iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 3h

#til The first television broadcast to include sound (1930) was based on a 1922 play by Luigi Pirandello about a conversation between a man who has cancer and another who has missed his train. Pirandello won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man...

en.wikipedia.org

The Man with the Flower in His Mouth - Wikipedia

010

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I, too, aspire to be a 'protected resource'.

010

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My sad conclusion is that the Elizabeth line is so effective, it's not the fastest way for me to get to the office. Jubilee line 4 life I guess. #sob

000

Reposted by Alexandra D-S

Aaron Straup Cope @thisisaaronland.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

two completely different talks in three days / "shared vector embeddings" at #ff26 – aaronland.info/weblog/2026/... / followed by "the story I want to remember" at #papercamp 5 – www.aaronland.info/weblog/2026/... / let us now praise flight delays and planes lacking in-flight entertainment systems

aaronland.info

shared vector embeddings (fantastic futures '26)

Shared vector embeddings simply makes it possible to do something similar at a smaller, more targeted, scale with fewer resources and less coordination.

131

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

First sighting of a puffer jacket. We made it everyone. 🍂

120

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Only 5 hours of non-calls this upcoming week. Gulp.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Sometimes it's good to stop doing things. If you'd like to become the next organiser of the London Internet of Things Meetup next year, I broke down what's involved and how much it costs. iot.london/looking-for-...

iot.london

Looking for a new organiser!

It’s that time again. Usman Haque asked me to start organising the meetup back in November 2011 and for some years, I was able to find enough sponsorship to pay for my time and cover the cost…

020

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Every person who wears glasses/contacts knows what Andy is going through but imo wearing glasses doesn’t make you look weak, half commiting to them makes you look ambivalent. www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/may/...

theguardian.com

Change of focus for new look PM

The focus groups must have given the all clear: Tony Blair has emerged in reading glasses for the first time in public.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Celebrating #worldriversday by spamming you all with recent visits to rivers. The Danube in Vienna (July 2026)

100

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

“You cannot pour from an empty cup” she thought to herself, waiting for the second flight of the day, getting over a vile pistacchio Cornetto, the only kind on offer at Barcelona airport.

110

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

They had no iron/ironing board and some of the towels had mold but they had sleepy bees, a nice view and a good kitchen. Portugal, i’ll try being back for more than 48 hours some day.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I'm in the countryside outside Porto today. I'll be speaking at Morgado Connect to smart home installers about my book "Smarter Homes" and reflections since it came out in 2018. www.instagram.com/p/DdEt1zMHEV8/ My post-pandemic observations:

250

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#til Saul Bellow was born in Quebec. Another fellow countryman I was not aware of until now because anglophone Quebecois don’t count in French speaking schools as we’re far too busy remembering what we choose to remember. #jemesouviens

101

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Happy to report Gatwick has seen the light and actual humans are reading the luggage xrays again (instead of shitty LLMs). Going through security is once again, a matter of minutes.

020

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

If I ever decide to become a coach, can someone send help?

010

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Learning about separation of concerns.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Just a post of appreciation for @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social who introduced me to this gem this morning. I studied the piano for 7 years as a child and couldn’t play you anything anymore but it’s still my favourite instrument to listen to. youtu.be/AZrgpeXFJos

youtu.be

Moonlight through the Cedar Tree

YouTube video by David Reeves - Topic

010

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Tonight was the 157th London Internet of Things Meetup and in true form, the speakers were generous with their time and the attendees asked great questions. I am still organising two more before I let go and hand it over (for good this time!). meetup.com/iotlondon

050

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I knew this day would come, but it's 2026 and I have received a request to pay for the use of an image I included on one of my sunday scraps, an entirely uncommercial blogging practice I have had since 2005. #lesigh

010

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Starting modern Greek classes tonight. Hoping somewhere in my mind there is space for a sixth language. The fragments of German, Spanish and Japanese might have to go for a walk.

120

Reposted by Alexandra D-S

Neil C Ford @neilcford.uk · 20/09/2026

Yesterday I attended #papercamp5 organised by @designswarm.bsky.social, which was absolutely brilliant! Today, I've written about my experience - blog.neilcford.uk/post/paperca...

blog.neilcford.uk

Papercamp 5 | Neil C Ford

Thoughts on technology, tabletop gaming and other random stuff

012

Reposted by Alexandra D-S

Roland Karthaus @rolandk.eurosky.social · 19/09/2026

It definitely did - I loved it!

012

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I’m shattered but I think that went well. See you September 18th 2027, tickets will go up March 1st. #papercamp5

191

Reposted by Alexandra D-S

Aaron Straup Cope @thisisaaronland.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I was invited to speak at #papercamp 5 which was a treat because I also spoke at the first #papercamp, way back in 2009, and because I love that @designswarm.bsky.social has revived the event in recent years / this is what I said – www.aaronland.info/weblog/2026/...

aaronland.info

the story I want to remember (papercamp 5)

In 2026, not being asked about something rarely prevents any of us from telegraphing whatever is on our mind anyway and I think that may be the point.

181

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Some people touch grass, I organise events. See (some of) you tomorrow! #papercamp5

240

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Papercamp is now sold out. It's this Saturday. I've been banging on about this for 6 months now so you might get some respite for a couple of months before I start all over again. Forewarned, forearmed, etc.

020

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Had a really lovely time at @themodernist.bsky.social event tonight at a talk about the De La Warr pavillion history and refurb. I feel lucky to be able to attend their events as they’ve started doing more in London but if you’re in ‘the North’, you should check them out. the-modernist.org

030

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

How does anyone manage their Linkedin connection requests these days? Wrong answers only.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Pondering on discoveries aka technical spikes.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I recorded audio for an insta reel and maybe I should quit my job and do asmr content for a living. #huskyaf

030

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I don't need to see your Mural. (Repeat until time of death).

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Hadn‘t read it in a while. Still amazing.

100

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Reading the Frida biography so you don’t have to.

100

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Had an important midlife milestone this week: I wrote a letter of complaint.

130

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Literally what my home office looks like most days.

010

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I’m being told to test my boiler when it’s still 22C indoors. Looking forward to a continued year on year reduction of my energy bills. Thanks perimenopause/climate change. 😅🫠🔥

011

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The entrance of the building I work in has been jujed up with a mural from the Government Art Collection. Someone make a map so we can celebrate the artists! artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/artwork/

artcollection.dcms.gov.uk

Artworks Archive - Government Art Collection

110

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A whole week of terrible sleep (so far). The perimenopause is the absolute worst thing ever.

000

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The italian Boomers running my favourite Fitzrovia café are asking more and more questions as I continue to show up regularly. London always rewards loyalty.

110

Alexandra D-S @designswarm.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Enemy of the state (1998) is a lot of A listers like Jack Black on the phone for 2 hours. Ironically, his half-brother was responsible for the development of a lot of surveillance and defence tech. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Si...

en.wikipedia.org

Neil Siegel - Wikipedia

000