Subconscious

Subconscious explores the intersection of technology, philosophy, and systems thinking to understand how digital tools and concepts like artificial intelligence, cryptographic signatures, and decentralized protocols can enhance human thought, agency, and collaboration. It delves into the evolution of tools for thought, the nature of feedback loops, and the potential for individual sovereignty in the digital age.

Technology and Society Artificial Intelligence Decentralization and Cryptography Philosophy of Mind Systems Thinking User Agency and Identity Software Design and Development Evolution of Communication and Collaboration

The hottest Substack posts of Subconscious

And their main takeaways

Cities are routers in network society

988 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Media Society Urbanism Technology Communication
  1. Cities act like routers in our connected world, linking people and resources together. They help create community and make life easier.
  2. Internet and networks change how power and information flow. Unlike old broadcast systems that focus on a center, networks spread connections widely.
  3. With new technology, many people are becoming digital nomads. They can work from anywhere, making cities hubs for gatherings and shared experiences again.

Nature's many attempts to evolve a Nostr

2095 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Decentralization Software Architecture Data Ownership
  1. Centralized apps control user data and accounts, making users dependent on their servers. This creates a situation where users can be locked out at any time.
  2. Federated systems allow users to choose servers, but can still lead to centralization as large nodes dominate, limiting true user independence.
  3. Peer-to-peer networks promote equality among users, but they often evolve to create 'superpeers' that can mirror centralization, so a new approach using relays could improve user control and ownership.

Places to intervene in a system

1423 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Systems theory Spirituality Ethics
  1. Intervening in a system can be done through different levels of influence, starting from simple changes like adjusting parameters to deeper shifts like altering mindsets.
  2. All systems are creations of our thoughts and perspectives, meaning we can change how we view these systems, which can influence outcomes.
  3. True change often requires patience and may not show immediate results, so focusing on inner transformation is essential for meaningful progress.

Where to draw the line?

1225 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Systems Design Engineering Innovation
  1. Breaking problems into smaller pieces helps us manage them better. It's like solving a big puzzle by working on one piece at a time.
  2. Modules or parts of a system allow us to focus on what’s important without worrying about the whole. This makes it easier to change and adapt parts as needed.
  3. Deciding where to draw boundaries in a system can greatly affect its future. It's important to understand what will change and what won’t before setting those boundaries.
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Create good problems to have

830 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Tech Culture Community Building Complex Systems Social Networks
  1. Create good problems to have after the flywheel is already spinning, during rapid growth, which motivates the ecosystem to solve problems.
  2. Avoid building perfect technology as it leads to front-loading work, needing an ecosystem flywheel, and inability to anticipate scale problems.
  3. Creating good problems to have encourages co-evolution with the community and provides opportunities for others to contribute.

LLMs break the internet. Signing everything fixes it.

1977 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Cybersecurity Networking Web Development
  1. LLMs can manipulate the internet in various ways, but signing everything with cryptographic keys can help combat these issues.
  2. Cryptographic signatures provide a foundation to rebuild trust online and ensure authenticity.
  3. Building webs of trust through self-sovereign keys, reputation, and attestation can enhance security and collaboration in the digital world.

Tools for thought: the first 300,000 years

1660 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🕹 Technology History Artificial Intelligence Computer Science Communication Information Storage
  1. 300,000 years ago, humanity started leaving messages in rocks and clay, allowing thoughts to outlive individuals.
  2. Throughout history, humans have continuously discovered new tools for thinking, such as language, art, and technology.
  3. The shared brain of humanity has evolved over time, with increasing collaboration and technological advancements, setting the stage for thinking together to address global challenges.

Tools for thought in your OODA loop

949 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Tools for Thought Cognitive Science Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Management
  1. The OODA loop consists of observe, orient, decide, and act, crucial for agency in a cybernetic system.
  2. Fast transients and maintaining awareness are key to disorienting adversaries and maintaining agency.
  3. Tools for thought expand awareness, build memory, and increase bandwidth for synthesis, essential for navigating complex environments.

Concept design in three easy steps

711 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Design Software Apps Concepts Engineering
  1. View software design as shaping functionality, understand what it should do first before how it does it or how it looks.
  2. Break down app functionalities into modular concepts, each with its own behavior and actions, combine existing concepts creatively.
  3. Design concepts to function independently, sync actions to ensure smooth interaction, focus on how concepts fit together to improve usability.

Freedom to exit

2 HN points • 05 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Data Ownership
  1. The freedom to exit means you can take your data and leave without anyone stopping you.
  2. Three ways to ensure data ownership are through decentralized protocols, local-first data, or legal agreements.
  3. Projects focusing on user-controlled data should utilize decentralized protocols, local-first data, or legal agreements to ensure data ownership.