iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 6h

Yes - my wife likes that one and we found a box cheap in a supermarket in Germany in the summer, so at least it didn't cost too much!

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 8h

Last night I was trying to look up details of a film on Netflix, and Google kept telling me that I wasn't looking for that one, but a different film with a similar name.

110

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 8h

I read an article a few months ago that said the biggest change in LLMs in the last year was that they're much less likely to say that they don't know the answer. Now that Google often includes AI-generated responses this is more obvious.

220

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 8h

I put something in the cupboard this afternoon and couldn't work out why everything was wet. Then I noticed that it was a pink liquid. This bottle seems to have spontaneously burst on the top shelf.

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 9h

Even though I know the history, it still takes me a second to remember that in the US red and blue are the other way round. The Republicans were originally more to the left, as you'd expect from their name. www.voronoiapp.com/_next/image?...

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 14h

It's probably the sort of thing you grow out of when you do your own washing.

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 15h

This is getting worse. Amazon used to have an app store for Android and Google is trying to make it more difficult to install your own .apk files. Apple has always been more controlling - I haven't had an iPhone since the 3GS. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

Own a mobile phone? Then you’re paying the ‘app tax’. It’s a racket and it’s time the UK faced Apple and Google down | Chi Onwurah

A deep-seated duopoly allows the tech giants to exploit the public and developers. But the regulator has powers to stop this abuse – it should use them, says Labour MP Chi Onwurah

001

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 17h

The internet is a strange thing, isn't it? I think I might have been here because it was in Google Maps and we were passing, but it seems to have become the Dutch Binley Mega Chippy. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

‘We are in a kind of war’: row over viral Amsterdam chip shop lands in court

Neighbours say crowds drawn to Fabel Friet are clogging the picturesque canal street and attracting litter, gulls and rats

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 18h

Ooh, fog! I think that's my second-favourite form of adverse weather condition.

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 03/10/2026

Did you upgrade it to an LED bulb? ;-)

110

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

I blew 50p on the 12" in a charity shop a couple of years ago!

110

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

It turns out that it finished in 1992, although it hadn't been called Roundtable since 1986. Dieter Meier was right about The Living Years. www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/round...

radiorewind.co.uk

Radio Rewind - BBC Radio 1 shows - Roundtable

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

It's Friday teatime - is Round Table still on Radio 1?

200

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

Surely we can come up with a better name than Breturn? Go on internet...

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

I don't think I've ever seen that in Europe - I wonder why the US needs to freeze orange juice and we don't? Do you get long-life Tetra Paks as well?

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

It just goes to show that you can be an amateur and do a reasonable job - like I did with my bathroom!

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

I came across a service that would score a website out of 100, based on standards, performance, security, etc., and suggest improvements. Obviously they were selling their services, but I was intrigued. I thought they'd be sure to find something wrong - but they actually want to do nothing for me!

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

Are domains like car insurance - they just rely on people renewing and not checking prices? I've changed registrars before, and I just noticed that the renewal on advanced-ict.info was going to be $36 - a few minutes later I'm with a new registrar and it's $21 (which isn't an introductory offer).

001

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

I don't think I'm a Luddite, but I do prefer physical media because you explore music in a different way. A streaming service will say "Listen to this because it's the same", but with a physical collection you notice random other things you'd forgotten about. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/o...

theguardian.com

‘If you can’t hold it, you don’t own it’: why media fans want to escape algorithms with CDs, DVDs and vinyl

People describe their return to physical media – whether to protect data, support artists, or retain control of one’s choices

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

It was "Information Evening" at my son's new school last night. I was pleased to see that they share my view of "AI". Here's a page that I made and linked to our students' homeworks. warwickshire-flt.org.uk/VERA/student...

warwickshire-flt.org.uk

Should I Use AI?

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 02/10/2026

I'd almost forgotten about Replit - I'm surprised that I've logged in in the last year.

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

My son started secondary school this term and asked to use my computer to do one of his homeworks. He came to ask me how to close an application, and he also didn't know what to do at the end. We realised that he'd never used Windows before - they had Chromebooks at primary school.

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

I think it was easier then - everyone used Windows and Office. I remember us teaching mouse skills to the WI!

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

The difference between WiFi and the internet would be a good idea, but I'm not sure that's what they had in mind - I think they were talking about a student who was struggling to operate their device.

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

Some platforms - e.g. iOS - try to hide files, think, ChromeOS (and Microsoft Office) directs you towards cloud storage, not even real Office and online Office work in the same way, etc. The proliferation of apps and platforms means that almost nothing is common these days.

210

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

A colleague recently asked whether we offered a course on "the basics of using a computer". What would "using a computer" mean? #TeamCompSci

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

As no-one uses cash any more, we find that it's getting increasingly difficult for the tooth fairy to provide - my son has taken to exchanging IOU notes with him/her/it. Maybe your student is looking to supplement his income?

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

Like Hadrian's Wall and all Volkswagens registered between 1982 and 1985? www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMdP...

youtube.com

The day today - Gay news

YouTube video by Matthew Davidson

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

Full-time two-year contract: ce0242li.webitrent.com/ce0242li_web...

ce0242li.webitrent.com

001

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

Part-time permanent: ce0242li.webitrent.com/ce0242li_web...

ce0242li.webitrent.com

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

We have two new (non-teaching) vacancies - one permanent and part-time, and one temporary but full-time. Links to follow in the comments but they're also on WM Jobs if you know anyone who's interested.

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

I like to start courses with storage and representation, but this year I've been trying to raise the profile of the bit. #TeamCompSci www.advanced-ict.info/mathematics/...

advanced-ict.info

Bits

What is a bit, and why is it so important in computer science?

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

This? I've retired some content by editing the pages to say so, but all links dating back to 2001 still work. www.advanced-ict.info/interactive/...

advanced-ict.info

Normalised Floating-Point Binary

An interactive page to show how decimal and negative values are represented in binary.

210

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 01/10/2026

This week I've added quite a few extra words from the OCR specification and I've also refined some of the clues and made them more consistent. I think it's also a bit more mobile-friendly - just as schools are banning smartphones! www.advanced-ict.info/interactive/...

advanced-ict.info

Computer Science Worderama

Play a Wordle-style game with terms from GCSE Computer Science.

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

I used to get a kind of jet lag as I wasn't used to getting up early, but getting older has sorted that as now I wake up early in the holidays as well.

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

Even though it's not an "official" thing any more, I still like to observe #ScrollFreeSeptember, so I'll "see" you in October!

210

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

#ScrollFreeSeptember is about to begin, but I'll still update this page with any interesting things that I find. www.advanced-ict.info/theory/impac...

advanced-ict.info

Search Impact Stories

Search the impact stories Database.

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

They also abstract the map, as they do in London.

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

Yes - I felt the same. I thought they were laying it on a bit thick with the "technology is bad" message at the start, but I suppose the tablet did redeem itself. A bit like a Mr Men book!

010

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

All the local schools have banned smartphones, although the statutory guidance is no device that "sends messages", which presumably would include pagers too. www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

Mobile phones in schools

120

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

My son's starting secondary school on Wednesday and I'm glad the phone ban is already in place. My daughter said that it was difficult to make friends when she started secondary school because everyone spent break times glued to their phones.

120

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

We've just been to see Toy Story 5. It was a bit far-fetched in places - who reverses their car into the garage? It reminded me why the phone and social media bans are a good idea, though.

320

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 31/08/2026

Representation is also an important part of ICT, e.g. file portability, linking vs. embedding, and it's useful to know how spreadsheets store dates and times. #TeamCompSci www.advanced-ict.info/theory/NC/do...

advanced-ict.info

000

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 30/08/2026

Did you take children to Coyote vs Acme, or was it "research"?

100

Computing in a Nutshell @advanced-ict.info · 30/08/2026

We're going to see the latest Toy Story film tomorrow - I'll report back on its anti-iPad agenda (if I get time before #ScrollFreeSeptember).

100