@TimHarford’s article in the @FT shows how spreadsheets are in fact a projection of good practice from when “computers” were just people. The modern risks and issues that have been attributed to “spreadsheet error” fascinating. However they show what is digital technology often does. Computer are good at magnify effort – one email can go to millions with little effort or thought. One good tweet can go round the world reaching millions, and one slip in one tweet can reach just as many with the same button! The ability to do more automatically with very little effort is of course one of the great gifts of computers. The ability to magnify simple book keeping, and end up with a spreadsheet is a joy. But clearly the lesson needs to be that making this too easy can belittle the thought they really demand.