Web Secret 464: Felix Gray

If you are reading this post, then most likely you're staring at a computer screen.

Maybe for a long time. Maybe for hours.

And by now, we all have a pretty good hunch that doing that is not great for our eyes.

Take it away, Felix Gray.

As they explain on their website:

"Our bodies were never supposed to spend all day in front of screens. Computer Vision Syndrome, also known as Digital Eye Strain, is categorized by the negative side effects of overusing computers. Symptoms include eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, and neck and back strain.

... this is a rapidly growing problem, which makes sense given how often we now stare at our screens. The average American is now in front of a computer for 7.5 hours a day. 200 million people—over 50% of the U.S. population—already report symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome. And this number is increasing 7% per generation.

That’s why Felix Gray started. Our lenses are designed to combat Computer Vision syndrome by filtering blue light and eliminating glare. Blue light is high energy light emitted by screens and glare is unnecessary feedback that enters into the eye."

Felix Gray is not the first company to sell computer eyeglasses.

But they are the first to make them stylish.

Web Secret 463: Universal Basic Income

Universal basic income (UBI)is a form of social security in which all the citizens or residents of a country regularly receive an unconditional sum of money, either from a government or some other public institution, to cover basic expenses like food, rent, and clothes.

Elon Musk is one of the many technology leaders who has jumped on the UBI bandwagon:

"I think we'll end up doing universal basic income," Musk told the crowd at the World Government Summit in Dubai... "It's going to be necessary."

The economic forecasts for the next several decades don't bode well for the American worker...President Barack Obama [has] warned Congress about the looming threat of job loss, based on several reports that found that as much as 50% of jobs could be replaced by robots by 2030.

The downside of that projection is that millions of people would wind up out of a job — a possibility Musk discussed at the summit.

"There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better," he said. "I want to be clear. These are not things I wish will happen; these are things I think probably will happen."

UBI will be essential in order to avoid a 21st century retread of the French Revolution in which the unemployed rise up en masse to destroy the upper class. Preventing a few thousand jobs from going to Mexico will not prevent the mass extinction of these U.S. blue collar - and even white collar - jobs.

How will EAPs position themselves to be effective and relevant in this new workplace landscape?

I don't yet know.

But we have 13 years to come up with an answer.

Web Secret 462: Aeon

Do you want to explore new ideas about subjects ranging from psychology to health, from technology to culture and more?

Delivered in a variety of mediums, on a really beautiful website.

By thought leaders.

Of course you do. You want Aeon

Aeon is a digital magazine publishing some of the most profound and provocative thinking on the web. Asking the big questions and finding the freshest, most original answers.

Aeon has four channels. One is Essays – longform explorations of deep issues written by serious and creative thinkers.

Example: "A bug for Alzheimer’s?" - A bold theory places infection at the root of Alzheimer’s, explaining why decades of treatment have done little good.

The second is Ideas – short provocations.

Example: "There is nothing inevitable or natural about chronic disease."

The third is Video - streaming a mixture of curated short documentaries and original Aeon content.

Example: "Can writing an 11,000-page autobiographical thesis cure addiction?"


The fourth is Conversations inviting the reader to input their own arguments and points of view.

Example: "How does increased involvement of fathers in childrearing alter public perceptions of masculinity?"

Aeon - committed to big ideas, serious inquiry and a humane worldview.

That’s it.

Web Secret 461: Ignite

In need of mental stimulation but don't have the attention span for a TED Talk?

You need Ignite.

Ignite is a series of speedy presentations. Presenters get 20 slides, which automatically advance every 15 seconds. The result is a fast and fun presentation which lasts just 5 minutes.

What can you learn in just 5 minutes?

Quite a lot as it turns out.

Surprise! Your child has autism. Now what?


How to Get 5 Million People to Read Your Website


There are hundreds of them. On a multiplicity of topics. From all over the world.

Warning: the quality of Ignite sessions varies greatly, ranging from fantastic to terrible.

Fortunately, you can figure this out in a matter of seconds and move on.

Refreshing.