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I have two things to share with you today.
First, we're starting a publishing company.
Second, I wrote a book about computing, which you can preorder starting today!
Alexander Obenauer
5,328 posts
Alexander Obenauer
@alexobenauer
I explore the interfaces with which we think & the future of personal computing. I also make books.
- "The concepts in modern operating systems — apps, windows, desktops, notifications, and so on — have so permeated our understanding of personal computing that it’s hard to imagine anything else, let alone believe there could be anything better." New essay, link in reply.
- For the last year or so, I've been working on a longer-term project that experiments with building itemized environments. People should have sovereignty over their hardware, software, and data; unlocking opportunity, agency, curiosity, and creativity. WonderOS.org
- At long last, I present to you: the OLLOS essay. It's got everything: how it works & how I used it, design and concept iterations, future work for it and the OS, and what I learned about personal interfaces. Enjoy:
- Looking at these makes me want to throw everything out and just start building weird new computing hardware: docubyte.com/projects/guide…
- Last year we were exploring how to "kill the app" at @inkandswitch. To start, I made this prototype... It explores an environment in which separate programs might "donate" certain data to the underlying substrate, and react to relevant data from nearby programs. Vids in replies
- My next essay is in need of art for the top. Would love to work with an artist to put something compelling together. Any recommendations?
- Friends! The first run of our book Bootstrapping Computing sold out quicker than we expected. We’re processing those orders now. We’re teeing up a limited second run, shipping in September. Preorders are open now! Link in reply, details in thread.
- This is one of the reasons why data needs to be independent from interfaces: so that when we adopt new technologies, we don't spend years carrying along incongruent UIs from past paradigms to access the underlying data.
- We should be able to whip up these kinds of interfaces we envision supporting our best. Software is capable of infinite representations – but we’ve made its interfaces more rigid than physical ones!i would be so much better at texting and maintaining relationships if iMessage let me organize like this
- This year, I worked with @inkandswitch on a project that asks impt questions about the future of the OS The user environments of today’s operating systems are over-abstract and overwrought, as Don Norman pointed out 30 years ago. But how would you reorganize personal computing?
- Happy New Year! New site is live: alexanderobenauer.com Annual update is posted: alexanderobenauer.com/2023/
