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  • Why Science Fiction Matters

    Science fiction is a strange beast. After so many years of churning out brilliant writers who have pushed literary boundaries, it’s still somehow relegated to the fringes of mainstream media. In other words: it’s still seen as the “geeky thing”, the medium which those interested in the high-tech, science, engineering, anything technical affix themselves to. Yes, recent pop currents have popularised the “nerd culture” (hipsters, I’m looking at you) but when it comes to the real SF stuff – the Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams arenas – those pseudo-interested parties shy away and we return once again to the fringes of society where these greats still dwell.

    Why do I think Science Fiction is so important? It’s fictional science, after all – it’s all in the name; surely this can’t be elevated to the arena of those more “hard-hitting” genres such as historic fiction, biography, political drama, even thrillers?

    Well, why can’t it?

    Inherent in the name of this genre is the word science. What is science? It’s a tool for understanding. For predicting. For modelling theories and making sense and getting a grip on the vastness of our cosmos. The fiction part is where the fun happens – where the author’s imagination can let loose and the great fusion between whimsical fantasy and hard science converge to create a solid framework for seeing not just fantastical futuristic worlds, but ourselves, our present societies.

    Science Fiction provides a structure for us to understand the way we live today through the lens of a future world; whether that world is a hundred years away, or merely set in the next year – it’s inconsequential. The fictional representation of advanced scientific application to problem solving and dramatisation on one level inspires the great pursuit of science, and on a deeper level allows contemplation. And contemplation is a rare thing in today’s interconnected, rapid world.

    Added to this is the fundamental fact that SF is one of our best testing beds for new ideas, and thus becomes a great window into what the future world might look like. Because, after all, SF is what gets most people interested in the fields of science, engineering, the design of future worlds… those trail-blazers, innovators that are the true inventors of humanity’s future. If their minds came into contact with the words of Clarke or Asimov or Bradbury, then undoubtedly, somewhere, at some time, their work will be influenced by these and other titans of Science Fiction.

    I leave you with the words of Sir Arthur C. Clarke: “One of the biggest roles of science fiction is to prepare people to accept the future without pain and to encourage a flexibility of mind. Politicians should read science fiction, not westerns and detective stories.”

  • The case for an iPhone 6

    What sounds better when you’re buying a new car: a “2013 model” or a “2012 S” model? Nomenclature is a powerful thing, and it can extend its control to determining how people buy products. At least, that’s what a former Apple consultant believes, according to an AppleInsider post.

    Apple is noted for its simplicity, its clean design philosophy, and, most importantly, the clarity of its product naming. You don’t hear of the “Apple iMac G5600-913” (or something ridiculous like that). It’s simply “iMac”.

    When it comes to their flagship product, however, the Cupertino giant has had an interesting take. Yes, the names of the various iPhones are still elegant, and they do denote the revision cycle: single number for a “major release” (e.g. iPhone 4, iPhone 5), and an added “S” (no one knows what it exactly means) for “revisions” – such as the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S.

    However, as with all things tech, the pace of development and competition moves rapidly. Apple’s biggest rival, Samsung, has already announced its next major device: the Galaxy S4. It’s packed with features, and poses a serious threat to iPhone. Now, psychologically, if Apple were to announce an iPhone “5S” this July at WWDC, most would draw the conclusion that the company is finally slowing down on the innovation train. Already, iOS is accused of its dated aesthetic. It hasn’t changed much since 2008; most visuals remain the same. The next iPhone itself isn’t expected to bring a dramatic new design, like its predecessor the iPhone 4 did. But if they were to name it an “iPhone 6”… that would be a major thing. It would denote a major leap up from last year’s 5, and, like the car analogy earlier, it would just “sound” like a newer, more enticing product. Something that would do wonders for Apple’s reputation.

    The consultant, Ken Segall, argues that Apple’s naming pattern for the iPhone is sending out a negative message about the product and the company itself. It’s psychologically important for us, living in a consumerist culture, to get the latest and greatest. That’s just a fact. We can’t escape it.

    But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Realistically speaking, and from a plethora of rumours, part leaks and analyst reports, along with obvious precedent, there’s no expectation for Apple to do anything drastic to the next iPhone. That’s expected to happen next year (2014), with the “iPhone 6” – which would follow this year’s expected “iPhone 5S.” What is expected, is a major revision of iOS. Apple’s design guru, Sir Jonathan Ive, is now heading the software design team, and rumours are that he’s already slashing the existing skeuomorphic tendencies and working towards a cleaner, minimal aesthetic.

    Whilst its great to speculate and hope for an iPhone called the “iPhone 6” to land this year, we must remeber that Apple’s naming culture hasn’t really hurt iPhone sales:

    Despite Segall’s protestations, Apple’s naming conventions don’t appear to be slowing sales of the company’s hit smartphone. Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously noted that each revision of the iPhone, regardless of name, has gone on to sell more than all of its predecessors combined (from the AppleInsider post)

    Whether the next iPhone will be the iPhone 6, or the iPhone 5S, one thing’s certain: before the year’s end, the software that powers the smartphone that shook the world, iOS, will certainly look and feel different. And bottom line: that experience, above all, is what counts on an Apple mobile device.

  • The iWatch: What’s it all about?

    Continuous Band – iWatch U.S. Patent by Apple

    Apple has a history of trailblazing: the successes of the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad speak for themselves. But the criticism drawn against the Cupertino giant recently has centred around a perceived “lack of innovation” in the company. Recent offerings have been a bit dry; yes, we’ve had the iPad mini and Retina MacBook Pros, remarkable products in their own right. But since the introduction of the iPad, there hasn’t really been a new Apple product that has shaken the world.

    Perhaps it’s a little too early to expect something radical. Innovation takes time. And maybe the exponential increase in the pace of technology has made us expect too much from Apple, too soon. But despite that, rumours have been trickling in over the past few months of a device that could just be the “next big thing” from 1 Infinite Loop. No, it has nothing to do with an Apple television set. In fact, it’s a product we take for granted: time pieces. (more…)

  • The Case for Simplicity

    To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

     – Lao Tzu

    As our world becomes increasingly technological and fast-paced, we find ourselves drowning in a sea of complexity. What could be described in simple terms becomes overly complicated.

    Clarity, I think, will be one of our greatest assets as we move into the future. Being able to communicate ideas lucidly will allow us to get things done quickly, get our point across, and move our intentions forward in building better things for a better world.

    Too often, we find ourselves caught up in jargon, describing simple things with the most baffling words in the English language. Our ideas become compromised; they become lost in a sea of words. Words themselves become meaningless, useless. It’s time to take back our sanity, time to regain hold on our language. We must hone our communication skills so that we may be understood.

    I argue for simplicity not just in our language, but in our lives: more technology is great; I am a known aficionado of the latest tech. But it can also be too much. Sometimes we need to unplug, to whittle down the number of devices switched on. Consolidation of our tech will undoubtedly free our minds to think, to see, to contemplate. I have experienced this sense of “technological overload” – I struggle, sometimes, to just let my thoughts wander. Instead, I find myself constantly drifting over to statuses, tweets, RSS feeds. That’s partly what inspired me to write this post, and in so doing, allow for some rumination.

    So how can we do this? There are many ways. Simple meditation, just clearing your mind and letting go of all thoughts is a great beginning. Starting from a blank state, your mind an empty canvas, you can begin to build a minimalist version of your thoughts. You can begin to focus, to see things with clarity, and to add meaning to all that you see. Building a vision on meaning, understanding, relevance – this will allow you to think and communicate with intention, and with simplicity.

    Focussing your entire being on just a single task at a time, simplifying your communication… just getting to the point: that’s what our future will value the most.

  • An Essay on Dubai

    In mid-January I was fortunate to travel to Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. Travelling with an eye being trained in the professions of the built environment means that it’s virtually impossible not to notice the more intricate things that occur in cities. And as such, I have noticed things in both Kuala Lumpur and Dubai that have piqued my interest, spawned ideas and initiated further inquiry into why these cities have been designed the way they are, and how this is influencing, and is influenced by, the social strata inhabiting these magnificent metropolises. In particular, this piece will be concerning itself with Dubai.

    Dubai has fascinated me for some time. I witnessed its rise over the years, both from transit stop-overs and through the news. In many ways, it represents a microcosm of today’s society: an urbanised, unremitting devotion to building things, and using building as a means of communicating power. It’s not something new to our societies; many empires, kingdoms and states have used infrastructure to convey prowess. But I don’t think many have done so on the scale that Dubai is doing today.

    (more…)