Stewart Squared
Episode #6: Evernet Dreams: The Intersection of Satellite Tech, Battery Innovation, and Constant Connectivity
- Evernet
- personal computing
- internet
- mobile phone technology
- AI
- satellite technologies
- Starlink
- Apple
This episode is audio only here — the video isn't public on YouTube. Listen below.
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About this episode
Welcome to Stewart Squared podcast with the two Stewart Alsops! In this episode, they dive into the history of personal computing, the evolution of the internet, and the development of mobile phone technology, all within the context of AI and the Evernet theory. They discuss the intriguing advancements in satellite technologies, like Starlink's portable internet solutions, and Apple's integration of satellite communication with the iPhone. They also explore the challenges and future of battery technology, touching on innovations like lithium-ion and magnesium batteries. The conversation moves into the commercialization of space, examining how these technologies might converge to shape the future of connectivity and computing.
Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Stewart Squared Podcast
00:22 The Evernet Concept and Starlink Innovations
02:25 Apple's Satellite Communication Advancements
06:59 Battery Technology and Its Challenges
10:34 The Evolution of Battery Technology
15:39 Space Commercialization and Future Prospects
28:32 The Future of Space Exploration
34:41 The Role of Small Devices and Ecosystems
42:56 Conclusion and Future Topics
Key Insights
- The Evolution of the Evernet Theory: The Evernet is envisioned as a future where network connectivity is omnipresent, enabling seamless communication and data access across all devices, anywhere on the planet. This theory, developed by Stewart Alsop II, traces its roots back to the early days of the internet and reflects the ongoing convergence of technological advancements in connectivity and computing.
- Impact of Satellite Technologies on Connectivity: The episode highlights how innovations like Starlink's portable internet solutions are revolutionizing global connectivity. With devices like Starlink Mini, which can be carried in a backpack, internet access is becoming more versatile and widespread, potentially enabling connectivity even in the most remote areas of the world.
- Apple's Satellite Integration with the iPhone: Apple’s recent moves to integrate satellite communication into the iPhone, such as the iMessage feature over satellite, represent a significant step forward in making emergency communication and basic connectivity possible even in areas without traditional cell or Wi-Fi coverage. This could mark the beginning of a broader use of satellites for everyday internet access.
- The Role of Battery Technology in Future Connectivity: The discussion emphasized the critical role of battery technology in enabling the future of constant connectivity. While current lithium-ion batteries power most devices, ongoing research into alternatives like magnesium batteries could lead to more efficient and safer power solutions, essential for the development of portable and remote technologies.
- Commercialization of Space and Its Implications: The episode explores the burgeoning commercialization of space, particularly in communication networks and imagery. As space becomes more accessible, the potential for new industries and services, such as space-based manufacturing and energy production, grows, indicating a significant shift in how humanity interacts with space.
- Challenges of Battery Efficiency and Safety: A recurring theme was the challenge of improving battery efficiency and safety. The conversation touched on the limitations of current battery technology, including the risk of lithium-ion batteries catching fire, and the need for innovations that can support smaller, more powerful, and safer devices in a constantly connected world.
- The Future of Personal Devices in the Evernet: The idea of a "constellation of devices," where small, specialized gadgets communicate with each other seamlessly, was discussed as a potential outcome of the Evernet. This vision includes the possibility of wearable technology, like the Oura Ring, playing a more significant role in daily life, provided the challenges of power and real-time data synchronization can be overcome.
Episode transcript
Welcome to the Stuart Squared Podcast. My name is Stuart Alsop iii and this is a podcast, a joint podcast with my father, Stuart Alsop II. And Stuart Alsop II was a journalist in the 1980s and the 1990s and even into the 2000s, covering the rise of the personal computing industry, then the Internet and then the mobile phone revolutions, and is currently an investor investing in all of those things and even more, including deep tech and other things. And I, about two years ago, I got a job at a scaling AI startup and got the inside look into what it means to scale AI. And so I started asking my dad about all this stuff that had happened when I was younger that all ties into the AI stuff going on right now. And so we started doing these weekly conversations about the rise of the personal computing industry, the rise of the Internet and the rise of the mobile, and then how it relates to what's going on with AI. And so that's what this show is about, where we go back and forth and analyze things that are happening right now against the context of the history. Because if you don't know the history, you don't know where you are. And most people don't care about history anymore, which is so crazy. It's all, you know, these individual specialties. But that's a tangent for another day. And this is also a show of tangents, fun tangents that, and we relate them back to the original point, so there's a reason for them. So it's called Stuart Squared. Hope you enjoy. Find us on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube, and please go ahead and leave a review if you found it valuable. Welcome to another episode of Stuart Squared, the podcast where me and my father go into the history of the personal computing industry, the Internet and the mobile phone revolutions. And then we analyze what's going on in terms of AI in the context of that history, which everybody seems to have forgotten. Nobody looks at history anymore. And so we're going to have a great conversation about the Evernet, which is a theory that my father developed probably back in, I think I heard. First heard you talk about it in 2010. Is that right?
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