 Our feelings about the present are always out of context. What immediately seems good or bad does not always turn out that way in a week, month, or even a year later.
As we cannot see the future, we lack the full context for the immediate. It is a human curiosity that we shape our impressions by the page of the book we are on rather than waiting until the end of the story. There are, of course, some stories that cannot wait to be fully told before we form an impression. When an objective truth is unavailable, we must act on good faith with what we have in front of us.
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 If you follow technology news, you might catch an article or two about the benefits of open-source software. A few cavalier individuals are even on a crusade to open-source all of the software in the world.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. As with most modern technology, we have become too distracted by it to notice the burden imposed by open-source software. It is rather severe.  Nothing happens in a vacuum. Our entire known universe is interconnected.
Feedback is all around us. It can arrive in the form of verbal comments from a trusted friend. It can be cells in our bodies interacting with each other via biochemistry. Or, on a grand scale, it can be biodiversity in action as one species ensures the survival of another in a very obscure way. Why is it so hard for us to notice and interpret feedback all around us? What happens when feedback is manipulated artificially?  As Shift Sight is primarily concerned with humane, sustainable edtech, the last few posts might have seemed out of place.
They are the preamble for this one. General tech typically becomes edtech due to profiteering, so the previous posts about what is happening outside the classroom is especially relevant. Let's get back to school.  Evil never presents itself as evil. There are no corporations standing on street corners twirling their proverbial mustaches.
There are lies and deception. There is whitewashing. And there is technology forced on society without full disclosure. This is a wolf in sheep's clothing. What is a common theme in the tech marketing you will hear? “This technology is helpful!”  Our planet is a very delicate puzzle. There are many interdependent, interlocking pieces. When we remove one of these pieces, the picture becomes incomplete for a bit.
But it does not stay incomplete: like any organic structure, a reorganization occurs to reach a new point that is stable. For example, as the population of a species declines, new predator-prey relationships form in the food chain. The gap closes quickly. Keep reading while we assemble our puzzle for you. Let's start with the corners.  There is a growing movement of individuals who believe that you should own the electronic goods that you purchase. In most cases, you simply get a license to use the device.
With everything from screws that do not come out, to software lockouts / DRM / artificial obsolescence by remote-control, to glued-in batteries, to illegal "warranty void if opened" stickers, it is clear that manufacturers are not on board with you owning or repairing your device. All of these tactics lead to e-waste and more consumption. In the industry, there are best practices for Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Testability (DfT). Shift Sight is pioneering Design for Repair (DfR). Keep reading to learn more...  Have you stopped to think that most human institutions are not aligned to most human needs? It should not be surprising when we consider that monetary wealth – the most basic measure of what you can do in this instant – is so unevenly distributed.
Is more technology going to bend this arc? Follow the money for an answer.  Due to lengthy website rework compounded by our relocation, I have decided to resume writing the company blog. It was one of our most popular features, and it has been neglected for too long.
While working through our website updates, I kept wanting to write that Jade is a sustainable tool for creating a sustainable future. Tonight, I want to reflect on this sentiment.  Shift Sight HQ has relocated, but we are still working out of boxes. Our primary computer is setup and has resumed rendering models / video 24/7 for the WIP website overhaul. We are still pushing with full momentum: there is not a second to lose.
I wanted to share an iFixit link describing the necessity of durable electronics. The quick facts at the top say it all: recycling is not a long-term solution, as approximately 30% of material is lost in the process. You cannot remove pristine egg yolk from a baked cake. Look forward to regular updates soon! |
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Ty is a Founder of Shift Sight, LLC. Archives
February 2019
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