A Luddite Computer Scientist's Blog

Ned Ludd is widely believed to have never existed, but a group of textile workers in England in the 19th century took on his name as a symbol of insurrection as they prepared to demolish the machines they feared would put their jobs, their skills, their very identities at risk.

A luddite computer scientist might seem like a contradiction in terms. And I’m not interested in smashing my computer or taking down the Internet (on most days). But I do believe we need to reinvent the way we relate to technology — how we understand it, how we make it, how we use it. Computer science and technology are two different things; more people understand how to use technology much better than they understand any of the computer science. We are constantly bleeding data without an understanding of how it is being used. An industry full of intelligent people is busy making apps that can put a mustache on your face, or inventing unusable futuristic cars, when this brain power could be harnessed to address problem that affect real human lives today. That industry is losing out on more great minds because of stereotypes, discrimination, and harassment. Our favorite apps make us sadder and we spend so much time looking at screens we’re getting bad at looking at faces. I’m not a luddite despite my interest in computer science; It’s more accurate to say I’m a luddite because of it.

But where I might break with my machine-smashing forebears is this: I see tremendous hope and potential in what humanity could do with computer science. A reimagined relationship with this discipline — which is fascinating, beautiful, philosophical — might give us the tools we need to solve, or help solve, some of the world’s greatest problems.

I intend to use this blog and my newsletter to explore these questions and the tension, or occasional harmony, between humanity and computer science. Here, I plan to share some of my work, a bit of my personal life, an occasional (?) rant, or just whatever I am thinking about at the time — which may go slightly off-topic, but I intend to always return to this primary issue. I also plan to biweekly consolidate my thoughts and takes of the state these issues in the world over on my Substack newsletter, in a more organized and consistent form (probably). I hope that you enjoy these offerings.