Daedalus was the mythical engineer and artificer of the classical world. What would he do with digital tools and digital concerns?

Embbedded commerce heats up

August 18, 2008 in Energy, Markets and Innovation, Standards

I wanted to alert this group that there are two activities afoot right now that have the potential to affect everyone interested in energy and economics, particularly those interested in the new commerce side of energy.

Algal Biodiesel Virtuous Cycles

July 15, 2008 in Energy, Re-thinking things

I am reading more and more about how close algal biodiesel is, perhaps a year or two away. I will reserve my judgment on ship dates, but note that there are claims that algae can produce oils suitable for making biodiesel out of without genetic engineering. I am not as concerned with genetic modifications as some are, but do acknowledge that the presence of such modifications would concern others and throw

New Daedalus

Daedalus designed buildings, automated statues, and built wings for human flight. Daedalus worked by eye and hand, his designs scratched with a stylus on wax tablets. Until recently, we merely perfected his means of work, using better pens, and paper, and finally drawing on computers.

It is only recently that we have begun to leave the methods of Daedalus behind.

Simulations and digital twins guide each decision. Intelligence, or at least behaviors, imbue each system and device. Cyberphysical systems replace household servants and chauffeurs, operate factories, and manage energy logistics. The most pressing concerns are how intelligent systems and buildings will respond to us, and to each other.