Henry Cooke
@prehensile.bsky.social
Creative technlologist, producer, researcher. Occasional artist and artistic collaborator. Tinkerer. Part-time futurist. Kindness enthusiast. Not a kiwi journalist, sorry.
why am I being followed around the internet by ripped tai chi monks
November 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
why am I being followed around the internet by ripped tai chi monks
I have not consciously bought into “the smart home”, but there are some smart devices in here because it’s 2025 and everything has wifi in now. And there is one clear, tangible benefit it has brought to my life: I can turn noisy things off from other rooms when I just can’t be arsed to move.
November 3, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I have not consciously bought into “the smart home”, but there are some smart devices in here because it’s 2025 and everything has wifi in now. And there is one clear, tangible benefit it has brought to my life: I can turn noisy things off from other rooms when I just can’t be arsed to move.
Presenting: the worst possible (but still useful) AI server! Lives under my desk and does low-ish end LLM inference work. Built out of used parts from ebay for almost exactly 100 quid. Idles at about 20w (should be able to get it down to 4 or 5), peaks at 150w while running inference.
October 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Presenting: the worst possible (but still useful) AI server! Lives under my desk and does low-ish end LLM inference work. Built out of used parts from ebay for almost exactly 100 quid. Idles at about 20w (should be able to get it down to 4 or 5), peaks at 150w while running inference.
my feelings when I see people getting exercised over the AI hype train
October 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM
my feelings when I see people getting exercised over the AI hype train
my new jam is playing beloved old drum & bass mixes in my headphones at 80% speed with a massive reverb on, because I am old and my anxiety can no longer cope with the full 170bpm
September 26, 2025 at 10:37 AM
my new jam is playing beloved old drum & bass mixes in my headphones at 80% speed with a massive reverb on, because I am old and my anxiety can no longer cope with the full 170bpm
Reposted by Henry Cooke
I wrote something about our work designing escape rooms for strategy, aka strategic simulations. Please come through. www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-f...
Thanks to @scoxsmith.bsky.social @prehensile.bsky.social and @igorschwarzmann.com for keeping the doors revolving.
Thanks to @scoxsmith.bsky.social @prehensile.bsky.social and @igorschwarzmann.com for keeping the doors revolving.
When the Future Pushes Back
Why We’re Designing Escape Rooms for Strategy Leaders of the AI sector walk out of negotiations with business and policymakers, threatening to take their economic value offshore. A pharmaceutical comp...
www.linkedin.com
August 19, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I wrote something about our work designing escape rooms for strategy, aka strategic simulations. Please come through. www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-f...
Thanks to @scoxsmith.bsky.social @prehensile.bsky.social and @igorschwarzmann.com for keeping the doors revolving.
Thanks to @scoxsmith.bsky.social @prehensile.bsky.social and @igorschwarzmann.com for keeping the doors revolving.
Folks! Here’s an interesting niche request. Does anyone have access to a really fast video camera (1000fps or faster), or know someone who does? I’m working on a hardware project, and I need to verify something is updating at the rate it says it is.
August 12, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Folks! Here’s an interesting niche request. Does anyone have access to a really fast video camera (1000fps or faster), or know someone who does? I’m working on a hardware project, and I need to verify something is updating at the rate it says it is.
<dr manhattan voice>
It is 2001. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
It is 2025. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
It is 2001. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
It is 2025. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
August 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
<dr manhattan voice>
It is 2001. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
It is 2025. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
It is 2001. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
It is 2025. I am fucking about with computers and listening to Moving Shadow compilations in a music player with cool customisable skins.
important point raised by taller child this morning: why is it that most cryptids are associated with cold / dark / snow? Where are all the sun-loving strange creatures?
June 30, 2025 at 8:06 AM
important point raised by taller child this morning: why is it that most cryptids are associated with cold / dark / snow? Where are all the sun-loving strange creatures?
Reposted by Henry Cooke
Spoke to the BBC about the future of social platforms: clicks, legitimacy, the alms race, and the collapse of shared ‘now’.
BBC R&D’s Projections: The Social Internet report is out now:
BBC R&D’s Projections: The Social Internet report is out now:
BBC: Future of the Social Internet Report
A while ago I contributed to BBC R&D's Future of the Social Internet Report, which explores the dynamics of current digital social platforms.
thejaymo.net
June 17, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Spoke to the BBC about the future of social platforms: clicks, legitimacy, the alms race, and the collapse of shared ‘now’.
BBC R&D’s Projections: The Social Internet report is out now:
BBC R&D’s Projections: The Social Internet report is out now:
morning team! So far today I have managed to completely lose both my phone and my keys inside my own house and do my back in. things are going well.
June 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
morning team! So far today I have managed to completely lose both my phone and my keys inside my own house and do my back in. things are going well.
morning team! what are we using to scratch that Flickr itch these days? By which I mean: somewhere to upload Proper Photos, with some social business but definitely not endless fucking reels / ads / other enshittifications
June 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
morning team! what are we using to scratch that Flickr itch these days? By which I mean: somewhere to upload Proper Photos, with some social business but definitely not endless fucking reels / ads / other enshittifications
ME (SOBBING): why can’t functions just return things
NODE.JS FOR SOME REASON: you fool. you absolute buffoon.
NODE.JS FOR SOME REASON: you fool. you absolute buffoon.
April 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
ME (SOBBING): why can’t functions just return things
NODE.JS FOR SOME REASON: you fool. you absolute buffoon.
NODE.JS FOR SOME REASON: you fool. you absolute buffoon.
tapering off antidepressants while on Easter holidays with the family: NOT RECOMMENDED. Zero stars.
April 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
tapering off antidepressants while on Easter holidays with the family: NOT RECOMMENDED. Zero stars.
can’t log on to the train wifi until you fill in a brief survey about the state of the toilets. Just normal 2025 things.
April 12, 2025 at 11:35 AM
can’t log on to the train wifi until you fill in a brief survey about the state of the toilets. Just normal 2025 things.
Reposted by Henry Cooke
tfw someone says, "But who is going to TRANSLATE all this hard theory for non-academics???" and the answer is, "Me, I did it!"
If you've struggled reading Donna Haraway, standpoint theory, feminist theories of tech, or intersectionality, may I present: CYBORG
mitpress.mit.edu/978026254755...
If you've struggled reading Donna Haraway, standpoint theory, feminist theories of tech, or intersectionality, may I present: CYBORG
mitpress.mit.edu/978026254755...
Cyborg
This introduction to cyborg theory provides a critical vantage point for analyzing the claims around emerging technologies like automation, robots, and AI. C...
mitpress.mit.edu
February 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
tfw someone says, "But who is going to TRANSLATE all this hard theory for non-academics???" and the answer is, "Me, I did it!"
If you've struggled reading Donna Haraway, standpoint theory, feminist theories of tech, or intersectionality, may I present: CYBORG
mitpress.mit.edu/978026254755...
If you've struggled reading Donna Haraway, standpoint theory, feminist theories of tech, or intersectionality, may I present: CYBORG
mitpress.mit.edu/978026254755...
@jarkman.bsky.social omg I just saw the new Air Giants thing on @jemimahknight.bsky.social’s insta, IT’S SO GOOD!
February 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
@jarkman.bsky.social omg I just saw the new Air Giants thing on @jemimahknight.bsky.social’s insta, IT’S SO GOOD!
technologies I have used in interactive live shows, which were totally not designed for this kind of thing:
- bluetooth (we were all young once)
- mqtt (surprisingly good, especially when bridged with osc)
- rfid (meh)
- rfid gen2 (actual magic)
- spreadsheets (because it’s always spreadsheets)
- bluetooth (we were all young once)
- mqtt (surprisingly good, especially when bridged with osc)
- rfid (meh)
- rfid gen2 (actual magic)
- spreadsheets (because it’s always spreadsheets)
February 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
technologies I have used in interactive live shows, which were totally not designed for this kind of thing:
- bluetooth (we were all young once)
- mqtt (surprisingly good, especially when bridged with osc)
- rfid (meh)
- rfid gen2 (actual magic)
- spreadsheets (because it’s always spreadsheets)
- bluetooth (we were all young once)
- mqtt (surprisingly good, especially when bridged with osc)
- rfid (meh)
- rfid gen2 (actual magic)
- spreadsheets (because it’s always spreadsheets)
I am greatly enjoying this very thoughtful leaving gift from @tristanfe.bsky.social, @billt.bsky.social, @cubicgarden.com, @mathieutriay.bsky.social et al (so satisfying to type on! a rotary volume knob!), but unfortunately it has turned me into a Man With Opinions About Mechanical Keyboards
January 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I am greatly enjoying this very thoughtful leaving gift from @tristanfe.bsky.social, @billt.bsky.social, @cubicgarden.com, @mathieutriay.bsky.social et al (so satisfying to type on! a rotary volume knob!), but unfortunately it has turned me into a Man With Opinions About Mechanical Keyboards
ME (in conversation): hey, did you know someone made a computer out of water?
8YO: Dad, please don’t
ME: crabs can be a computer too
8YO: Dad, please don’t
ME: crabs can be a computer too
December 28, 2024 at 3:49 PM
ME (in conversation): hey, did you know someone made a computer out of water?
8YO: Dad, please don’t
ME: crabs can be a computer too
8YO: Dad, please don’t
ME: crabs can be a computer too
checking in on the cheese shift
December 27, 2024 at 5:16 PM
checking in on the cheese shift
turning up late to my own leaving do. Honestly, this is kind of perfect.
December 18, 2024 at 6:07 PM
turning up late to my own leaving do. Honestly, this is kind of perfect.
@mearm.bsky.social hello! apparently you had a bunch of 7-segment displays to give away, almost a year ago. this is a very long shot, but: I don't suppose you have any left?
December 14, 2024 at 9:58 PM
@mearm.bsky.social hello! apparently you had a bunch of 7-segment displays to give away, almost a year ago. this is a very long shot, but: I don't suppose you have any left?
Reposted by Henry Cooke
Morpheus: You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
me (42 years old): which one is ibuprofen
me (42 years old): which one is ibuprofen
December 14, 2024 at 4:04 AM
Morpheus: You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
me (42 years old): which one is ibuprofen
me (42 years old): which one is ibuprofen
This one goes out to all my #emfcamp pals: I’m mulling a project which would require sourcing a bunch (as many as possible) of used / scavenged 7-segment LCD displays. Where would you hunt for such things?
December 14, 2024 at 1:15 PM
This one goes out to all my #emfcamp pals: I’m mulling a project which would require sourcing a bunch (as many as possible) of used / scavenged 7-segment LCD displays. Where would you hunt for such things?