Michael WestItaly’s maritime republics: the first marketplace startupsMedieval-Renaissance Italy had four significant maritime republics: Genoa, Venice, Pisa and Amalfi. On a recent trip I visited Venice and…2 min read·Jun 5, 2019----
Michael WestGhost in the machineThe gaming community’s techniques for learning how to play might usefully be encoded into the games themselves, and into other software.5 min read·Apr 9, 2019----
Michael WestEnder’s FarmvilleHow can we think about creating games that don’t just simulate the world, but actually impact it as you play?6 min read·Mar 24, 2019----
Michael WestSecond draft of historyPhilip Graham, longtime publisher of the Washington Post, said that “journalism is the first rough draft of history”. But in an era of…3 min read·Mar 26, 2018----
Michael WestThe Kerbal-Factorio Business School: how sim games teach mental modelsMany video games can act as micro-scale laboratories for the outside world. Researchers have studied the spread of pandemics in World of…8 min read·Sep 18, 2017--1--1
Michael WestSelf-explainer: BlockchainSome notes on how blockchains can be used and why they are interesting.4 min read·Aug 29, 2017----
Michael WestTakeawaysFor young people, your rate of learning is one dominant factor in enabling greater impact over time. Internalising important lessons and…2 min read·Dec 30, 2015----
Michael WestDisruptive volunteeringDonations of skills, not money, are more transformative6 min read·Aug 16, 2014----
