The Rabbi & the Golem: A Parable on Synthetic Life

There was a very exciting announcement recently that synthetic life had been created in a laboratory through the wonderful applications of scientific advancement. Rather than my usual commentary on the ethics of this situation, I thought I would try something different and provide a spiritual parable of sorts about synthetic life. I hope that you enjoy it.Continue Reading

F*k Facebook! 5 Alternatives to Help Destroy the Evil Empire

Over the last few weeks there has been concern after concern – some of them legal challenges – being put forward by privacy advocates and social media experts – with even a few higher profile ones quitting the social network in protest and some advocating a mass-termination of accounts on May 31st. But what’s the alternative and how can this evil empire be stopped?Continue Reading

Site of the Week: Big Think

First of all, let me apologise for the small delay in posting – I’ve been rather ill recently and that has reflected in my ability to think too clearly or sit in front of a computer screen for too long! As such, today I wanted to bring back something I did here on Future Conscience for a little while: which is the introduce a new Site of the Week. This week – Big Think.Continue Reading

[Review] Radio Free Albemuth: Into the Mind of Philip K Dick

You could call Philip K Dick one of the main reasons why this blog even exists; not only because he is my most beloved author, but also due to the fact that his thoughts about technology and social progress were so ahead of their time that the level of foreshadowing they present is just remarkable. Tonight I was granted the wonderful opportunity to see a ‘sneak preview’ screening of the most recent adaptation of a Philip K Dick novel, Radio Free Albemuth, at the Sci-Fi London film festival.Continue Reading

5 Things I Learnt at Internet World 2010

Today marks the beginning of Internet World, one of Europe’s largest expos dedicated to internet technology and business in all its many forms. I went there in order to pick up a few pointers about social media and how to implement a business strategy surrounding all this new hoopla; but I ended the day figuring out more about people and the way the industry will operate in the future more than anything else. Continue Reading

6 Effective Ways to Annoy Your Social Network

Make sure you don’t succumb to these awfully effective ways of getting yourself overlooked; ignored; or, even worse, cast aside and forgotten with nothing more than a single flex of a finger. Here are, in no particular order (except maybe the last one), 6 highly effective ways to piss off your social network.Continue Reading