about

I am a consultant, educator and journalist focusing on the Internet and all aspects of digital technology.

I have advised schools, SMEs and not-for-profit organisations on how to exploit the collaborative and publishing opportunities offered by the Internet, and have written for numerous publications (including The Guardian and Macworld) on topics ranging from personal publishing, online communities, and other web 2.0 phenomena. And I occasionally write code.


Current assignments include writing a blog for ZDNet called The Social Web, and editor of last100.com (a blog co-published with Richard MacManus of Read/WriteWeb).

I'm also the writer and director of the documentary, In Search of the Valley: a personal journey into the psyche of Silicon Valley.

In 2002 I was made a fellow of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (nesta.org.uk), and from 2004 - 2005 I served on the board of governors for the University of East London.

The Social Web (my ZDNet blog)

Goodbye ZDNet
As of today, I have to say goodbye to ZDNet. After just over two years of writing this blog, I'm sad to say this is my last post here on the Social Web. I've been 'let go' as they say. Or perhaps more accurately, this blog is no more, making way for others. It's been an honor to write for ZDNet and, most of all, you my loyal and thoughtful readers.

MySpace comes to Blackberry
It was only a few days ago that I noted how Facebook and social networking as a whole is fueling the mobile web. And news comes today that RIM have released a native MySpace client for its Blackberry line of smartphones.

Microsoft gives Windows Live a social networking makeover
Microsoft have announced a major overhaul of its Windows Live service that, similar to Yahoo's ‘Open Strategy’, rewires the company's suite of consumer web-based products to turn them into one interconnected social network. Although Microsoft would rather you didn't use that word.

Is Facebook the mobile web’s killer app?
Active users of Facebook's various mobile products has grown from 5 million to 15 million since the beginning of the year, says the company. Handset maker and carriers are hoping to cash in on Facebook's popularity too.

Careful what you say on Twitter - delete option removed? (updated)
It appears that the micro-blogging service Twitter has removed the option to delete a 'tweet' once it's been published, making the service a haven for digital litter -- the trail of information about you or things you've said that perhaps you shouldn't leave lying around the web.