Alexander Obenauer

Hey there, I'm Alexander.

I'm interested in how software can better serve people's daily lives.

In my research, I explore interesting questions that seem to go ignored. My experiments often involve designing and developing many ideas — some of which I build into commercially available products, which further informs my research.

Below is a compendium of my research areas. The best place to start is the article on how I approach my core work.

The future of the operating system

My current research is centered on redesigning the operating system (not kernels and drivers, but user environment), to bring it closer to the “bicycle for the mind” tool for advancing human thought and ability.

Lab Notes

How can personal computing push past its current limitations? This research explores new and newly refined ideas for what the operating system allows people to do. These Lab Notes document my research progress.

Introduction to the research

Read the article introducing to this research currently in progress.

Products

Symphonies is the testbed for the ideas from my research on the future of the OS. These products have since spun out.

Symphonies Planner

Digital planner

Symphonies Thinker

Tool for thought (in research)

Reimagining email

My career began with reimagining email and finding ways to build that vision on top of today’s existing email protocols.

10 years of research and experimentation

As we approach the ten year mark for this work, I am compiling a retrospective that catalogues everything: what worked, what didn’t, prototypes that never saw the light of day, and finally, where email is probably headed next.

Read the retrospective

Products

These products have spun out of my research on email.

Mail Pilot

Reimagined email client

Throttle

Email throttling service

Thinking in Progress

Short snippets that reflect my current thinking on various topics which I cite often in my articles and other works.

On creation: Quantity is the journey to quality · The dots connect later · The merit of ideas and ideation

On software: Build and rebuild · Pioneering users · Gather a community · Form is function

Lab Notes

These Lab Notes document my research in progress. My current research area is on the future of personal computing.

I publish these Lab Notes weekly to intentionally “work with the lab door open” — inviting others’ thoughts and dialog along the way. Something spark your interest? Get in touch.

Explore the Lab Notes

Articles

My long form articles, published and updated occasionally.

How I approach my core work

My core work is independent research in software — here is the how and the why.

See more articles

The Weekly

Updates posted weekly on Saturday or Sunday. To receive these updates by email, sign up at the top of the page.

February 27, 2021

Email & Slack & SMS, Oh My!

February 22, 2021

Beyond the GUI

See the archives

Mindsense

Since 2012, I've run Mindsense, a company I started to bring the best ideas that come out of my research into commercially available products.

Our products have received praise in The New York Times, Macworld, and others; topped the App Store and Product Hunt charts; and been used by the people who make your favorite movies, put astronauts in space, and run your local bistro.

Mindsense website

Popups

Small, just-for-fun projects made available for a short period of time.

1997.chat

March, 2020 — A faithful remake of AOL Instant Messenger made available during 2020's quarantines to connect the world's socially isolated.

Founder Thunder Round

December, 2016 — A one-time video and podcast mini-series on successful founders and their experiences.