Oliver Quinlan
@oliverquinlan.bsky.social
💼 User Research @GDSTeam
🕸 http://oliverquinlan.com
🗞 http://oliverquinlan.substack.com
🐘 https://mastodon.social/@oliverquinlan
🕸 http://oliverquinlan.com
🗞 http://oliverquinlan.substack.com
🐘 https://mastodon.social/@oliverquinlan
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Gentle recommendation to have a hobby that you can 1) do on your own time 2) are not doing for livelihood or career 3) can grow your skill in over time, and 4) can focus on for chunks of time where you can tune other things out. I spent a couple hours last night developing film and it was excellent
February 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Gentle recommendation to have a hobby that you can 1) do on your own time 2) are not doing for livelihood or career 3) can grow your skill in over time, and 4) can focus on for chunks of time where you can tune other things out. I spent a couple hours last night developing film and it was excellent
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
DID YOU KNOW?
I'm unexpectedly rather more available than expected right now, so if you see something Doug-shaped, please do let me know (boosts appreciated!)
dougbelshaw.com/work/
I'm unexpectedly rather more available than expected right now, so if you see something Doug-shaped, please do let me know (boosts appreciated!)
dougbelshaw.com/work/
January 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
DID YOU KNOW?
I'm unexpectedly rather more available than expected right now, so if you see something Doug-shaped, please do let me know (boosts appreciated!)
dougbelshaw.com/work/
I'm unexpectedly rather more available than expected right now, so if you see something Doug-shaped, please do let me know (boosts appreciated!)
dougbelshaw.com/work/
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
This is whirling round my head at the moment. What *should* I be working on?
thoughtshrapnel.com/2025/01/02/h...
thoughtshrapnel.com/2025/01/02/h...
January 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This is whirling round my head at the moment. What *should* I be working on?
thoughtshrapnel.com/2025/01/02/h...
thoughtshrapnel.com/2025/01/02/h...
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
The clearest photo of Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun | NASA
December 23, 2024 at 11:31 AM
The clearest photo of Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun | NASA
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Extremely detailed photo of Martian soil from the Curiosity rover 🔍
December 16, 2024 at 1:48 AM
Extremely detailed photo of Martian soil from the Curiosity rover 🔍
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
You have to soak in the data & struggle with it — the part that has the most ambiguity, which is uncomfortable!
But the discomfort is a necessary signal toward finding your way to insight & clarity.
I think many practitioners (&/or bosses) assume the discomfort is bad, so avoiding it must be good.
But the discomfort is a necessary signal toward finding your way to insight & clarity.
I think many practitioners (&/or bosses) assume the discomfort is bad, so avoiding it must be good.
December 9, 2024 at 5:26 PM
You have to soak in the data & struggle with it — the part that has the most ambiguity, which is uncomfortable!
But the discomfort is a necessary signal toward finding your way to insight & clarity.
I think many practitioners (&/or bosses) assume the discomfort is bad, so avoiding it must be good.
But the discomfort is a necessary signal toward finding your way to insight & clarity.
I think many practitioners (&/or bosses) assume the discomfort is bad, so avoiding it must be good.
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
So I was a guest at a meetup last week. One of the participants used an AI notes and summary tool.
The thing that struck me when looking at the summary afterwards is that what got talked about most was actually the least important part of the conversation, but the tool had no way of knowing that.
The thing that struck me when looking at the summary afterwards is that what got talked about most was actually the least important part of the conversation, but the tool had no way of knowing that.
December 9, 2024 at 3:16 PM
So I was a guest at a meetup last week. One of the participants used an AI notes and summary tool.
The thing that struck me when looking at the summary afterwards is that what got talked about most was actually the least important part of the conversation, but the tool had no way of knowing that.
The thing that struck me when looking at the summary afterwards is that what got talked about most was actually the least important part of the conversation, but the tool had no way of knowing that.
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
`chmod 777 **/lib` to own the libs
December 4, 2024 at 7:26 AM
`chmod 777 **/lib` to own the libs
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
James Webb Space Telescope’s infrared view of the Pillars of Creation
November 23, 2024 at 5:03 AM
James Webb Space Telescope’s infrared view of the Pillars of Creation
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Interesting snippet in here for Dashboard Government Nerds
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Interesting snippet in here for Dashboard Government Nerds
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Did you know that by substituting your morning coffee with green tea, you can eliminate up to 93% of what little joy you have left?
November 21, 2024 at 9:17 AM
Did you know that by substituting your morning coffee with green tea, you can eliminate up to 93% of what little joy you have left?
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
At work one of the things we do (@carefultrouble.bsky.social) is help different kinds of orgs with their AI strategy and ethical evaluations. Some random trends:
- techno-optimistic senior managers who want to sprinkle AI on something but aren't sure what are almost always men in their 40s
- techno-optimistic senior managers who want to sprinkle AI on something but aren't sure what are almost always men in their 40s
November 12, 2024 at 9:07 PM
At work one of the things we do (@carefultrouble.bsky.social) is help different kinds of orgs with their AI strategy and ethical evaluations. Some random trends:
- techno-optimistic senior managers who want to sprinkle AI on something but aren't sure what are almost always men in their 40s
- techno-optimistic senior managers who want to sprinkle AI on something but aren't sure what are almost always men in their 40s
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Sobering finding from Centre for London commissioned polling, contradicting the image too many have that London's streets are paved with gold. 1 in 7 Londoners could not cope with an unexpected £20 bill, rising to 1 in 4 if they're hit with an unplanned £50 cost. #LDNConf24
November 11, 2024 at 10:10 AM
Sobering finding from Centre for London commissioned polling, contradicting the image too many have that London's streets are paved with gold. 1 in 7 Londoners could not cope with an unexpected £20 bill, rising to 1 in 4 if they're hit with an unplanned £50 cost. #LDNConf24
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
#UncoolTwo50
Day 42. Computer Love - Kraftwerk (1981)
One way to make your sci-fi text timeless: pick something futuristic, find its limitations, then write about being disappointed by those limits. Using this method, Kraftwerk wrote the most accurate song about online dating three decades early.
Day 42. Computer Love - Kraftwerk (1981)
One way to make your sci-fi text timeless: pick something futuristic, find its limitations, then write about being disappointed by those limits. Using this method, Kraftwerk wrote the most accurate song about online dating three decades early.
Kraftwerk - Computer Love (single version) (1981)
YouTube video by menchitty11
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2024 at 12:42 PM
#UncoolTwo50
Day 42. Computer Love - Kraftwerk (1981)
One way to make your sci-fi text timeless: pick something futuristic, find its limitations, then write about being disappointed by those limits. Using this method, Kraftwerk wrote the most accurate song about online dating three decades early.
Day 42. Computer Love - Kraftwerk (1981)
One way to make your sci-fi text timeless: pick something futuristic, find its limitations, then write about being disappointed by those limits. Using this method, Kraftwerk wrote the most accurate song about online dating three decades early.
Introduce yourself with some jobs you have done apart from what you do now:
Primary school teacher
Restaurant cook
Nightclub DJ
Think tanker
Primary school teacher
Restaurant cook
Nightclub DJ
Think tanker
Introduce yourself with some jobs you have done apart from what you do now:
Paper boy
Barista
Tech support in a call centre
Tech support in a shop
Mail room attendant
Benefits processor
Nightclub DJ
Paper boy
Barista
Tech support in a call centre
Tech support in a shop
Mail room attendant
Benefits processor
Nightclub DJ
Introduce yourself with some jobs you have done apart from what you do now:
Paper boy
Supermarket shelf stacker
Kitchen Porter/pot washer
Sales assistant - camera shop
McDonald’s fries rotation (quit after half day)
Sales assistant - stationery shop
Bartender
Charity shop volunteer
Paper boy
Supermarket shelf stacker
Kitchen Porter/pot washer
Sales assistant - camera shop
McDonald’s fries rotation (quit after half day)
Sales assistant - stationery shop
Bartender
Charity shop volunteer
November 11, 2024 at 4:21 PM
Introduce yourself with some jobs you have done apart from what you do now:
Primary school teacher
Restaurant cook
Nightclub DJ
Think tanker
Primary school teacher
Restaurant cook
Nightclub DJ
Think tanker
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Polling and opinion surveys contribute to harm year round, not just at election time. In large part because running surveys is a lucrative business that crowds out actually understanding people's lived experience.
The reporting on surveys as bad as bad science journalism.
The reporting on surveys as bad as bad science journalism.
November 11, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Polling and opinion surveys contribute to harm year round, not just at election time. In large part because running surveys is a lucrative business that crowds out actually understanding people's lived experience.
The reporting on surveys as bad as bad science journalism.
The reporting on surveys as bad as bad science journalism.
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Most survey results reported as facts about the world are not in fact facts about the world. I trust what comes out of Pew, but that's about it.
Anything out of an industry group or a study funded by a specific company, nah.
I mean, unless it supports my priors.
Anything out of an industry group or a study funded by a specific company, nah.
I mean, unless it supports my priors.
November 11, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Most survey results reported as facts about the world are not in fact facts about the world. I trust what comes out of Pew, but that's about it.
Anything out of an industry group or a study funded by a specific company, nah.
I mean, unless it supports my priors.
Anything out of an industry group or a study funded by a specific company, nah.
I mean, unless it supports my priors.
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
If you have a shy young person in your life who is not a massive joiner-inner can I recommend getting into Warhammer? If you're not a team sports person or don't thrill to putting on a show, there's not much out there for kids these days and few positive male role models
November 10, 2024 at 9:51 AM
If you have a shy young person in your life who is not a massive joiner-inner can I recommend getting into Warhammer? If you're not a team sports person or don't thrill to putting on a show, there's not much out there for kids these days and few positive male role models
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
So much of modern childhood - from doing PowerPoint presentations from KS1 to being expected to be a high achiever in group contexts - assumes everyone is an extrovert, but there are all sorts of people with all kinds of skills out there and they all need some space to thrive
November 10, 2024 at 9:56 AM
So much of modern childhood - from doing PowerPoint presentations from KS1 to being expected to be a high achiever in group contexts - assumes everyone is an extrovert, but there are all sorts of people with all kinds of skills out there and they all need some space to thrive
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
I grew up on these streets
November 7, 2024 at 10:47 AM
I grew up on these streets
@maggieappleton.com thanks, great talk! Really thought provoking.
November 1, 2024 at 5:06 PM
@maggieappleton.com thanks, great talk! Really thought provoking.
Up early and off to UX Brighton.
November 1, 2024 at 7:29 AM
Up early and off to UX Brighton.
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
Honestly, speed reading boring and impenetrable books is a skill that needs to be passed on from generation to generation
In my generation of students, we knew how to read long books. That is, we knew that you should lie your face off that, yes, you HAVE read all of Ulysses in a week, and all the critical reading, AND portrait of the artist. Students today? Bad liars.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.
www.theatlantic.com
October 7, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Honestly, speed reading boring and impenetrable books is a skill that needs to be passed on from generation to generation
Reposted by Oliver Quinlan
“Heat pumps are superior in efficiency to condensing boilers, even if the heat pumps are powered by electricity from a power station burning natural gas.”
Not me saying that but the late Prof Sir David MacKay.
More in my Carbon Brief article 👇
www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...
Not me saying that but the late Prof Sir David MacKay.
More in my Carbon Brief article 👇
www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...
September 26, 2024 at 6:29 AM
“Heat pumps are superior in efficiency to condensing boilers, even if the heat pumps are powered by electricity from a power station burning natural gas.”
Not me saying that but the late Prof Sir David MacKay.
More in my Carbon Brief article 👇
www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...
Not me saying that but the late Prof Sir David MacKay.
More in my Carbon Brief article 👇
www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18...