IT Conversations

Brian Roberts - John Battelle talks to Brian Roberts

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

As the release of smart phones and tablet PCs fill technology reports Brian Roberts reminds us that cable TV is still a part of most people's lifestyle. Talking about the development of On Demand television and an impending application store for your TV, the idea of technological convergence between computer and TV seems ever closer. John Battelle challenges Roberts to answer questions on the future of cable in an online video world.

Episode 82 - StackOverflow

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

Joel and Jeff sit down with Mac developer Daniel Jalkut to discuss Mac development and the new iPad.

Scott Lemon, Ben Galbraith, Dion Almaer - iPad Thoughts

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

Recorded the day after Apple's announced the iPad, the group discusses the new device, based on their initial impressions. They applaud certain visual and usage aspects, but also talk about why they were disappointed with it. They also assess the iPad's value as a book reader, particularly in comparison to Amazon's Kindle.

Michael Calabrese - The Myth of Spectrum Scarcity: Opportunistic Access to the Airwaves

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

Michael Calabrese argues that the FCC's apportioning of the airwave spectrum gives a false impression of scarcity. The government's spectrum apportioning doesn't take into account the capabilities and accuracy of today's digital radio equipment, carving unnecessarily wide detours around both federal and commercial properties, and ignoring low-power opportunities. The recent DTV shift freed 18 channels, netting $2B at auction. More can be done to optimize spectrum use.

Episode 81 - StackOverflow

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CST

Joel and Jeff discuss the value of Deep Blue, the Five Whys process, and whether programmers should blog.

Salman Khan - YouTube Teaching as Guerrilla Public Service

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Sal Khan's response to the crisis in education is Khanacademy.org, a site that lists a vast and growing collection of his YouTube video lessons in math, physics, chemistry, biology, and economics. In this conversation he discusses his teaching philosophy and methods with host Jon Udell, and explains why he abandoned a career in financial services to become a new kind of teacher.

Dacher Keltner, Jason Marsh - The Science of Human Goodness

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Dr. Moira Gunn talks with UC Berkeley Psychology Professor, Dacher Keltner and the editor of Greater Good magazine, Jason Marsh, about how humans are naturally programmed to be good and what separates those who are from those who are not.

John Culberson - Congress and Social Media

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Congressman John Culberson R-TX is TWL - Tweeting While Legislating. Espousing the power of the "fun" of "town meetings and tea parties," he's committed to bringing the real-time, blow-by-blow of Congressional deliberations to his subscribers. This moderated speech and discussion with Tim O'Reilly draws a loose analogy between technological innovation and government, asking: Are transparency and open access always compatible with deliberative process or innovative development?

Ricky Yuen - The Race to the "Next Big Thing" in Mobile Phones

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Ricky Yuen of Qualcomm catalogs some of the OEM sensors currently or soon available in cell phones. He explains how they are being used, from enabling new UI such as in the Nintendo Wii, to improved navigation. He argues that they can be employed separately and together to improve handset applications ranging from games, to lifestyle, to life-saving.

Jaron Lanier - You Are Not a Gadget

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Dr.Moira Gunn catches up with internet pioneer and author, Jaron Lanier to discuss his new book, You Are Not a Gadget...a Manifesto, where he discusses the technical and cultural problems that can grow out of poorly considered digital design.

Episode 80 - Stack Overflow - StackOverflow

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Joel and Jeff discuss GitHub, the value of formal code documentation, and how to decide what features belong in the next version of your software.

Beth Noveck - A Conversation with Tim O'Reilly

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

In this audio interview from the 2009 Web 2.0 Expo in New York, O'Reilly Media founder and tech guru Tim O'Reilly speaks with Deputy CTO of the United States and Director of the Open Government Initiative Beth Noveck. The two discuss successes, challenges and a culture shift that is happening as a result of President Obama's mandate to make government more transparent, participatory and collaborative.

Brad Templeton - Suing AT&T for a Trillion Dollars While the President Tries to Stop You

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Brad Templeton, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, talks about privacy issues, his company's wiretapping suit against AT&T, the history of anti-surveillance laws and judicial structure in the US, what it knows about current surveillance, the state of the suit today, and why privacy issues matter for the innovation of telephony.

Brian Dear - PLATO Turns 50

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

This year marks the 50th anniversary of PLATO, the pioneering educational courseware system that was also, for certain lucky individuals at certain universities, a preview of an online culture -- one that many others would not encounter for decades to come. In this conversation with host Jon Udell, PLATO historian Brian Dear recalls what it was like to experience an early distribution of a future that was, and in some ways still remains, unevenly distributed.

Jim Zemlin - What's the Deal with Linux on the Desktop?

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Everyone uses Linux: if they use Google, trade on-line, or use ATMs. Linux is the most ubiquitous OS in everything from cell phones to TVs, precisely because, Jim Zemlin of the Linux Foundation argues, it is free. As convergence between connectivity and device happens, network carriers and device-makers scramble to control a new service-based distribution. Zemlin urges continued protection and support of open-source through the filing of 'defensive publications' with the USPTO, and participation in several open-source projects.

Mitch Ratcliffe - Booksahead.com

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Tech journalist Mitch Ratcliffe discusses the future of books, reading, and publishing. He talks about how Booksahead.com is a platform to discuss authors and publishing, as well as news about the industry. Calling from the 2010 CES he also reviews new mobile devices, including E-Book readers and tablet computers, as well as the Sophie Project, open source software for writing and reading.

Mark Rolston - A White Box. A Vision of Our Evolving Mobile World.

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

At the 2009 eComm, Mark Rolston, Chief Creative Officer of Frog Design, talks about a new phase in design exemplified by the likes of Wii and the Android open OS. We currently live in two worlds, the real and the virtual, mediated by 'white boxes' less and less limited by functional distinction. Rolston ponders what we want to do next, what we'll be able to do next, and how the interface device, if there is one, will look and feel.

Episode 79 - StackOverflow

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

Joel and Jeff discuss open sourcing Markdown, the necessity of barriers on the open internet, and the importance of design in the software process.

Greg Wilson - Software Carpentry

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

For many years, Greg Wilson has taught a course called Software Carpentry: to scientists, to university students, and to working programmers. In this conversation with host Jon Udell, he discusses the digital and mental tools in the software carpenter's kit, and he reflects on how the course might be taught differently in an era of agile development and ubiquitous connectivity.

Jim Baller - U.S. Broadband Strategy

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 00:00:00 CST

The FCC is scheduled to deliver a national broadband strategy to Congress in February 2010. Scott Mace and attorney Jim Baller discuss the FCC strategy, early-round stimulus funding, the role of municipalities, and success stories such as Bristol, Virginia's fiber-to-the-home service.