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Alexander Obenauer

@alexanderobenauer.com

I explore the interfaces with which we think & the future of personal computing. I also make books. alexanderobenauer.com

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Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 2w ago

Something I haven't gotten to say in a while... new lab note today! It's on a kind of user interface that pops up only occasionally: the extemporaneous UI that allows users to 'wave their wand' & get the interface they need through direct interaction. Read on: alexanderobenauer.com/labnotes/041/

LN 041: Extemporaneous UIs

Tear-off menus, quantized semantic zoom, and spatial computational canvases show us one approach to frictionless malleable interfaces.

alexanderobenauer.com

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 4w ago

Submissions are open until August 31! Answering some frequently asked questions: - Submissions should be complete, but do not have to be final drafts. - Submissions do not have to be about one particular topic. We're looking for expertise from many domains beyond CS. [...]

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 3mo ago

Today, I'm excited to announce our next title! "Augment" is a forthcoming book featuring a collection of essays on the future of personal computing — specifically, on the kind we’d like to see more of in the future, and the ideas that might help us get there.

Augment is a forthcoming collection of essays on the future of personal computing: specifically, on the kind we as a species need in order to move beyond our stuck present, and on the ideas that will help us get there. This book is meant to serve as guidance and inspiration as we build a next generation of hardware, software, and systems. We hope you’ll share this page with those you think might write great essays for Augment, and even consider writing one yourself. Submissions are due by July 31. The technology field is today in a precarious state. A tsunamic tide of commercial thinking has managed the wholesale capture of practitioners, institutions, and dialogue. This capture has drained all imagination from our surround, and so actual invention has slid likewise near to zero. Along the way, the systems meant first to extend human reach have instead become dull and clanking manacles. Yet the same quality that makes technology easy to hijack — that massless, abstract ductility — leaves it as easy to re-form. The opportunity is still with us, undimmed, to build anew the beautiful thing, the powerful thing, the luminous thing, the human thing. This then is the invitation: to trawl a net through waters that, far enough down, remain idea-rich and that, with care, might still teem.
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 2mo ago

We have extended the submission deadline to Monday, August 31! We wanted to make sure folks have enough time to explore their wildest ideas. Take some time this summer to write a chapter submission for Augment!

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 3mo ago

Today, I'm excited to announce our next title! "Augment" is a forthcoming book featuring a collection of essays on the future of personal computing — specifically, on the kind we’d like to see more of in the future, and the ideas that might help us get there.

Augment is a forthcoming collection of essays on the future of personal computing: specifically, on the kind we as a species need in order to move beyond our stuck present, and on the ideas that will help us get there. This book is meant to serve as guidance and inspiration as we build a next generation of hardware, software, and systems. We hope you’ll share this page with those you think might write great essays for Augment, and even consider writing one yourself. Submissions are due by July 31. The technology field is today in a precarious state. A tsunamic tide of commercial thinking has managed the wholesale capture of practitioners, institutions, and dialogue. This capture has drained all imagination from our surround, and so actual invention has slid likewise near to zero. Along the way, the systems meant first to extend human reach have instead become dull and clanking manacles. Yet the same quality that makes technology easy to hijack — that massless, abstract ductility — leaves it as easy to re-form. The opportunity is still with us, undimmed, to build anew the beautiful thing, the powerful thing, the luminous thing, the human thing. This then is the invitation: to trawl a net through waters that, far enough down, remain idea-rich and that, with care, might still teem.
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 2mo ago

We also have a "proposals" form if you'd like to get feedback on your idea before a full submission. Some wonderful submissions have already filtered in that way! And we have a "nominations" form if you'd like to submit a prompt for someone - a good prompt can be a wonderful gift.

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 3mo ago

Today, I'm excited to announce our next title! "Augment" is a forthcoming book featuring a collection of essays on the future of personal computing — specifically, on the kind we’d like to see more of in the future, and the ideas that might help us get there.

Augment is a forthcoming collection of essays on the future of personal computing: specifically, on the kind we as a species need in order to move beyond our stuck present, and on the ideas that will help us get there. This book is meant to serve as guidance and inspiration as we build a next generation of hardware, software, and systems. We hope you’ll share this page with those you think might write great essays for Augment, and even consider writing one yourself. Submissions are due by July 31. The technology field is today in a precarious state. A tsunamic tide of commercial thinking has managed the wholesale capture of practitioners, institutions, and dialogue. This capture has drained all imagination from our surround, and so actual invention has slid likewise near to zero. Along the way, the systems meant first to extend human reach have instead become dull and clanking manacles. Yet the same quality that makes technology easy to hijack — that massless, abstract ductility — leaves it as easy to re-form. The opportunity is still with us, undimmed, to build anew the beautiful thing, the powerful thing, the luminous thing, the human thing. This then is the invitation: to trawl a net through waters that, far enough down, remain idea-rich and that, with care, might still teem.
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 2mo ago

We also have a "proposals" form if you'd like to get feedback on your idea before a full submission. Some wonderful submissions have already filtered in that way! And we have a "nominations" form if you'd like to submit a prompt for someone - a good prompt can be a wonderful gift.

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 3mo ago

Today, I'm excited to announce our next title! "Augment" is a forthcoming book featuring a collection of essays on the future of personal computing — specifically, on the kind we’d like to see more of in the future, and the ideas that might help us get there.

Augment is a forthcoming collection of essays on the future of personal computing: specifically, on the kind we as a species need in order to move beyond our stuck present, and on the ideas that will help us get there. This book is meant to serve as guidance and inspiration as we build a next generation of hardware, software, and systems. We hope you’ll share this page with those you think might write great essays for Augment, and even consider writing one yourself. Submissions are due by July 31. The technology field is today in a precarious state. A tsunamic tide of commercial thinking has managed the wholesale capture of practitioners, institutions, and dialogue. This capture has drained all imagination from our surround, and so actual invention has slid likewise near to zero. Along the way, the systems meant first to extend human reach have instead become dull and clanking manacles. Yet the same quality that makes technology easy to hijack — that massless, abstract ductility — leaves it as easy to re-form. The opportunity is still with us, undimmed, to build anew the beautiful thing, the powerful thing, the luminous thing, the human thing. This then is the invitation: to trawl a net through waters that, far enough down, remain idea-rich and that, with care, might still teem.
Ben Fry@benfry.com · 3mo ago

Very excited to be a part of this, and to be writing about the things we want to see and experience and build, rather than responding to the avalanche of badness that's happening around us.

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 3mo ago

Today, I'm excited to announce our next title! "Augment" is a forthcoming book featuring a collection of essays on the future of personal computing — specifically, on the kind we’d like to see more of in the future, and the ideas that might help us get there.

Augment is a forthcoming collection of essays on the future of personal computing: specifically, on the kind we as a species need in order to move beyond our stuck present, and on the ideas that will help us get there. This book is meant to serve as guidance and inspiration as we build a next generation of hardware, software, and systems. We hope you’ll share this page with those you think might write great essays for Augment, and even consider writing one yourself. Submissions are due by July 31. The technology field is today in a precarious state. A tsunamic tide of commercial thinking has managed the wholesale capture of practitioners, institutions, and dialogue. This capture has drained all imagination from our surround, and so actual invention has slid likewise near to zero. Along the way, the systems meant first to extend human reach have instead become dull and clanking manacles. Yet the same quality that makes technology easy to hijack — that massless, abstract ductility — leaves it as easy to re-form. The opportunity is still with us, undimmed, to build anew the beautiful thing, the powerful thing, the luminous thing, the human thing. This then is the invitation: to trawl a net through waters that, far enough down, remain idea-rich and that, with care, might still teem.
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 3mo ago

Today, I'm excited to announce our next title! "Augment" is a forthcoming book featuring a collection of essays on the future of personal computing — specifically, on the kind we’d like to see more of in the future, and the ideas that might help us get there.

Augment is a forthcoming collection of essays on the future of personal computing: specifically, on the kind we as a species need in order to move beyond our stuck present, and on the ideas that will help us get there. This book is meant to serve as guidance and inspiration as we build a next generation of hardware, software, and systems. We hope you’ll share this page with those you think might write great essays for Augment, and even consider writing one yourself. Submissions are due by July 31. The technology field is today in a precarious state. A tsunamic tide of commercial thinking has managed the wholesale capture of practitioners, institutions, and dialogue. This capture has drained all imagination from our surround, and so actual invention has slid likewise near to zero. Along the way, the systems meant first to extend human reach have instead become dull and clanking manacles. Yet the same quality that makes technology easy to hijack — that massless, abstract ductility — leaves it as easy to re-form. The opportunity is still with us, undimmed, to build anew the beautiful thing, the powerful thing, the luminous thing, the human thing. This then is the invitation: to trawl a net through waters that, far enough down, remain idea-rich and that, with care, might still teem.
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 4mo ago

If you read Bootstrapping Computing, what questions did you walk away from it with? Did you look anything up while reading it? Anything in it you could do without, or that served only to confuse?

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · last yr.

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.

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 4mo ago

If you read Bootstrapping Computing, what questions did you walk away from it with? Did you look anything up while reading it? Anything in it you could do without, or that served only to confuse?

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · last yr.

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.

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 5mo ago

Some personal news: Sarah and I (and Cheesesteak) moved to Boston earlier this year. We've fallen more in love with the city since Sarah started grad school here a couple years back. Looking for a space for Buddy Bindery & Press; and looking forward to meeting who's around!

Katie Langerman@katielangerman.com · 7mo ago

Great read from @alexanderobenauer.com 🙌 "...plenty of things let you explore someone else's thinking, but personal computers can help you explore your own thinking, giving you living spaces to externalize, review, expand, and refine your thoughts on the things that matter most to you."

The cover of Bootstrapping Computing (paperback edition) by Alexander Obenauer
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 7mo ago

This Christmas is a weird one. We're staying home with our cat who is in the final stages of an illness he's had for some years. Keeping him comfortable. It's also our first in NH. I love the amount of snow we get up here.

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 8mo ago

We engage in an evolutionary construction that continues a tradition started by our physical world long before we were here, and carried on into computing from its earliest days. It's also a process that mirrors how creative, explorative work is done.

LAYERING UP THE ITEMIZED USER ENVIRONMENT December 3 In this lab report, we consider one way to look at the architecture for the itemized user environment: a layering that has been happening since the dawn of time. Some harbor an inclination toward a “grand design” in the construction of a new operating system’s user environment; a sort of “turtles all the way down” architecture that features one substance, or one core primitive, which defines the mechanics of an entire computing system deep under the hood and up into userland. I’m more inclined toward the “layers” which we’ve been stacking up since we first made the jump from hard-coded circuits to programmable, general ones (and on which we have built many new layers — machine code, assembly, low- and high-level programming languages, and so on). Each layer adheres to the contract of the one below, and offers a new way to think about things to the layers which will be built above. This is how we’ve bootstrapped into all of modern computing starting from simple logic gates, in a slow, evolutionary construction. This isn’t just the way modern computing came to be; it’s the way our physical world came to be, too! This “layering” is how our world has evolved into the one we know. But it comes with some important consequences.Our evolutionary construction, the layering, neatly reflects how we do this kind of creative, exploratory work, and how the mind engages with ideas. Ted Nelson, in Literary Machines: Complicated ideas evolve slowly. People who do not work endlessly with ideas may not easily imagine how many are the steps that intensive work with ideas entails; how many are the guesses, postulations, reconsiderations, shifts of thought, confusions, resyntheses, reintegrations; how much is the rework of dearly-held insights in clouds of confusion. The swirl of needed changes never seems to end. […] This could not have been done with schedules and deadlines. When a project requires both exhaustive exploration and unusual inspiration, it is going to take however long it takes.
Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 8mo ago

"I mistook a clear view for a short distance." Too real! I've experienced this time and again. But I'm reticent to encode a reminder to avoid this mistake in the future; my life has been filled with wonderful projects that I would not have embarked on had I not been so naive.

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Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 8mo ago

I greatly appreciate everyone who has purchased this or our clothbound — besides supporting our new bindery & press, you’re also supporting my research. As a thanks, here are some member essays I've made public recently:

Alexander Obenauer@alexanderobenauer.com · 8mo ago

Today is the day! The paperback of Bootstrapping Computing is available & shipping. Preorders will go out shortly. Order today for delivery by Christmas in the U.S. You can buy it on our new site, powered by Stripe's payment links (👋 good riddance, shopify)