Information Takes Over

This was going to be a rather long biographical post about how I learnt to code. But I deleted all the boring stuff and I leave you with this reusable nugget…

Simply replace [code] with another subject.

Learning [code] was my way of solving a problem. If your problem can be solved by [code], then learn it. If not, don't.  Don't learn [code] just because you think you should learn [code].  Don't let anyone make you learn [code] if it isn't going to help you solve a problem.

Now go and reform the education system so that we teach our children how to choose the right tool to solve a problem, and not how to pass tests.

While reading the DfT’s publication of a report on Infrastructure and Cycling Safety, it occurred to me that increasing the length of the pre-green red/amber phase at traffic lights, and allowing cyclists to cross the junction in this phase could be a relatively cheap way to improve the visibility and reduce the risk of collision by cars.

What do you think?

What are the pros and cons?

Just a quick thought… In this age of social networking via portable smartdevices, It would be really interesting for architects and planners to explore how their development of open space can become a part of online social space.

Some ideas for you…

• have lots of easily identifiable public art sculptures that can act as meeting spaces.
• number the squares in the square so that people can find a square stand in it and tell their friends to meet them at that square. could be the basis of some rather interesting games too…
• street furniture that can be tweeted to provide identifiable meeting places