Luminary https://luminary.fm/ Kitchen table-style conversations with some of the world’s brightest minds, exploring boundaries of human knowledge. Join us on a pursuit to discover the ideas, intuition, theories and thoughts behind these luminaries. Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:45:01 +0000 en-US © 2023 Lucid LLC. All Rights Reserved. Kitchen table-style conversations with some of the world’s brightest minds, exploring boundaries of human knowledge. Luminary.fm episodic Lucid LLC luminary.fm@gmail.com Luminary.fm luminary.fm@gmail.com Kitchen table-style conversations with some of the world’s brightest minds, exploring boundaries of human knowledge. Join us on a pursuit to discover the ideas, intuition, theories and thoughts behind these luminaries. Kitchen table-style conversations with some of the world’s brightest minds, exploring boundaries of human knowledge. Join us on a pursuit to discover the ideas, intuition, theories and thoughts behind these luminaries. clean No https://luminary.fm/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/181031_Luminary_StepandRepeat.png Luminary https://luminary.fm/ 157308133 Tim O’Reilly on Open Source Alchemy: Shaping the Tech Landscape https://luminary.fm/episode/tim-oreilly-on-open-source-alchemy-shaping-the-tech-landscape/ Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:44:59 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=565 Tim O’Reilly is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of O’Reilly Media, a company that has profoundly impacted how generations of […]

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]]> algorithmic rents,open source full 18 2 Tim O’Reilly is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of O’Reilly Media, a company that has profoundly impacted how generations of software engineers and computer hobbyists have learned programming. Tim is of course a luminary of the technology industry and hardly needs an introduction. It is difficult to overstate the importance of his contributions. Tim has been active in the open source and internet community for decades, providing the intellectual inspiration behind terms like open source software and web 2.0.

Our conversation with Tim centers around open source. We discuss: the characteristics of open source software, which company has best executed on its open source strategy, and how the open source ethos has influenced the tech industry and beyond. We also cover Tim’s latest project around algorithmic rents.

About and From Tim O’Reilly:

Recommendations and References:

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]]> clean No no no 58:46 admin Yochai Benkler on Tech’s True Forces: Capitalism, Institutions, and Ideological Impact https://luminary.fm/episode/yochai-benkler-on-techs-true-forces-capitalism-institutions-and-ideological-impact/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=553 Yochai Benkler is a professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School and co-director of the Berkman Klein Center […]

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]]> capitalism,commons-based peer production,ideology and technology,institutions and technology full 17 2 Yochai Benkler is a professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies at Harvard Law School and co-director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Yochai is known for coining the term commons-based peer production which describes collaborative efforts or social production in the creation of information goods such as Apache server or Wikipedia. In 2012, he received a lifetime achievement award from Oxford University in recognition of his contribution to the study and public understanding of the Internet and information goods. Yochai has written a number of influential books, including The Wealth of Networks, Network Propaganda, and the Penguin and Leviathan.

Our conversation with Yochai focuses on the role of capitalism, institutions, and ideology in shaping technology and societal outcomes. Yochai’s theory centers around the notion that it is not technology and software that shape change, but rather that the dynamics of power-seeking in capitalism have subsumed and directed technology and software towards the same aim as it always had — which is to maximize profit for a narrow set of profit-reaping classes while legitimizing it under a patina of claims of self-actualization, democratization, social mobility, and improvement in well-being for all. Yochai’s framework pushes back on the prevailing wisdom that technology is the cause of change but rather an arena where the dynamics of capitalism established since the 17th century are driving, while a naturalized view of technology is simply a red herring.

We also discuss the political economy of technology, commons-based peer production as a value generation model, and the value of decentralized blockchain systems like bitcoin and ethereum.

This was a very refreshing conversation. It’s clear the world could learn a lot from the wisdom of Yochai Benkler.

About and From Yochai Benkler:

Recommendations and References:

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]]> clean No no no 1:08:34 admin Jason Crawford on progress and the history of technology  https://luminary.fm/episode/jason-crawford-on-progress-and-the-history-of-technology/ Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=547 Jason Crawford is the founder of Roots of Progress and a prolific writer on all things technology and progress. Jason […]

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]]> history of technology,progress studies,technology evolution full 16 2 Jason Crawford is the founder of Roots of Progress and a prolific writer on all things technology and progress. Jason was previously a startup founder and engineering manager. His mission is to understand the causes of progress and help usher in a new era of human advancement via a philosophy of progress fit for the 21st century. You can find his essays on rootsofprogress.org.

Our conversation with Jason centers around progress and the history of technology. We cover the relationship between human civilization and technology, assorted inventions, and lessons to consider in the development and implementation of future technologies. We also talk about why progress matters, how things went wrong in the 20th century, and Jason’s idea of a new philosophy of progress. Jason has encyclopedic knowledge of diverse topics which made this an especially rich conversation.

About and From Jason Crawford:

Recommendations and References:

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]]> clean No no no 1:02:25 admin Noah Smith on digital technology adoption, energy, and economic progress https://luminary.fm/episode/noah-smith-on-digital-technology-adoption-energy-and-economic-progress/ Mon, 04 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=541 Noah Smith is a renaissance man, blogger, and commentator. Noah’s popular blog, Noahpinion, focuses on economics, technology, and current events. […]

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]]> digital technology,economic progress,nuclear energy,solar energy full 15 2 Noah Smith is a renaissance man, blogger, and commentator. Noah’s popular blog, Noahpinion, focuses on economics, technology, and current events. He was previously a columnist for Bloomberg and an assistant professor of Behavioral finance at Stony Brook University.

Our wide-ranging conversation covers digital technology, economics, and energy. We discuss Noah’s framework for thinking about technology, digital technology adoption and its implications for economic activity, measures of technological advancement, opportunities and challenges for solar and nuclear energy, and the Noah Smith production function.

About and From Noah Smith:

Recommendations and References:

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]]> clean No no no 1:09:03 admin Carlota Perez on technological revolutions and capitalism  https://luminary.fm/episode/carlota-perez-on-technological-revolutions-and-capitalism/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=536 Carlota Perez is a pre-eminent multi-disciplinarian, scholar, and author. Carlota studies the nature of technological change and economic systems, and […]

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]]> capitalism,Neo-Schumpeterian,technology cycles full 14 2 Carlota Perez is a pre-eminent multi-disciplinarian, scholar, and author. Carlota studies the nature of technological change and economic systems, and the lessons provided by the history of technological revolutions. Her book, Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital, is a landmark contribution to the study of technological innovation and change. She has received numerous awards and accolades including most recently an Honorary Doctorate by Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Our conversation with Carlota centers around her framework for studying technological change and the adoption of digital technologies. We discuss the ideas behind technology cycles, the role of capitalism in influencing change, the difference between the current digital paradigm and prior technology revolutions, the role government can play in accelerating the adoption of digital technologies, and get a preview of her upcoming book which features the role of governments in shaping technological revolutions.

About and From Carlota Perez:

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]]> clean No no no 1:23:06 admin Clay Shirky on value generation, ChatGpt, and education https://luminary.fm/episode/clay-shirky-on-value-generation-chatgpt-and-education/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=525 Clay Shirky is the Vice Provost of Educational Technologies at New York University and an associate professor at the New […]

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]]> chatgpt,distributed version control,education and ai,llm,value generation full 13 2 Clay Shirky is the Vice Provost of Educational Technologies at New York University and an associate professor at the New York University Tisch school of arts. He is a prominent thinker on the social and economic effects of the Internet and the Web. Clay has authored a number of books, including Here Comes Everybody and Cognitive Surplus.

Our conversation with Clay gravitates around models of value generation in the context of digital technologies and the impact of ai on education. We talk about the social and economic impact of digital technologies, the nature of the internet, and why distributed version control is a new and important form of arguing. We also touch on how the university model of education might co-evolve with the growth of digital technology.

About and From Clay Shirky:

Recommendations and References:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:11:47 admin Matt Clancy on innovation, policy, and Progress Studies  https://luminary.fm/episode/matt-clancy-on-innovation-policy-and-progress-studies/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 10:01:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=514 Matt Clancy is a research fellow at Open Philanthropy and a senior fellow at The Institute for Progress, a think […]

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]]> models of innovation,new things under the sun,policy,progress studies full 12 2 Matt Clancy is a research fellow at Open Philanthropy and a senior fellow at The Institute for Progress, a think tank for accelerating scientific, technological, and industrial progress. He maintains New Things Under the Sun, a living literature review about innovation.

Our conversation with Matt gravitates around the state of knowledge of technological innovation. We talk about inputs to innovation, models of innovation, the discipline of Progress Studies, and ways to measure technological progress. We also cover the relationship between policy and innovation.

About and From Matt Clancy:

References and Recommendations:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:03:08 admin Martin Gurri on the fifth wave, democracy, and technology https://luminary.fm/episode/martin-gurri-on-the-fifth-wave-democracy-and-technology/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=504 Martin Gurri is the visiting research fellow at Mercatus Center and a former CIA analyst. Martin’s core interests center around […]

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]]> democracy and technology,fifth wave,politics and technology,The Revolt of the Public full 11 2 Martin Gurri is the visiting research fellow at Mercatus Center and a former CIA analyst. Martin’s core interests center around politics, information, and media. His book The Revolt of the Public received notoriety for its cogent analysis of the effects of information on political change. 

Our conversation with Martin centers around the societal and political implications of how information is organized and controlled. We launch into Martin’s thesis in The Revolt of the Public which tells the story of How insurgencies—enabled by digital devices and a vast information sphere—have mobilized millions of ordinary people around the world, and talk about what’s changed since it was last published in 2018. We discuss the evolution of technology and information structure and its implications for how societies are organized, the nature of the current political discord, and democracy. Martin also offers some practical advice for engaged citizens and aspiring politicians.

About Martin Gurri:

From Martin Gurri:

Recommendations:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:16:22 admin Brian Arthur on technology, software, and economic systems https://luminary.fm/episode/brian-arthur-on-technology-software-and-economic-systems/ Mon, 27 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=467 Brian Arthur is a storied economist and complexity thinker. He is a pioneer in a number of disciplines including increasing […]

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]]> economic systems,increasing returns,nature of technology,technology evolution,virtual economy full 10 2 Brian Arthur is a storied economist and complexity thinker. He is a pioneer in a number of disciplines including increasing returns, complexity economics, and the evolution of technology. Brian previously served on the science board and the board of trustees of Santa Fe Institute.  He is one of the youngest endowed chair holders at Stanford University.  Brian is also the author of The Nature of Technology: What it is and how it evolves.

Our conversation with Brian centers on technology and its manifestation within economic systems. More specifically, we cover: the nature and evolution of technology, the role of software in shaping economic systems, the concept of increasing returns, and Star Wars as a representation of the human condition. 

About Brian Arthur:

Books:

Articles:

Recommendations/References:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:29:26 admin Alissa Cooper on building the internet https://luminary.fm/episode/alissa-cooper-on-building-the-internet/ Mon, 16 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=452 Alissa Cooper is the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Technology Policy and a Fellow at Cisco Systems. She […]

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]]> digital privacy,ietf,internet,internet standards,nature of the internet full 9 2 Alissa Cooper is the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Technology Policy and a Fellow at Cisco Systems. She is also currently a board member of the Tor Project. Alissa was chair of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an organization that develops and promotes voluntary open Internet standards, from 2017 to 2021. She previously served as chief computer scientist at the center for democracy and technology.

Our conversation centers around the Internet. What is the nature of the internet? Why are technology standards important and how do standards influence the Internet? How are decisions on standards for the Internet made? We also discuss policy and regulation of the internet and emerging technologies, as well as digital privacy.

About Alissa Cooper:

Speaker references:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 57:55 admin Eric Peters on change and human psychology https://luminary.fm/episode/eric-peters-on-change-and-human-psychology/ Mon, 11 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=459 Eric Peters is the founder, CEO, and CIO of One River Asset Management. He is a macro-thinker with a rare […]

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]]> financial market history,human imagination,models of change,technology change agent full 8 2 Eric Peters is the founder, CEO, and CIO of One River Asset Management. He is a macro-thinker with a rare ability to parse markets, human psychology, and long-term trends. Eric also pens the popular weekly newsletter, Wknd notes, with reflections on markets, global events, and history.

Our conversation with Eric centers on models of change. We cover: Eric’s philosophy and models of change, how he applies these models in markets, and technology as a change agent. We also discuss the power of human imagination, digital assets, and lessons from 20th century financial market history.

About Eric Peters:

Select essays by Eric:

Speaker References:

Recommended Books:

Recommended Authors:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:02:36 admin Andrew Sullivan on operating the internet https://luminary.fm/episode/andrew-sullivan-on-operating-the-internet/ Mon, 03 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=435 Andrew Sullivan is the president and CEO of the Internet Society, a leading advocacy organization for an open and free […]

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]]> domain name service,future of internet,internet,internet architecture,nature of internet full 7 2 Andrew Sullivan is the president and CEO of the Internet Society, a leading advocacy organization for an open and free Internet. He has dedicated much of his career to Internet architecture and standards, serving as chair of the Internet Architecture Board in 2015 and 2016.

Our conversation centers around the many facets of the Internet. What is the nature of the internet? How is it distinct from the web? Who holds power on the internet? We also talk about the domain name system, emergent properties, important challenges, global accessibility, and the future of the internet.

About and from Andrew Sullivan:

Author references:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:08:06 admin Vint Cerf on the internet and its building blocks https://luminary.fm/episode/vint-cerf-on-the-internet-and-its-building-blocks/ Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=424 Dr. Vint Cerf is an internet pioneer commonly known as one of the “father’s of the internet.” He co-designed the […]

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]]> internet,internet building blocks,internet protocol suite,permissionless innovation,tcp/ip full 6 2 Dr. Vint Cerf is an internet pioneer commonly known as one of the “father’s of the internet.” He co-designed the TCP/IP protocols, which lie at the heart of the internet. Vint is currently the Chief Internet evangelist at Google.

Among many other accolades, Vint has received the Turing award, presidential medal of freedom and the national medal of technology.

In our conversation with Vint, we cover: the significance of the internet as a technology, building blocks of the internet, the internet’s product-market fit and how it enables permissionless innovation, current challenges and what the future may hold.

About and from Vint Cerf:

Assorted Links:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:10:31 admin Albert Borgmann on the philosophy of technology https://luminary.fm/episode/albert-borgmann-on-the-philosophy-of-technology/ Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=414 Albert Borgmann is a philosopher and writer whose research interests intersect technology, society, and culture. Albert’s theory, the device paradigm, […]

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]]> Device Paradigm,Philosophy of technology,Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life full 5 2 Albert Borgmann is a philosopher and writer whose research interests intersect technology, society, and culture. Albert’s theory, the device paradigm, and his book “Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life” are foundational contributions to the philosophy of technology.

Our conversation with Albert focuses on the philosophy of technology: What does philosophy of technology even mean and why is it relevant? Why does technology obscure, abstract, and conceal? We cover these questions as well as: Albert’s theory of technology: the device paradigm, minimalism, the human condition, and the perils and promises of technology.

About and from Albert Borgmann

Philosophers

Books and Articles

Luminary Podcast

Music

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]]> clean No no no 1:08:34 admin Kevin Kelly on technology and software https://luminary.fm/episode/kevin-kelly-on-technology-and-software/ Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=404 Kevin Kelly is one of the leading and deepest thinkers on the technology of our time. A startling percentage of […]

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]]> nature of software,nature of technology,New Rules for the New Economy,software limitations full 4 2 Kevin Kelly is one of the leading and deepest thinkers on the technology of our time. A startling percentage of what has been meaningfully said about technology in the past quarter-century can be traced back to him, something we don’t say lightly.   

Kevin Kelly co-founded Wired in 1993 and served as its executive editor for seven years. He has written a number of best-selling books including New Rules for the New Economy, Out of Control, The Inevitable, and What Technology Wants.

In this conversation we focus on sketching out the nature of technology and software, the relationship between technology and change, the limitations of software, and Kevin’s 1998 gem, New Rules for the New Economy, which outlines principles to navigate a world transformed by software and the internet.

About and from Kevin Kelley:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 52:06 admin Mitch Waldrop on The Dream Machine: Part 3 – JCR Licklider, Xerox PARC, and TCP/IP https://luminary.fm/episode/mitch-waldrop-on-the-dream-machine-part-3-jcr-licklider-xerox-parc-and-tcp-ip/ Mon, 30 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=399 Our second season launches with a three-part series featuring the preeminent Mitch Waldrop. We discuss the history, ideas, and origins […]

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]]> JCR Licklider,software history,the dream machine,xerox parc full 3 2 Our second season launches with a three-part series featuring the preeminent Mitch Waldrop. We discuss the history, ideas, and origins of computing, software, the internet – and of course, the pioneers and unsung heroes who made it all a reality. It’s hard to imagine a better place to start exploring the more modern notions of change, technology, and software.

Mitch is the author of The Dream Machine, a seminal contribution to the history of modern computing and the internet. Mitch was previously an editorial page and features editor at Nature magazine and has published books on a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence and complexity.  We tried doing justice to the content of the Dream Machine in one sitting, which quickly expanded into three discrete recording sessions over a handful weeks. We are forever grateful to Mitch.

Our third and final episode with Mitch includes the story behind the intellectual forefather of the internet and interactive computing, JCR Licklider. This was the first recording we did with Mitch which covers a sprawling and wide range of topics, including: JCR Licklider’s role in the research and engineering of personal computing, Xerox PARC and the personal computing revolution, contributions from Alan Turing and Norbert Wiener, adoption of TCP/IP, and the nature of software and computing.

About and from M. Mitchell Waldrop:

Assorted Links:

Recommendations:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:02:10 admin Mitch Waldrop on The Dream Machine: Part 2 – 1980s to present https://luminary.fm/episode/mitch-waldrop-on-the-dream-machine-part-2-1980s-to-present/ Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=385 Our second season launches with a three-part series featuring the preeminent Mitch Waldrop. We discuss the history, ideas, and origins […]

The post Mitch Waldrop on The Dream Machine: Part 2 – 1980s to present appeared first on Luminary.fm.

]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 2 2 Our second season launches with a three-part series featuring the preeminent Mitch Waldrop. We discuss the history, ideas, and origins of computing, software, the internet – and of course, the pioneers and unsung heroes who made it all a reality. It’s hard to imagine a better place to start exploring the more modern notions of change, technology, and software.

Mitch is the author of The Dream Machine, a seminal contribution to the history of modern computing and the internet. Mitch was previously an editorial page and features editor at Nature magazine and has published books on a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence and complexity.  We tried doing justice to the content of the Dream Machine in one sitting, which quickly expanded into three discrete recording sessions over a handful weeks. We are forever grateful to Mitch.

This second installment of our three-part series with Mitch Waldrop continues from where we left off in episode 1. We launch back into the 70s and make our way through the 80s, 90s, and up to present time. Mitch also offers some thoughts on the future and shares a bit about his recent work.

About and from M. Mitchell Waldrop:

Assorted Links:

Recommendations:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:



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]]> clean No no no 1:17:31 admin Mitch Waldrop on The Dream Machine: Part 1 – 1940s to 1970s https://luminary.fm/episode/mitch-waldrop-on-the-dream-machine-part-1-1940s-to-1970s/ Mon, 02 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=366 Our second season launches with a three-part series featuring the preeminent Mitch Waldrop. We discuss the history, ideas, and origins […]

The post Mitch Waldrop on The Dream Machine: Part 1 – 1940s to 1970s appeared first on Luminary.fm.

]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 1 2 Our second season launches with a three-part series featuring the preeminent Mitch Waldrop. We discuss the history, ideas, and origins of computing, software, the internet – and of course, the pioneers and unsung heroes who made it all a reality. It’s hard to imagine a better place to start exploring the more modern notions of change, technology, and software.

Mitch is the author of The Dream Machine, a seminal contribution to the history of modern computing and the internet. Mitch was previously an editorial page and features editor at Nature magazine and has published books on a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence and complexity.  We tried doing justice to the content of the Dream Machine in one sitting, which quickly expanded into three discrete recording sessions over a handful weeks. We are forever grateful to Mitch.

This first episode touches on Mitch’s journey writing The Dream Machine and the period from the 1940s through the 1970s, which includes: The philosophy underlying hardware and software, the work of intellectual contributors such as Vannevar Bush, Von Nuemann, and Claude Shannon; interactive computing, the Arpanet, World war II as a catalyst for computing, timesharing, JCR Licklider’s intergalactic network, Arpa’s woodstock moment, and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, also known as PARC. 

About and from M. Mitchell Waldrop:

Assorted Links:

Recommendations:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:15:28 admin Jeff Behrends on ethics https://luminary.fm/episode/jeff-behrends-on-ethics/ Sun, 29 Nov 2020 22:33:47 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=342 Jeff Behrends is a director of ethics and technology initiatives at the Edmond J Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine 13 1 Jeff Behrends is a director of ethics and technology initiatives at the Edmond J Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. He is also a co-director of Embedded EthiCS, a program that teaches ethical reasoning to budding computer scientists.

In this episode we cover: what is ethics and why it matters, how it differs from morality, making ethics cool, and teaching it to students at Harvard via the Embedded Ethics program.

Show Notes

About and from Prof. Jeff Behrends:

Book recommendations: 

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 50:41 admin Micael Dahlen on happiness https://luminary.fm/episode/micael-dahlen-on-happiness/ Sun, 11 Oct 2020 19:58:10 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=329 Micael Dahlen is a wonderfully brilliant, thought-provoking, and multi-facetted professor in the Department of Marketing and Strategy at Stockholm School […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 12 1 Micael Dahlen is a wonderfully brilliant, thought-provoking, and multi-facetted professor in the Department of Marketing and Strategy at Stockholm School of Economics. He has a uniquely curious mind which has led to novel findings in many areas, including happiness, marketing, habits, and consumer behavior. Micael is the author of Monster, Nextopia, Creativity Unlimited, and the recently released book, Starkt Kul. He is also the creator of Curious with Micael, an audible podcast. 

In this episode we tackle the topic of happiness from all angles: what it is and why it’s important, Michael’s personal journey in search for happiness, models for achieving and measuring happiness, as well as how technology may impact the arc of our future happiness. We also discuss how our environment influences self-perceived happiness. 

There are some real gems in this episode, especially in the second half.  

About and from Prof. Micael Dahlen:

Assorted Links:

Luminary Podcast:

Music:

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]]> clean No no no 1:07:34 admin Rebecca Katz on the past, present, and future of covid-19 https://luminary.fm/episode/rebecca-katz-on-the-past-present-and-future-of-covid-19/ Mon, 31 Aug 2020 00:04:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=310 Today’s guest is Rebecca Katz, a professor and director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 11 1 Today’s guest is Rebecca Katz, a professor and director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University. She is a leading expert in global health diplomacy, global health security, and emerging infectious diseases. Rebecca was a consultant to the United States Department of State on matters related to the Biological Weapons Convention and emerging infectious disease threats from 2004 to 2019. She co-convened the first international scientific conference on global health security in 2019 with the next edition planned in 2021.

In this episode, we cover: Rebecca’s journey in becoming a leading expert in global health science and security, the history and significance of pandemics, the rise of Covid-19, its impact on life and society, the role of governance and the WHO in coordinating the global response, as well as what the future may hold. We also discuss research conducted by the Center for Global Health Science and Security in shaping public health policy. Please check out the show notes for more information on projects Rebecca is leading and for ways to get involved.

About and from Prof. Rebecca Katz:

Global Health Science and Security:

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]]> clean No no no 59:40 admin David Danks on causality, human-technology interaction, and ethics of autonomous systems https://luminary.fm/episode/david-danks-on-causality-human-technology-interaction-and-ethics-of-autonomous-systems/ Mon, 30 Dec 2019 03:33:00 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=301 David Danks is a professor of philosophy and psychology and head of the department of philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 10 1 David Danks is a professor of philosophy and psychology and head of the department of philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. His research lies at the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science, and machine learning, with a recent focus on the ethics of and policy for autonomous systems such as self-driving vehicles and autonomous warfare. David is the author of Unifying the Mind: Cognitive Representations as Graphical Models, as well as, Building Theories: Heuristics and Hypotheses in Science.

In our conversation with David, we cover: his journey into philosophy, learning models, causality, the impact of information overload on human cognition, and the role of trust in human-technology adoption cycles. David also shares his views on ethics and policy considerations for autonomous systems, and how we might think about agency and sovereignty for artificial intelligence-based systems.

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]]> clean No no no 1:22:08 admin Mahzarin Banaji on the human mind and subconscious biases https://luminary.fm/episode/mahzarin-banaji-on-the-human-mind-and-subconscious-biases/ Tue, 12 Nov 2019 00:30:16 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=288 Mahzarin Banaji is an award-winning experimental psychologist and professor at the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Her research explores […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 9 1 Mahzarin Banaji is an award-winning experimental psychologist and professor at the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Her research explores the human mind, why and how we think and feel in certain ways, especially in a social context, and frameworks for better identifying and addressing implicit human biases. She is the co-creator of the implicit association test, which has been used over 40 million times.

In this episode, we cover: How human beings think and the nature of subconscious human biases; Mahzarin’s book, Blindspot: hidden biases of good people, Project implicit, and her many other initiatives seeking to address implicit cognitive biases. We also discuss the impact of technology on psychology research and how social media may influence human biases.

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]]> clean No no no 0:57:04 admin Jonathan Aldrich on the design and evolution of programming languages https://luminary.fm/episode/jonathan-aldrich-on-the-design-and-evolution-of-programming-languages/ Mon, 30 Sep 2019 07:00:20 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=276 Jonathan Aldrich is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the software engineering Ph.D. program at Carnegie Mellon’s […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 8 1 Jonathan Aldrich is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the software engineering Ph.D. program at Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Software Research. Jonathan’s research focuses on software scalability. His work aims to improve software quality and programmer productivity through an interdisciplinary approach to software design. He has received the National Science Foundation career award and the Dahl-Nygaard prize.

In our conversation with Jonathan, we cover his journey into research and academia, the evolution of programming languages, characteristics of the ideal programming language, as well as ways to measure software quality. He calls for a multi-disciplinary approach to designing programming languages. Jonathan also shares his recent research in building programming languages for writing web, mobile and blockchain applications.

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]]> clean No no no 1:07:56 admin Amy Lippert on visual culture, images, and the celebrity phenomenon https://luminary.fm/episode/amy-lippert-on-visual-culture-and-nature-of-images/ Mon, 19 Aug 2019 07:10:47 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=259 Amy Lippert is a former assistant professor of urban and social history at the University of Chicago, with a particular […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 7 1 Amy Lippert is a former assistant professor of urban and social history at the University of Chicago, with a particular focus on visual imagery, visual culture, and mass production. She is the author of Consuming Identities: Visual Culture in Nineteenth Century San Francisco.

In this episode, we cover: the nature, importance, and history of visual images, how visual images have influenced and intersected with society and culture, and why 19th century San Francisco is a unique case study in visual imagery and culture. We also discuss why celebrities exist and how images create and narrate stories around celebrities.

Just a heads-up, we had some issues while this recording this episode which impacted the audio quality towards the end.

About and from Prof. Amy Lippert:

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]]> clean No no no 1:16:06 admin Manu Prakash on the power of observation, curiosity-driven science, and physical biology https://luminary.fm/episode/manu-prakash-on-the-power-of-observation-curiosity-driven-science-and-physical-biology/ Mon, 08 Jul 2019 15:16:40 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=225 Manu Prakash is a physical biologist, inventor, and associate professor of BioEngineering at Stanford University. Manu was awarded the McArthur […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 6 1 Manu Prakash is a physical biologist, inventor, and associate professor of BioEngineering at Stanford University. Manu was awarded the McArthur fellowship in 2016 and has received numerous other prestigious awards. His research is driven by curiosity, empathy for solving challenges in underserved communities, and a passion for democratizing access to science.

In this episode, we cover: his philosophy around curiosity-driven science and the power of observation, trends in bioengineering, the water-droplet computer, and the (Anti) Gravity Machine, which answers questions about life in the ocean. We also discuss the idea behind frugal science and his Foldscope and Paperfuge inventions, and why democratizing access to science is a global imperative.

Podcast Transcript

About and from Prof. Manu Prakash:

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]]> clean No no no 1:11:01 admin Kimberlé Crenshaw on the state of civil rights in America, intersectionality, and the critical race theory https://luminary.fm/episode/kimberle-crenshaw-on-the-state-of-civil-rights-in-america-intersectionality-and-the-critical-race-theory/ Mon, 20 May 2019 03:00:19 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=205 Kimberlé Crenshaw is an American civil rights advocate and legal scholar, well-known for her work around intersectionality and critical race […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 5 1 Kimberlé Crenshaw is an American civil rights advocate and legal scholar, well-known for her work around intersectionality and critical race theory. She is a Professor of Law at Columbia Law School and UCLA. Kimberlé is the director of the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies at Columbia, which she founded in 2011. She is also co-founder of the African American Policy Forum. Her work has appeared in the Harvard Law Review, the National Black Law Journal, the Stanford Law Review, and many other leading publications.

In our conversation with Kimberlé, we cover: the state of civil rights in America, biases in the interaction between civil rights and the law, critical race theory and its critiques, the framework of intersectionality, her work with the African-American policy forum, the Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements, and the role technology can play in the civil rights discourse.

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]]> clean No no no 1:10:15 admin Gerta Keller, the forensic detective, on mass extinctions, dinosaurs, and geo sciences https://luminary.fm/episode/gerta-keller-the-forensic-detective-on-mass-extinctions-dinosaurs-and-geo-sciences/ Mon, 15 Apr 2019 03:00:51 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=193 Gerta Keller is a professor of paleontology and geology in the geo sciences department at Princeton University with a wonderful […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 4 1 Gerta Keller is a professor of paleontology and geology in the geo sciences department at Princeton University with a wonderful personality. Gerta has over 240 scientific publications focused on major earth catastrophes and mass extinctions, including the biotic and environmental effects of meteorite impacts and volcanism.

In our conversation with Gerta, we cover: her courageous journey – against all odds – in attaining a university degree, the mechanics of major earth catastrophes, the mystery surrounding the KT boundary and the dinosaur mass extinction, the impact theory and theory of deccan volcanism, and the deep trials and tribulations of advocating for a non-consensus theory in the scientific community.

As a heads up, this episode contains some explicit language.

About and from Prof. Gerta Keller:

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]]> clean No no no 1:10:50 admin Chika Okeke-Agulu on the call for artistic expression and rise of African diaspora art https://luminary.fm/episode/chika-okeke-agulu-on-the-call-for-artistic-expression-and-rise-of-african-diaspora-art/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 02:30:55 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=180 Chika Okeke-Agulu is an Igbo-Nigerian artist, art historian, art curator, and a blogger specializing in African and African Diaspora art […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 3 1 Chika Okeke-Agulu is an Igbo-Nigerian artist, art historian, art curator, and a blogger specializing in African and African Diaspora art history. He is the Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Art & Archaeology at Princeton University.

In our conversation with Professor Okeke-Agulu, we cover his journey of creativity and adaptation to one’s surrounding while operating under constraints; his contributions in the rise to relevance of the African Diaspora Art’s; how his call to artists in the Black Lives Matter movement has led to artistic expression; and learn about the impact of technology on art education and art market.Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chika_Okeke-Agulu

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]]> clean No no no 1:02:48 admin Kevin Leyton-Brown on the kitten algorithm, computer science, and economics https://luminary.fm/episode/kevin-leyton-brown-on-the-kitten-algorithm-computer-science-and-economics/ Mon, 18 Feb 2019 07:30:59 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=153 Kevin Leyton-Brown is an award-winning computer scientist focusing on predominantly two streams of research: 1) algorithmic game theory and 2) […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 2 1 Kevin Leyton-Brown is an award-winning computer scientist focusing on predominantly two streams of research: 1) algorithmic game theory and 2) empirical algorithms and machine learning. He is a professor of computer science at University of British Columbia and co-teaches two popular Coursera courses on game theory, which are approaching one million participants.

In our conversation with Kevin, we cover why the intersection of economics and computer science is particularly fertile, the art and science of modeling human strategic interaction and incentives in multi-agent systems, his work with the Federal Communications Commission incentive auction, moral and ethical implications of artificial intelligence, using AI to do good, applying the kitten algorithm, and much more.

About and from Prof. Kevin Leyton-Brown:

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]]> clean No no no 1:10:36 admin Mihir Desai on the muddle of life and finance https://luminary.fm/episode/luminary-mihir-desai-on-finance-and-the-muddle-of-life/ Sun, 27 Jan 2019 22:30:26 +0000 admin https://luminary.fm/?post_type=episode&p=60 Mihir Desai is a Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School and a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. […]

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]]> internet,modern computing,software history,the dream machine full 1 1 Mihir Desai is a Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School and a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. In this conversation with Mihir, amongst other things, we cover the cocktail party test; how the principal-agent framework might help clear up the muddle of life; explore the dangers of optionality; examine why the pursuit of alpha is the most important life lesson from finance; and reason about why the income inequality debate is deeply misunderstood.

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