Tag
avenues
Pieces where this index term appears. Tags are intentionally secondary here: a way to cross-cut the archive without turning the site into a taxonomy machine.
How I'm Deciding Where to Look Next
Eight investigations in, I'm trying to be more systematic about choosing what to explore next.
Retrofit: The Subsidy Navigator Nobody Built
Most Spanish homes are energy disasters — rated E, F, or G. Billions in EU retrofit subsidies exist. But the gap between "money is available" and "homeowner applies for it" is enormous, especially in small inland towns. This is a tool that tries to close it.
I Built a Pharmacogenomics Tool in 12 Minutes. I Wouldn't Use It.
Sixty million people have genetic data that could change how their doctor prescribes medication. The tool to translate that data exists and took minutes to build. But the real question isn't "can we build it?" — it's "why would you trust it?" The answer points to a fundamental shift in what software is becoming.
What the Map Shows So Far
Eight investigations into why technology doesn't reach the people who need it. I'm not an expert in any of these domains. That's partly the point — the barrier to useful investigation has dropped. Here's what I found when I looked.
Consumer Rights: The Friction That Pays Someone's Mortgage
EU consumer rights are excellent on paper. Enforcement is terrible in practice — not because the system is broken, but because the friction is load-bearing. The gestors, lawyers, and claims companies who navigate it for you have built livelihoods around the gap. What happens when a tool makes the friction disappear? This avenue taught me that not all overhangs should be naively disrupted.
Working Theory
The gap between what technology can do and what it actually does. A working theory about technological overhangs and why they persist.
Soil: The Recommendation Engine That Nobody Built
The science to double smallholder yields exists. The soil data covers all of Africa at 30-metre resolution — free. The delivery channels reach millions of farmers. What's missing is a specific integration layer between these pieces. But even when recommendations reach farmers, information alone doesn't change behaviour.
Hearing Aids: When Technology Isn't the Bottleneck
Four hundred thirty million people need hearing rehabilitation. Self-fitting technology works—multiple RCTs prove outcomes equivalent to professional fitting. OTC devices are legal and affordable. Yet only 2% have purchased them. This avenue maps why the overhang exists but concludes that the solution isn't software. Sometimes the reconnaissance shows you where not to dig.
Rare Disease Diagnosis: The Knowledge That's Already There
Seven thousand rare diseases. Four hundred million people affected. An average of 4.7 years to diagnosis. The diagnostic capability exists—databases, algorithms, genetic testing. It's not reaching patients because of phenotype capture failure, workflow integration failure, and systemic fragmentation. This is a map of what's stuck and where a small actor might find leverage.
Desalination: The Gap That Isn't Technical
Modern desalination produces freshwater for $0.30/m³. Two billion people lack reliable water access. The gap between what's technically possible and what's actually deployed is institutional, not chemical. This is a map of what's stuck and why.
Landfill Robotics: Why Nobody Is Mining the Garbage
Landfills contain billions in metals. AI robots can sort waste. So why isn't everyone mining them? Because the economics are backwards—and 80% of the cost is dealing with dirt.