(Un)Survival of the Fittest: the demise of Blockbuster

The evolutionary process in technology follows the same "survival of the fittest" notion. The biggest, innovative, and convenient technology thrives, gets bigger by eschewing the technology at the lower rung of the technology food chain. But ironically, as the cycle of evolution continues, they succumb to the same fate by other technologies.  Blockbuster, a venerable and famously popular video store, filed for chapter 11 protection.  The competition from NetFlix, The Red Box, and video streaming services claimed the fate of Blockbuster.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092306236.html

A Flatter World: the paradigm shift in learning

Thomas Friedman talks about Thinkport.org in chapter six of his book “The World is Flat.” The premise of the discussion is math, which is becoming a powerful employable skill for the college graduates. Mathematicians are becoming a hot commodity because of their highly analytical and reasoning skills. Thinkport.org also illustrates the flattening of the learning environment where students have the tools and technology to learn various skills, all at once.

http://www.thinkport.org/Technology/default.tp

Government Accountability and Transparency: beyond the borders

The idea of government accountability and transparency is catching on beyond the U.S. borders.    
The article (see link below) describes initiatives by the UK government to engage public in the policy-making process.  Doing so, the article claims, would engage public with government in a democratic fashion which aims to reduce bureaucracy and promote civil liberty.  The UK government has launched a site called “Your Freedom.”  The purpose of this site is to promote dialogues between public and government and assess, from policy-making respective, areas where policies need to be examined and implemented.

I like this article because it tells us about the government initiatives across the globe to become more transparent and accountable for their actions.  It seems public access to government is destined to become an entitlement as a part of democracy.

http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2265821/government-wants-public-shape

On Immigration: us and them or is it just us

The issue of immigration far exceeded its focal point – the immigrants.  It has transformed into our own judgment, predicament, and prejudice.

In the U.S., the issue morphed into civil rights violation in the wake of a new controversial policy in Arizona.  In France, ban on burqa has further accentuated the anti-immigration sentiments.  In the U.K., newly elected Prime Minister David Cameron’s stance on putting a cap on immigration quota set off an economic qualm between India and the U.K.

My argument is here not about any policy per se but our moral indignation.  How do we become so indifferent to “other” people?

We perceive others as “other” because they are different.  This is, perhaps, the inherent nature of human being.  “Other” invokes our curiosity.  “Other” makes us different.  “Other” makes us complacent.  “Other” makes us contrived.  But the “other” also has the power to change us.

The mesmerizing “Gang Leader For a Day” by Mr. Sudhir Venkatesh opens with a chapter on what is it like to be someone we are not. “Someone we are not” is a reference to the blacks and poor.  During his experience with a drug lord in the biggest projects in the U.S., Mr. Vankatesh was reacquainted with the idea of the culture of poverty.  The sociologists constantly grapple with this notion.  When we think about poverty, we paint a certain picture in our mind based on our predispositions.  Walter Lippmann in his famous book “Public Opinion” argues that we all have “pictures in our head” which come from our value systems.
When dealing with “others” in the society, we have many pictures of them.  What do we think when we hear the word “immigrant?”  Does the word itself portray any particular pictures of the immigrants in societies?  I’d argue that people’s perception of immigrants is a social construct.  These perceptions constantly evolve within the context of social, political, and economic conditions.

The 9/11 events helped redefine the word “terrorist.”  It created a new race of “terrorist.”  In order to be a “terrorist” one needs to fulfill certain criteria.  These criteria are autonomous, meaning they are independent of the word “terrorist” itself.  The act of terror no longer applies to define a terrorist.  Other criteria must be met.

Immigrants in our society invoke a sense of “other” almost instantaneously.  They belong to “other” because they are different and someone we are not.  Accepting someone we are not is difficult.  But it is difficult because we think it is difficult.  And it is easy to remain complacent within our own-self.

Mr. Vankatesh reminds us that it is possible to see the “other” through our courage, conviction, and morale.  He reminds us that it is possible to see ourselves through others. He reminds us that we should listen more.  He reminds us that it is possible to trust without expectations.

We just need to do our part.

Net Neutrality: a quest for net policy gain in the U.S.

This pod cast illustrates the federal regulatory issues that FCC is currently dealing with to promote net neutrality.   I like this pod cast because net neutrality is one of the key emerging issues in technology, particularly in the federal policy-making arena.  Net neutrality has largely worked in Europe but not in the U.S.  The debate on this topic often brings out the symptom of the issue -- discriminatory practices by the large companies  -- but not necessarily the cause of it -- lack of competition.  Follow the link:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30977_3-20017337-10347072.html?tag=topTechContentWrap;editorPicks

The ghost of Chernobyl: a Greenpeace video

To spill or not to spill: a challenge to save the environment

The proliferation of technology continues to improve our lives.  But it has also promulgated massive intended and unintended consequences to the future of environment.  From global warming to oil spills, the environment now faces unrelenting ecologically disastrous events.  Both government and private sector businesses must take bold actions to prevent further loss of the environment, ensuring the survival of its habitats.   The following link offers information on environmental policy issues, projects, and discussions.

http://www.inece.org/forumspublicaccess.html

Technology As We See IT

Access to information:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Media-Mentions/2010/Citizens-turning-to-Internet-for-government-data-policy-and-services.aspx
http://www.inece.org/forumspublicaccess.html
http://www.globalimpactstudy.org/2010/08/mobile-internet/
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats2.htm


Digital divide:
http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf
http://www.internetforeveryone.org/americaoffline
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/anol/index.html
http://connectedplanetonline.com/iptv/news/targeted-advertising-iptv-0221/


Beyond U.S. border:
http://www.economist.com/node/16909923?story_id=16909923
http://www.economist.com/node/4465936
http://www.elore.fi/arkisto/1_10/ajankoht_stark_1_10.pdf
http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0712-rhett_butler.html

Blizzard of 2010 in Washington, DC Metro Area