The Restart Project Podcast

The internet has become so central to our daily lives that it is nearly impossible to imagine what would happen if we woke up one day to find it had collapsed. But what is the internet really, and where does it come from? When we store things in ‘the cloud’ and transfer things by ‘airdrop’, it is easy to forget that the internet is a physical structure that needs to be built and maintained, and which uses energy – lots of it. Today, Dave talks to Sophia Flucker (Data Centre Specialist) and Dave Lukes (IT Manager) about data centres: the forgotten places that all emails, YouTube videos of cats, online recipes and breaking news updates must pass through before they reach our screens. Sophia explains some of the challenges she faces as an engineer in devising solutions for cooling these enormous buildings, and explains why the environmental impact of our internet usage is not just related to the amount of time we spend on our devices. The new Greenpeace Clicking Clean report, which puts pressure on internet-based companies to consider their energy footprints, showed some promising progress among the internet giants; but we still have a long way to go. With the spotlight on Google, Facebook and Amazon, we risk smaller and medium sized platforms slipping under the radar. And then there is there is the difficult question of replacing older equipment with newer, more efficient models. What about the energy that went into their manufacture, is this taken into account? The extent of our dependence on the internet means we need to think harder about its future. As demand for data grows, the number and size of data centres will grow with it. We need new ways of thinking about the internet that don’t allow companies – and ourselves – to hide behind the illusion of immateriality. [Feature image by Flickr user ibmphoto24] The post Restart Podcast Ep. 22: Greening the internet appeared first on The Restart Project.

After the infamous failure of Google Glass, it seemed that people were still unconvinced about the idea of wearable technology. Videos taken with Google Glass show confused and suspicious faces peering at the wearer, trying to discern how they are being seen, by whom, and how this information was being stored. To many people, something about the project seemed fundamentally creepy. But recently, a wave of new wearables on the market are attracting attention. It seems that designers and manufacturers are finally putting some thought into the kind of things people might actually want to wear on their person, and how they might usefully fit into our daily lives. On today’s episode, Janet is joined by Restart volunteer David Méry to talk about some recent examples of wearables, and the problems and opportunities they present. Snapchat recently launched its new ‘Spectacles’ in the UK, which look like regular sunglasses and record short videos. This is the App’s first piece of hardware, and shows that the line between business models based on data and those based on hardware is increasingly blurred. The decision to sell the Spectacles out of a vending machine has been a large part of the hype surrounding the launch; but it points to a worrying potential direction for wearable technology more broadly. Are we going to see the next wave of gadgets become as disposable as an empty soda can? We talk about some other projects that show more promise: a denim jacket that allows cyclists to be connected as they move around, a new smartwatch that isn’t just a mini-tablet, and potential applications for people with accessibility requirements. We also talk about some of the privacy and security issues wearable technology can raise. The move away from screen-based interfaces is exciting. But it’s clear that if wearables that are going to develop in genuinely useful and interesting ways, we need to make sure that the software support is in place to ensure they can be used safely into the future. We know from our Restart Parties that repair is no longer just about broken hardware; it is also about up to date software. And with the potentially widespread use of internal wearable devices for medical purposes, this quickly becomes not just an ethical dilemma, but a matter of life or death. Links: 01.59: Google Trends data on the use of the term ‘wearables’  03.38: Assault of Steve Mann in Paris  04.43: The use of RFID for nightclub entry 07.56: Edelman research on fundamental ‘trust’ issues  11.00: Gucci ‘hack’ of Snapchat Spectacles 14.24: Levi + Google Smart Jacket  17.40: EMIL + ARIS Smart Coat 23.47: Skagen Smartwatch 26.44: Cambridge’s Ross Anderson on more software support from developers  [Image by Flickr user Anthony Quintano] The post Restart Radio: A second wave of “wearables” for consumers? appeared first on The Restart Project.

Keyboards are such a part of our daily lives. We’re typing this now on one: an Apple membrane keyboard that is about 12 years old. You may not think a lot about your keyboard even though you spend so much time with it. Janet talks with Jon, Community Lead at The Restart Project, and Ben Skidmore, long-time Restarter and recent engineering graduate, two big keyboard enthusiasts. They both use mechanical keyboards, which are highly customisable, repairable and durable. Cherry has been a leading manufacturer for decades. Jon and Ben take us on a tour of keyboard sounds, touch, and sights. Jon loves noise, and Ben loathes it. Not everybody will take such an interest in the keys they tap on, but if we take care of keyboards, they can last a long time. We talk about how the Universal Serial Bus (UBS) with its backward compatibility, has allowed for such easy, extended use of keyboards, longer than computers themselves. Then we talk about the future of interfaces, with much attention recently on voice control and emerging work by Google on gesture-based interfaces. These offer the promise of less-embodied interfaces, and potentially freeing us from the physical habits of sitting (or standing) over a keyboard, but they have a long way to go for most of us. To close, we offer some tips on how to shop for a keyboard. Links: 1:36 – Restart Podcast with Jonathan Chapman on “emotionally durable design” 8:25 – Wirecutter post including Cherry switches sound video 12:32 – Twitter: Lori King’s much-loved keyboard 13:43 – Simple Wikipedia: Universal Serial Bus 17:04 – The Lamp Commander 18:16 – Google’s Soli – gesture-based interfaces [Feature image “Ducky 9008G2 – Year Of The Tiger” by Flickr user Asianoni is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]     The post Restart Radio: Keyboards and the durability of interfaces appeared first on The Restart Project.

Trust is a fundamental part of any relationship, be it with humans or electronics. We place lots of trust and expectation on devices we bring into our homes – you might trust a toaster to make high quality toast. What happens to that trust when the device not only makes toast, but changes data on the internet? This week Ugo is joined by Matthew Sheret from the design studio IF. Founded in 2015, IF works with companies to design products and services that empower users in a positive way, explore new models of user consent, and help to further mainstream the digital rights of the consumer. IF’s projects often bridge the divide between digital and physical, and help companies to explore what is possible through their technology to further these aims.  Working with CHOICE (an Australian consumer rights group), IF designed a broadband monitor to help people understand their internet connection. As Matthew puts it, “people only care about the internet when it stops working,” so the monitor uses this framing of “what’s wrong with the internet” to enable people to understand and make choices about their network infrastructure and security, as well as to advocate for a better internet connection with their ISPs. Demonstrating the Broadband Monitor Matthew also discusses some advocacy projects which are not yet physically realised.  The Transparency Mark, one of three different prototypes,  sought to enable people to understand more about the safety and history of devices they would potentially purchase by scanning a QR code.  While the technology needed to establish this type of database exists, this type of open data capture and sharing is not currently happening. This type of data would, in Matthew’s view, help to tip many of the issues on consumers’ digital rights into the mainstream, however it will not be something that can be accomplished by one individual organisation. This is exactly in line with Restart’s work on open data on repair: the collective efforts of multiple organisations involved in community repair can drive better understanding of common faults and inspire consumers as well as manufacturers and policy makers. The next generation of consumer advocacy is one that will involve a larger distributed network both of organisations and consumers with the ability both to report on device repairability and early obsolescence due to poor software support by manufacturers. Ugo and Matthew also discuss some recent news about the right to repair, including the US Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the refilling and reselling of Lexmark ink cartridges and on Apple making a particularly important device for iPhone calibration available to a few authorised repair shops on the quiet. Photo courtesy of IF (via website and Twitter)  Links IF Design Studio 6:15 – Broadband Monitor project (in collaboration with CHOICE Australia) 11:30 – The Transparency Mark and other consumer advocacy projects 21:12 – How a Supreme Court on Printer Ink Bolsters Your Digital Rights (via Wired) 25:27 – Apple Has Quietly Made its Secretive ‘iPhone Calibration Machine’ Available to Repair Shops (via Motherboard)  The post Restart Radio: Designing consumer rights and trust appeared first on The Restart Project.

What’s the difference between a prerecorded birdsong and a real one? 3D sound aims to bring audio technology even closer to “real life”. Today, our researcher Lauren is joined by Dougie Brown from Cassini Sound, and regular Restart volunteer Ben Skidmore. The beginnings of 3D sound technologies have been around for nearly a century; but only now are they starting to reach the popular imagination. Dougie talks about his work in creating 3-dimensional soundscapes for games, and sheds a bit of light on the reasons behind this sudden resurgence. One way of achieving three-dimensions in sound is binaural recording, which you may have come across without realising it. Binaural recording uses a dummy head, which is designed to capture the exact way in which sounds from a point in space reach our ears at slightly different times, and at different volumes. Image by Andrew Eckel Previously, sounds recorded using a dummy head only worked properly through headphones. But now, thanks to an algorithm developed by a rocket scientist from Princeton, a range of headphones and speakers are appearing on the market that can give any audio – binaural or otherwise – a three-dimensional quality. The 3D sound equipment on the market is interesting, but it’s not going to fundamentally change the way we experience audio overnight. Ben and Dougie tell us about some of the potential shortcomings of these technologies. (And if everyone rushes out to buy the latest 3D headset only to realise that it was a misinformed purchase, that’s a whole lot of new discarded electronics.) Luckily, recent innovations in 3D sound tend to exploit the fact that 3D effects can be achieved through software; not just hardware. Dougie explains that the 3D effect of sound in games doesn’t rely on any special equipment, it simply interacts cleverly with the equipment the user already has. This wave of 3D sound is only just emerging, but it shows promise. And it doesn’t just have potential for the worlds of gaming and music. There are some truly exciting developments in other fields: a 3D headset for the blind creates a soundscape of the city that can be used for personal navigation. Links: 3.19: How 3D sound ‘hacks your brain’ 8.30: Sound Design with Cassini Sound  11.13: Nick Cave’s 3D Audiobook 15.09: Edgar Choueiri’s BACCH Filter 12.34: Radiolab’s first 3D radio show 20.00: 3D headset for the blind (Guardian) 22.42: Soundlabs 3D module and headset  27.04: Jony Ive announced new chancellor of RCA [Feature image by Gregory F. Maxwell] The post Restart Radio: 3D sound, hardware and software appeared first on The Restart Project.

The universe of Tim Hunkin is one of whirring gears, flashing lights and strange characters: but underneath the fun and frivolity is an in-depth examination of the history of society’s relationship with technology. Many of our Restarters fondly remember Tim Hunkin as the host of the ‘The Secret Life of Machines’, which aired for the first time in 1988 and ran for 18 episodes. Tim and his friend Rex Garrod would take apart some of the machines that we blindly take for granted in our every day lives, demystifying their inner workings. By unveiling the long histories of these gadgets, Tim turned his audiences into more appreciative users: people who could get excited about a simple ride in an elevator or the miracle of a telephone call.     Aside from television, Tim has dabbled in engineering, illustration, and museum curation. You can still visit ‘The Secret Life of the Home’: a permanent exhibition that he put together in the basement of the Science Museum. But Tim’s great passion is invention. He talks to us about how tinkering and making are creative processes and offer satisfying intellectual challenges. He also talks about the sense of pride and ownership that comes with making and fixing something oneself. At Southwold Pier, he built his own wacky arcade – The ‘Under the Pier’ show. And in London, his ‘Novelty Automation’ arcade is tucked away in Holborn. Novelty Automation tribute to the local history of popular entertainment in the city and a challenge to more corporate, large-scale entertainment industry that impinges on it. Tim’s handmade games span the length of his career and offer satirical glimpses of both the world today and the world of yesterday. In one game, users are asked to offer up an object from their pocket to an automated art-critic who decides: ‘Is it art?’ – In another, players are invited on a five-second virtual ‘mini-break’ to a tropical destination from their armchair. Tim’s love of gadgets is inspiring – for Tim, technologies are not simply final, complete, perfect entities that we must either accept or reject. They are alive, constantly evolving along with society, and made up of intricate and complex components that are both miraculous in their workings and valuable in their materials. A happier relationship with our electronics means learning to celebrate this, and engaging with gadgets beyond their seemingly impenetrable exteriors. Links: TV show: The Secret Life of Machines 01.05: Novelty Automation 14.05: Science Museum: Secret Life of the Home 15.01: Under the Pier show The post Restart Podcast Ep. 21: Tim Hunkin and the Secret Life of Machines appeared first on The Restart Project.

This week, we talk about two kinds of risk: one environmental, and one technical. From Citizen Science projects to community-run operating systems, we examine how we can have more of a say in how to keep ourselves safe. The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant, destroyed by the dual earthquake-tsunami disaster of 2011, continues to leak dangerous levels of nuclear radiation. In the aftermath of the catastrophe, citizens quickly noted the absence of localised data that would signify if their environment was safe. The global supply of geiger counters, which give readings of radiation levels, sold out in twenty-four hours. So a group of people decided to take the issue into their own hands, designing a kit with open-source software that anyone in the world could replicate: the project was called ‘Safecast’. Today, Safecast has surpassed all previous data-sets about environmental radiation combined. Because it exists in the public domain, it is used as a trusted source by reporters, academics, nuclear governing bodies, and even state governments. The ‘bgeigie’ is designed to be easy for anyone to assemble: all you need is a few hours to spare and a soldering iron. Users can buy the parts online from the Safecast website, or source them themselves, using the freely available instructions and software package. Born out of hackerspace culture, the lifeblood of Safecast is it’s community of volunteers and users. Online platforms allow them to share tips on assembly, repair and maintenance of the ‘bgeigies’. And unlike with other event-related technologies, where the hype dissolves and leaves behind thousands of disused devices, the fact that users have built the device themselves means a much higher rate of usage. We tend to care more for the things we make ourselves. Excess nuclear radiation may not currently be a huge problem in London, but citizen science technologies can be used for a huge range of environmental risks. Plume Labs are working on a piece of hardware paired with mobiles that enables citizens to become part of a local, dynamic air pollution sensor network. Finally, we talk about the scariest tech news of the week: the Wcry ransomware attack that brought NHS trusts and hospitals to a halt all across the UK. The story of how the attack came to happen is a complex combination of economic, political and technical factors, which points to serious problems in the way that these systems currently function. We talk about how average computer users can protect themselves from ransomware, as well as the obligations that governments and corporations have to protect the infrastructure that keeps our societies running. Links: Safecast  04.51: Tokyo Hackerspace  14.24: Plumelabs 22.53: Zeynep Tufekci: The World is getting hacked. Why don’t we do more to stop it? 25.33: Mircosoft patch for Windows XP vulnerability The post Restart Radio: DIY radiation monitoring with Safecast and ransomware attacks appeared first on The Restart Project.

Janet and Neil are joined by Jim Boulton, ‘digital archaeologist’ and curator of the exhibition 64 Bits, a project that chronicles the history of the World Wide Web. Looking back at our recent visit to 64 Bits at HereEast in Stratford, we talk about some of the things that stood out both for their nostalgic value, and what they can tell us about our experience of the web today. Featuring 32 computers and 32 artwork (a total of 64 ‘Bits’), Jim’s exhibition features Tim Berners-Lee’s first ever website, displayed on the browser and NeXT computer used to code it. From there on, each website through 2005 is paired with a computer that matches it historically. For younger viewers in particular, the earlier examples may seem strange, distant and primitive. For those of us who remember these developments, it can be oddly comforting. Jim talks about the thinking that led to the inception of 64 Bits: a 2002 exhibition at the Barbican called ‘Game On’ showcased the speed at which video games had developed. But nothing similar yet existed for websites, despite the fact that they had evolved at an even faster rate. The sheer speed of the development of the web is what stands out at 64 Bits. And just as the internet has not stopped evolving, neither has the exhibition. In each of its iterations since it was first displayed in 2010, 64 Bits has grown in size. It remains a living, embodied  archive. From Jim’s style of digital archaeology, we have more to gain than a mere whimsical look back into the past. As computers get more powerful, the layers of code within them become less and less visible, and the multitude of components they contain become more compact. Understanding the evolution of hardware and software helps us to imagine a more durable and lasting relationship with technology. In removing some of the mystery, we can understand computers and other gadgets as valuable objects that are inextricably intertwined with our evolution as a society. Links: Jim Boulton: 64 Bits Archie search engine Geocities archive / mirror Internet archive Centre for Computing History BBC News: James Newman’s ‘Megaprocessor’ [Photo courtesy of ’64 Bits’] The post Restart Radio: Digital archaeology with Jim Boulton appeared first on The Restart Project.

Today we talk to Tad Vaas from TFix, a repair centre in South London that mixes corporate and consumer repairs with a very interesting twist. TFix performs professional soldering operations that require specialist knowledge and equipment. Tad and his team have developed a way to go deeper into the repair process than other repair shops, using a highly complicated soldering technology called BGA. BGA provides a physical as well as an electrical connection, which allows individual minute components to be replaced on the motherboard. TFix is comprised of three laboratories, one for consumer repairs, one for corporate repairs, and one for R&D. They are so good at what they do that companies will actually come to them to rectify products after they have been released onto the market. At the research level, TFix are constantly working to identify trends in failures, and to develop new ways of addressing them. We talk to Tad about the problem with public perception of repair businesses, and how repair companies might attract a trusting client base by making sure they reach standards of professionalism. We also talk about learning repair, which for Tad has been a very hands-on process of trial and error. TFix see themselves as pioneers in the repair industry, using experimentation and creativity to not just fix products, but to actively improve designs that fail. Their work is underpinned by an ethos of waste reduction that resonates with all of us here at the Restart Project. Links: Ars Technica: Nintendo offering simple fix for disconnecting switch controllers TFix: Nintendo Switch solution  Motherboard: Apple forces recyclers to shred devices The Restart Project: low consumer confidence in commercial repair [Featured image courtesy of TFix] The post Restart Radio: TFix and ‘better than new’ repairs appeared first on The Restart Project.

Most people think of electronics and gardening as two very distinct hobbies, belonging to two very different worlds. But there are some striking similarities. Today we are joined by Lou and Ed from Friche: an art and design studio working towards eco-structures for urban spaces, and our neighbours in our workspace in Bermondsey. Lou and Ed encourage us to re-think the arbitrary distinction we draw between ‘natural’ and ‘manmade’ environments, and to learn to see the resources and materials we use as a connection between the two. Drawing attention to the processes of growing, they create indoor and outdoor green spaces that are co-designed with communities to suit their needs. We talk about how these ideas can be applied to the problem of e-waste. Many people forget that their phone contains many naturally-occurring minerals and materials, and the labour of manufacturing is just as invisible to us as the processes used to grow our food. At the Restart Project, we like to see ourselves a bit like ‘permaculture for electronics’. There is another fascinating parallel between the worlds of the Gardener and that of the electronic Tinkerer. Ed and Lou explain the ways in which tree roots can actually communicate with each other along fungal networks called Mycelium, which function a bit like cables. Trees can pass nutrients through these networks to smaller sapling plants that cannot reach the sunlight, and send chemical signals a bit like we might send an instant message. Finally, Lou and Ed talk us through the processes and equipment of hydroponics. From electric toothbrushes to large-scale LED-lit greenhouses, growing today is inextricably linked to technology. The idea that natural and built environments exist in separate spheres is well and truly out of date. Links: Friche Radiolab: From Tree to Shining Tree Restart Podcast: A Natural History of our Gadgets   The post Restart Radio: The parallel worlds of the tinkerer and the grower appeared first on The Restart Project.