Author Archives: ethancaine

You may have used them hundreds of times today, but the origin of hypertexts dates all the way back to at least 1963. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com for the theme music. ThanksContinue reading “About Hypertext”

In a single 90 minute presentation, Douglas Englebart showcased technologies that would eventually fin their way into nearly every computer you’ve ever used. And he did it in 1968. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod ofContinue reading “About the Mother of All Demos”

Passkeys use something called public key cryptography. They have your public key. And because it’s public, it doesn’t matter if anyone gets it. That public key and your private key combine to validate who you are. But how does that work? Wouldn’t they have to know something besides the public key that’s unique to you?Continue reading “About Public Key Cryptography (May 2023 Update)”

We update the history of Section 230 in light of the recent Supreme Court decisions. What it is, what it isn’t and how those decisions affected or didn’t affect the future of the “safe harbor” law in the US. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, noneContinue reading “About Section 230 (May 2023 Update)”

By 1998 the US had passed its Digital Millennium Copyright Act. And partly because the US generates so much copyrightable material, and partly just because it’s the US and is a little pushy on the world stage, the DMCA became the de facto way of handling copyright protections on the internet around the world. ButContinue reading “About the DMCA (Updated)”

Taiwan is at once one of the most vexing political situations on the globe and one of the most important to the world of technology. But few people understand how it got to be either. And understanding that is essential to understanding what might happen next and how that matters a LOT for the technologyContinue reading “About Taiwan”

There’s a lot of fear uncertainty and doubt being spread about OpenAI. So let’s help you straighten out what it is and what it isn’t. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com for the themeContinue reading “About OpenAI”