Careful Tech

Follow Careful Tech
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Reflections on media, technology and authentic humanity. Fresh every weekday.

Matt Hauger


    • Feb 7, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 5m AVG DURATION
    • 128 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Careful Tech with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Careful Tech

    130: Digital backdrops on Broadway?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 4:51


    An onstage LED backdrop seems to make sense. But it undermines the experiential nature of live theatre. Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy. “You Can't Stop the Beat” by Hairspray On Tour.

    129: A lucky Broadway break?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 6:09


    Our unexpected, surreal experience with Phantom of the Opera. Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy. “Pipe Organ_Opera Voice_with Drums” by you noise. Public domain.

    128: Mastodon, made better.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2023 4:12


    A new app, Ivory, makes the Mastodon experience measurably better. Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    127: Not every “how to” tutorial needs to be a video!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 4:42


    Why are instructions and how-tos all posted as video content these days? Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    126: When will Mastodon stop shedding users?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 4:52


    Since December 4th, there's been a steady decline in the number of Mastodon's active users. Why? What does this mean for the future of the platform? Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    125: What would a GOOD social media algorithm look like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2023 4:03


    Could you build a social media algorithm that doesn't undermine democracy and users' wellbeing? #algorithm #facebook #TikTok #Mastodon #socialnetwork Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Facebook Wanted Out of Politics. It Was Messier Than Anyone Expected,” Jeff Horwitz, et. al., Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2023. In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg, performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain. “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    124: The Fediverse is bigger than Mastodon... or is it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 4:34


    You may have heard people say, “The Fediverse is bigger than Mastodon!” That's not quite true. Find me on Mastodon or TikTok. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    123: Why doesn't TikTok let you turn off autoplay videos?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2022 2:13


    Advertising-driven companies like TikTok subsist on your attention. They're incentivized to get you “engaged,” regardless of whether it's good for you. Find me on Mastodon or TikTok. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    122: Let Twitter go — build something weird instead!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 6:03


    As Anthony DeRosa describes it, Twitter is “monetizing a car crash” — and I'm circling the crash site, hoping for more collisions. But what if we reclaimed the energy we've been wasting on Twitter and created something weird and amazing elsewhere? Find me on Mastodon or TikTok. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    121: Could you use AI to “harvest” new followers on social media? Should you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2022 3:03


    (Note: recording on the ski slopes — apologies for the background noise!) Could you use AI to “harvest” new followers on social media? Find me on Mastodon or TikTok. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    120: What if the US bans TikTok?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 6:53


    Should the US ban Tiktok? Is it “digital fentanyl,” as one lawmaker claimed? Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    119: Twitter hid my link to Mastodon!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 4:36


    Twitter flagged my Mastodon link as “sensitive content.” Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    118: Why bother creating, when computers can do it better?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 6:14


    As machine learning tools improve, do they threaten to make human creativity obsolete? Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    117: “Moulin Rouge!' How an unforced error ruined a musical

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 6:49


    The Broadway adaptation of “Moulin Rouge” inexplicably abandons the film's satisfying conclusion — in favor of a toxic anticlimax. Recorded outside — on a walk! Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Lose (Retro video game SFX)” by cabled_mess. Public domain. “Printed Circuit Board” illustration by zhengdacool on Vecteezy.

    116: Facebook's complete control over hyper-local news

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 4:50


    For many small communities, Facebook is the only online source of neighborhood updates. Follow me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. Lose (Retro video game SFX) by cabled_mess. Public domain.

    115: Automating my escape from Instagram

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 5:17


    In the wake of joining Mastodon, I'm reconsidering my relationship to ad-driven social media platforms. Here's a simple automation that (I'm hoping) will wean me off of Instagram. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. Lose (Retro video game SFX) by cabled_mess. Public domain.

    114: A lapsed gamer and the cloud

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 3:26


    Cloud gaming made it easy to rekindle a long-lost passion for video games. Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. Lose (Retro video game SFX) by cabled_mess. Public domain.

    113: Choosing a Mastodon instance

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 1:58


    There are thousands of Mastodon instances. How do you pick just one? Find me on Mastodon. Sources “Video Game Coin sound effect” by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. Lose (Retro video game SFX) by cabled_mess. Public domain.

    112: The joy of not caring TOO much about your gadgets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2020 4:27


    There’s a certain joy in loving something, but not loving it too much. To being satisfied with “good enough” over “the absolute best.” That’s why I typically love the Wirecutter—it balances “great” against “practical.” But the site may have missed the mark in a recent article about making espresso at home. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “Making Espresso at Home Is Kind of a Nightmare—But If You Insist, Here’s How to Do It Well” by Brian Lam at the Wirecutter

    111: How to make fan-free sports entertaining

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 7:02


    If you remove the fans from the arena, you might lose the energy that makes the NHL playoffs worth watching. Here are some ideas for addressing this challenge. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    110: Disembarking from the gaming train

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 5:17


    By the time I graduated from college, I had ignored gaming for a solid four years. An entire generation of consoles, including the first Xbox and the Gamecube, had come and gone—and barely registered a blip on my radar. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    109: “Picture in picture,” but for every iPad app

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 4:05


    I’d love to be able to float widgets above my iPad apps. I’d love to be able to toss a timer into the corner and have it stay there. I want a persistent little sketch pad available for doodling on at any time. I want a ‘Now Playing’ doodad that will always show the current song. I my FaceTime video conversation to follow me around as I hop into and out of other apps. iOS 14 concept by Parker Ortolani Introducing the iOS Block by Jay Machalani Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    108: Why do so few podcasts include chapters?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2020 6:44


    Some of the longest-tenured and most popular podcasters don’t add chapters to their shows. Why not? Here are some reasons why podcasters eschew chapters (and why they might want to reconsider). Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    107: AirPods Pro noise cancellation isn’t miraculous (and I can prove it)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 4:40


    I like the AirPods Pro; they’re an impressive extension of the original AirPods’ value case: easy, quick, convenient. But don’t fool yourself; noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro isn’t miraculous—or even really all that impressive! Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0. “AirPods Pro observations (that I haven’t seen elsewhere)” on Careful Tech.)

    106: Keeping your Spotify recommendations pure

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 3:38


    If I logged into the Echo using my own Spotify account, my recommendations would soon be overrun with Disney songs and obscure 80s pop music. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    105: A standalone Apple Watch to break bad iPhone habits?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 8:02


    The Watch, by being less capable, ironically offers a more fulfilling computing experience, by constantly bouncing us back into the real world and towards more fulfilling experiences. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    104: iPad Multitasking Keyboard Shortcuts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 6:05


    There’s still no way to enable split screen mode from an external keyboard, even now, after the release of the Magic Keyboard. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    103: Nowhere to look (Zoom calls are pointless)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 4:20


    Where do you look awhen you’re Zooming (or Skyping or FaceTiming)? Either you’re looking at the other person, you’re looking at the thumbnail of yourself, or you’re looking at the camera. Each one of these has intrinsic, fundamental problems. Kate Murphy: “Why Zoom is Terrible” Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    102: Bargain FOMO (or why I won’t try Ulysses as my text editor)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 4:53


    Does it bother you when you find out that others are paying a much cheaper price for the same product? Should it? Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    101: Drag and drop for the iPhone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 3:13


    The iPhone is nearly the iPad mini’s size. Why shouldn’t it get the best iPad features? Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    100: Screen scratch zen

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2020 4:47


    My Apple Watch has a scratch. But instead of ruminating on my own clutziness every time I see it, I’m borrowing an approach from my meditation practice. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    099: Just $349 to make my iPad... worse?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 5:00


    Does the Magic Keyboard case make the iPad worse... at being an iPad? ATP episode 375 Mike Rockwell’s review on Initial Charge Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    098: Like butter scraped over too much bread

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2020 7:19


    When I saw the trailer for the new Michael Jordan documentary, it was like I heard a cartoon record scratch sound. I was... unpleasantly surprised. The Last Dance trailer on YouTube Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    097: iPhone mouse support

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 4:49


    Did you know that you can use a Bluetooth mouse with your iPhone? It’s true, and it’s... weird. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    096: Is Apple buying product placements in virtual Broadway performances?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2020 3:49


    It’s really interesting how many pairs of AirPods show up on patched-together pandemic performances. A few examples: "Gaston" "We’re All in This Together" "Alexander Hamilton" Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    095: Kids’ TV limits during COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2020 6:38


    COVID-19 has changed everything, and our parental approach is no exception. Since the coronavirus-imposed lockdown, we’ve grown far more liberal about allowing TV time, at least on the weekend. Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    094: Second-hand impressions of the new Magic Keyboard

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2020 8:13


    Over the weekend, the Magic Keyboard arrived for some customers in Asia. Here are my ‘second-hand’ impressions of their impressions. Impression videos: https://youtu.be/zasIJXYALS0 https://youtu.be/2vmGgZkFK40 https://youtu.be/j2ndl1FMQ2A Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    093: Why I write “podcast scripts”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 5:22


    Um… (Why I write outlines before each podcast.) Short one today, and kind of a “back-of-house” focus. I thought it might be worthwhile to share a little bit about how the sausage gets made. My MO for creating this podcast each day. So different podcasters have different philosophies on show prep. Some completely wing it. They may have a general idea of what they’re going to talk about, but they improvise, playing off of their cohosts to create something spur-of-the-moment Others are more like an NPR host, carefully preparing a script and effectively reading it on the air. I fall somewhere in between, but if I’m honest, a little bit closer to the latter.. I come into each recording session with a pretty well-fleshed-out outline of what I want to say. There are a bunch of reasons I do this. For one, while I may have a topic in mind before I record, I’m often surprised to see just how much that topic can shift, based on what I write down. Occasionally, I end up discarding my original idea and picking a different topic entirely. Second reason for outlining my podcast scripts: I make a better show when I plan it out ahead of time. There’s a limit, a legit ceiling, to how clever I can be off the top of my head. When I improvise too much, I feel like I too often just scratch the surface of a topic. Gaps in logic and obvious corollaries go unexplored, just because they didn’t spring to mind in the moment. Whereas when I outline, and especially when I read through that outline a time or two, I end up restructuring my thoughts into something resembling an argument. “Oh, that belongs up there,” or, “Hey, that’s kind of irrelevant, isn’t it!” Finally, while outlining my ideas ahead of time requires some time investment on the front end, it saves me a ton of work in postproduction. Because I know pretty much what I want to say, I don’t go chasing ideas down rabbit trails that lead nowhere. I don’t stuff every pause with meaningless filler words like “Ummmmmm”, “Errrrrr,” “So…….”. And I’m less likely to stumble over my own tongue trying to get my ideas out of my brain. Now, I do still occasionally mess up. And I haven’t yet excised the word “Um” from my vocabulary. But those missteps are relatively minimal, and fairly easy to clean up in the post-podcast edit. I edit the podcast on the iPad, mainly because my favorite app is so geared to that specific use case. A quick swipe of the Apple Pencil, and that “Um” is banished to the digital netherworld. Of course, there are downsides to scripts and outlines First, you lose a little bit of spontaneity and energy when you have a script in hand. It’s just easy to hear to difference between a recitation and an improvised take. I try to keep my delivery loose and relaxed, but I know it’s not quite the same as “doing it live.” Second, this approach really works best for a solo podcast. If I had a cohost (which I’d love to eventually have!), I’d need to be a little bit more nimble, a little better able to give and take on the fly. But for now, it works for me. I like the end result, and I feel like it’s worth the investment. So that’s my justification for the podcast outline. Just in case you’re curious, I’m gonna dump this outline into the show notes, so you can see for yourself how closely I hewed to my script for this episode. What’s your take on podcast show prep? Do you like to plan every pivot, or do you prefer to show up and see what spills out of your head? I’d love to hear from you…Thanks very much Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    092: What’s the best-sized iPad Pro?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2020 6:08


    So which is the “One True iPad”? The 11-incher or the 12.9er? Josh Ginter: “One Week With the New 2020 iPad: Moving Back to Small” Greg Morris: “Moving to the Bigger iPad” Matt Birchler: “Big or Small iPad Pros?” Video Game Coin sound effect by harrietniamh. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

    091: Give Screen Time some teeth

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 5:02


    Give me a more powerful weapon against time-wasting apps—something I can’t override with a four-digit passcode.

    090: Rewarding yourself for online creativity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 3:37


    Give yourself a reward—a carrot to see you through the low-motivation, low-energy days. And, to reinforce the creative habit, choose a reward that matches the habit—something that will make your creative work easier, more fun, or more interesting.

    089: The next step in iPad productivity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 7:02


    Now that Apple has added proper mouse cursor support to iPadOS, what’s keeping the iPad from competing more directly with PCs?

    088: Praise for the Watchsmith app—and a suggestion for its future

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 8:53


    This week, Apple Watch fans are buzzing about a new app from David Smith called Watchsmith, which allows you to customize your Watch face complications by time of day. It's an amazing idea, well-implemented, but it got me thinking; what if Watchsmith offered alternative, NON-time-based triggers?

    087: What would make me buy a cellular Apple Watch?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 6:14


    If I had the cellular Apple Watch, I would at least feel safer while out for a run; I could call for help if I needed it. But that's not enough to justify the extra cost.

    086: Reviewing the consensus mid-range espresso machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 6:49


    Even if this machine only lasts for three years, it will save me thousands of dollars.

    085: You’re gonna scratch that Apple Watch

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2020 4:59


    I have scratched the screen of every Apple Watch I’ve ever owned: Series 1, Series 3, Series 4, and, now, Series 5

    084: Ordering groceries online during a pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 7:30


    I felt silly, wearing my safety goggles and face mask. But I was determined to take COVID-19 seriously.

    083: Podcasting from a full house with thin walls

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 3:15


    I feel self-conscious when I’m recording. I don’t want others to hear me. Yes, I’m aware of the irony!

    082: Building good technology-reinforced habits during COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2020 8:36


    Despite its many negative impacts, the pandemic may offer a good opportunity to revisit our daily habits and trajectory.

    081: Master iPad text entry with this one weird trick

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 4:07


    The swiping keyboard works with the Apple Pencil—in fact, it works a little bit BETTER with the Pencil than with your finger!

    080: Videoconferencing from a treadmill desk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2020 5:21


    The biggest problem is the movement. When I’m treading, my head bobs—up and down and side to side—in the frame. It looks like I’m grooving to some inaudible, chill music.

    Claim Careful Tech

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel