Recurrent Patterns

Recurrent Patterns is a venture exploring strategies and insights around leading-edge companies, technology and cultural trends. Vaclav engages with leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, authors and others who can share their perspectives in long-form conversations.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

This column is not about Facebook (I promise)

I had no intention of writing about Facebook again so soon after last week. The back-and-forth between the company and politicians were on full display. Then the whistleblower story blew - and online opinion-makers did their thing. I’m not even getting into any of that here. I said what I was going to say.

What was the other thing that happened to Facebook this week? The outage - and what happened next. That’s what I want to talk about.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Facebook keeps amplifying the bad for its own good

Another day, more bad news for Facebook. Facebook's own research team identified that Instagram followers of the biggest celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber experience more negative feelings.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

This Phoenix will never raise again

Here is a story about an infamous “digital transformation” project that went horribly sideways. Unlike its namesake, the Phoenix project is not going to rise from the ashes. However, the government seems intent on repeating this failed process from square one.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Alexa loves you more

Alexa is fighting to get to your living room so you can spend more time together.

Amazon has unveiled its latest device - the Amazon TV set. It’s called the Fire TV Omni Series.

Does Amazon make the TV? Of course not. That's beside the point. It is a TV with Alexa built directly into it. 

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Made by man, monkey or machine?

In her Conclusion, Judge Leonie Brinkena of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia denied the motion by Dr. Stephen Thaler of the Artificial Inventor Project that AI can be listed as an inventor on a U.S. patent application.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

El Bitcoin Salvador

Is this the dream for every Bitcoin enthusiast or a proof that it is not going to work?

El Salvador, as of September 7th, 2021, is going to recognize and use Bitcoinas legal tender, together with the US dollar. If we don't count Venezuela's failed scam of Petro, this will be the first time that a government recognizes Bitcoin as a currency.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Talking to dead people

Have you ever played with a Ouija board? Maybe you’ve seen it in scary movies. It’s the spirit board which allows the living to connect with the spirits of the past. Some even wrote books dictated (so they say) through the Ouija - by dead authors.

If this sounds a little bit far-fetched, just think about this: we’ve entered a new era where something very much like the Ouija board game is getting very popular.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Where are the flying cars?

“Where are the flying cars? I was promised flying cars. I don't see any flying cars. Why?”

That was an IBM ad... from the year 2000.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Bitcoin Caveat emptor

Do you own Bitcoin? Thinking about it? Let me just say, if you ever get into a situation where you want to buy or receive any cryptocurrency, make sure that it is clean. You might end up with a bunch of useless numbers and lose lots of money, because you might suddenly become associated with money laundering.

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Vaclav Vincalek Vaclav Vincalek

Has Zuckerberg gone crazy?

Facebook founder Mark Zuckeberg has unveiled his new dream, the Metaverse. This word was coined by a sci-fi author Neal Stephenson in his novel, Snow Crash. In that book, it describes a virtual world which is the sum of all virtual worlds and the Internet.

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