public relations (PR) campaigns that seek to create the impression of being a spontaneous, grassroots behavior. Hence the reference to the “AstroTurf” (artificial grass) is a metaphor to indicate “fake grassroots” support.

The goal of such a campaign is to disguise the agenda of a client as an independent public reaction…”

Read the full entry on wikipedia.

As the …

Closeup of a large screen display at the Easter Show, Sydney. March 2005

We have fair-trade coffee and various other ethically sourced and manufactured goods such as non-sweat-shop clothing.

Given most electronics manufacturing is now done in countries like China where labour is cheap and plentiful, and where sweat shops have most opportunities to grow, far from the eyes of Western consumers; is it now time for ethically manufactured electronics?

Read the article about Apple’s iPod factories on MacWorld UK.

Read the …

Spotted at a supermarket:

Context affords a huge amount of information - it enables understanding. Without context, the phrase “Glass Juice” is utterly meaningless.

Contrast this with how databases, knowledge management systems (KMS), customer relationship systems (CRM) works with information. In order for these systems to manage information effectively, we are forced to pare down the rich context of knowing a person, a skill, or an …

The people who build systems unconsciously or consciously affect the culture we live in. Their unique world view, cultural quirks, and beliefs will inevitably seep into the systems they build. These systems then become ways to export the creators culture to others.

Example: games that fetishises women – think Lara Croft. As with all craftspersons, game developers design and build what they themselves want. And given a lot of …

The IOC is worried that they many not be able to “manage” what athletes say about the Games through their personal blogs. They are concerned that blogs “could lead to scurrilous rumours being broadcast on the Internet”.

Welcome to the real world! The Internet gives us (ok, those of us who have the means of accessing it) the power to say exactly what we want to. To express our …

Here are simple things you can do at work to reduce your contribution to global warming:

Get large LCD monitors.

Avoid printing things. I suspect most people print things more out of habit than necessity.

Good quality large LCD monitors are available now at great prices. Consider upgrading all your monitors to 19″ or larger LCDs. That way, you can read emails, documents, and web pages comfortably on-screen. Pivotable displays are …

Tired of the generic colours of your favourite computer or MP3 player? Colorware will change it for you.

An interesting niche business. This is the 21st century version of a car body customising business.

What similar niche can you identify in your industry?

One of the techniques I use when struggling with a problem is to force myself to look at it from different angles. This is done by: Asking the right questions to reveal hidden insights. Looking at what is in front of me from different angles. Turning things on their sides.

Here’s a fun and useful example of this approach:

Recently, I got it into my head that I’d be so …