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Colin Hoad

@colinhoad.com

360 followers 200 following 2.8K posts

Senior Data Engineer at cfc.com "Vintage computing enthusiast" -- The Register I run a YouTube channel and blog dedicated to the Beeb and all things Acorn, Psion and more: https://www.colinhoad.com Discord: https://discord.gg/zjvSBjG7rw Art: VectorinID

www.colinhoad.com

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

I know I post a lot of stuff about generative AI and how much I dislike it. So for a change I'm going to write this thread in celebration of the many creative people I've had the good fortune of getting to know and interact with over the past couple of years. Real human creators producing real art.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 52m

I've typed in and used Jeremy Ruston's FORTH compiler, he was clearly a very smart guy! I'd also love a physical copy of this book, but it isn't one I've seen before.

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Reposted by Colin Hoad

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 1d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 23h

That has to surely count as the best "free with a magazine" giveaway ever!

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

I think we *all* had that ambition 😅

Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

Wow. Then again, I never understood the appeal of either of them pre-fiasco, just seemed like dead-eyed nothing-ware.

Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

Oh lord... I do *not* want to see that 🤢

Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

She still going? I thought she'd thrown in the towel after the whole "in bits" fiasco

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

And I don't care how advanced AI becomes, it will never - ever - be a substitute for the things we human beings are capable of when we put our minds to it and decide to engage in the act of creation, whether for ourselves, for others or simply for the pure "just because" of it.

END.

Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

They did it with hard work, time and determination. They had ideas and they made those ideas a reality. They wanted to learn how to do something and so they went off and did exactly that. No lazy shortcuts, no phoning it in, just knuckling down and developing their own skills. That is creativity.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

Just a handful of examples, but enough to make me appreciate the raw creativity, talent and skill there is out there. Whenever anyone tells me they "used AI" to make something, I can't help thinking about people like the above who did all they did without any plagiarism machine to help them.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

8. Jason, who decided one day to re-implement the Psion OPL programming language for Apple devices using Lua, and has since created OpoLua, an Apple store application that lets you install and run EPOC programs on iOS. And like so many amazing open source folks, he makes it freely available.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

7. Accomplished scriptwriter and writing coach, Melanie, who in addition to producing her own scripts for TV, has been my tutor for the past couple of months and has shone a bright light on what good creative writing looks like, how to write effectively and with emotional depth.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

6. Chris, Ken and Richard - all members of ABUG - who decided to collectively engineer a Raspberry Pi based Econet solution for Acorn machines that simulates the entire network infrastructure and the file server in a tiny beige box, custom 3d printed and simply marvellous.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

5. My own brother. He bought a shell - literally a shell - of a written off Mazda MX5 and completely built it into a working car that he now races on track days. Engine, bodywork, interior, the works. Did it all, on his own, as a hobby "just because" (as he would say).

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

4. The immensely talented musician and producer, @musicvsartstuff.bsky.social. Two years back she created a unique piece of chiptune-style music for a YouTube video I'd been working on, and was totally blown away by what she came up with. It was like she'd read my mind, just outstandingly good.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

3. Pixel artist, Mahfud (aka Vectorind) who created the wonderful pixel illustrations for my fantasy retro cave and my current avatar. He works solo, and from just a handful of reference photographs is able to produce superb renderings of whatever you ask him for, customised to perfection.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

2. The incomparable @0xc0de.bsky.social, a homebrew games developer writing totally new, totally unique games for the Acorn Electron. Not only does he produce works of art for that computer, pushing it beyond anything it ever did back in the day, he also shares everything he develops, for free.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

1. My piano teacher, Eren. I met him two years ago and he is not only an inspiring teacher, he's also an incredible jazz musician. I can give him the name of a song and with a few taps of his feet and a couple of experimental chords, he starts playing it, often with his own unique and jazzy twist.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

It's also one of the most adaptable degrees I know of, people I knew/know who read English went on to do all kinds of jobs.

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

I get very Ripley about it myself...

a man in a jacket says i say we take off and nuke .

Alt: The classic scene from Aliens where Ripley says "I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure"

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

100% agree!

Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

I'm confused, does he think that's a bad thing?

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 1d

I was going to say "not my tax dollars" (I'm in the UK, not the US) but then, ultimately, it will probably be *all* of our tax dollars/pounds/euros...

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Colin Hoad @colinhoad.com · 2d

It's maddening, isn't it?

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