Phil Dearson

Phil Dearson

32 Posts

Idealistic skeptic and experienced digital leader, based in the UK.

Illuminating the dark forest

Illuminating the dark forest

Could indieweb practices bring some illumination from the cozy web to the corporate dark forest?

How to become obsolete

How to become obsolete

People are worried about becoming obsolete. They want to know what to do to prevent that eventuality. It can be useful to think about a problem in reverse.

Processing for retrieval

Processing for retrieval

Having previously covered the Capture part of the CPR approach, now we look at Processing and Retrieval

Frictionless capture

Frictionless capture

Techniques for capturing useful stuff in your personal database or second brain.

Your personal database

Your personal database

PKM enthusiasts sometimes refer to personal databases as their second brain. Today, mine is souped-up with AI to allow for additional laziness.

CPR for your mind

CPR for your mind

Leaders that don't start adopting "clever-lazy" technologies are unlikely to be around in a few years. So I'll be explaining some of the things I've found that work, and some of the pitfalls to watch out for.

It's not game-changing if the game doesn't change

It's not game-changing if the game doesn't change

When the developers of new technology (and, yes, I'm thinking mainly about AI models here) claim their work is "game-changing", I wonder "Well, is it really?"

Threads - will we never learn

Threads - will we never learn

Please don't get excited by Meta's new Twitter competitor Threads. It's the same old unethical, exploitative BS wrapped up in a new skin.

The age of synthetic computing

The age of synthetic computing

What sets Synthetic Computing apart is its ability to understand context and establish connections across domains.

Priorities for a new world

Priorities for a new world

With so many options, and such wide-ranging change across so many functions, how can you possibly prioritise?

Remembering magic and logic

Remembering magic and logic

For charities, the main trouble with the old-school procurement approach is that it risks excluding the very people that can help you the most.

Getting started with generative AI for charities on a budget

Getting started with generative AI for charities on a budget

In this article, we will explore some of the ways you can begin to create generative AI content without breaking the bank.

How to predict the future

How to predict the future

Projected futures based on the current state of things, or how things have been in the recent past, are poor predictors of the actual future. Randomness shouldn't be underestimated.

Successful digital projects

Successful digital projects

The role leaders play in getting successful digital projects going - how to create the right environment, build the right teams, and select the right partners.

Forget your digital strategy - do this instead

Forget your digital strategy - do this instead

An 8 step process for incorporating digital into your existing strategy.

Transformation with a small t

Transformation with a small t

Often, a small, bottom-up approach can be more effective than a mandate from on-high.

Your organisation exists to serve people's needs

Your organisation exists to serve people's needs

It’s easy to lose sight of the point of having an organisation in the first place.

Digital operations on a budget

Digital operations on a budget

I've been spending time looking at what you can do to upgrade your digital operations if you're on a shoestring budget.

The fediverse - social media vs social contract

The fediverse - social media vs social contract

The fediverse is a collection of thousands of independent social media servers that communicate with each other seamlessly, operating like a single social network.

Remote collaboration

Remote collaboration

As someone who's successfully worked remotely for the last 8 years or so, if there is poor collaboration or creativity, it's down to the business approach rather than the physical location of the participants.

Riding out the clusterfuck

Riding out the clusterfuck

The socio-economic clusterfuck has us all taking cover under the metaphorical table as the metaphorical nukes go off.

Coping with apocalypse fatigue

Coping with apocalypse fatigue

There’s been so much bad news for such a long time, with no clear way to make things better, it’s easy to get worn out by it all.

What should you automate?

What should you automate?

Automation operates on tasks, not entire jobs.

Innovation - it's economics all the way down

Innovation - it's economics all the way down

Innovation occurs in the dizzying interplay of forces across all levels of society.

Decision models and trust

Decision models and trust

I’m interested in why decision models are important, now and in the unfolding future.

A neo-commonwealth

A neo-commonwealth

The internet has started to seem increasingly centralised, with power and control resting in the hands of a few organisations - corporate and governmental.

In the future, who wants advertising?

In the future, who wants advertising?

In the future, who wants advertising?

Microbes and the future of work

Microbes and the future of work

I like to think of businesses as organisms. It can sometimes make complex change easier to grasp.

On artificial reality

On artificial reality

Welcome to this content item.

Blockchain - seizing the means of transaction

Blockchain - seizing the means of transaction

The blockchain enables decentralised, programmatic authentication of a database transaction, requiring no intermediary.

Trace Bodies - the metamorphosis of digital identity

Trace Bodies - the metamorphosis of digital identity

Today, on the internet, everybody knows you’re a dog.

Mesh - what happens if you connect everything?

Mesh - what happens if you connect everything?

The Mesh is coming. It will be chaotic as there are no common standards such as those that permit the internet to operate.