In the Name of Humanity... (reflections on A World of Connections)

“Man is no longer indigenous, native to one place; he is global. His immediate environment is no longer local but digital. Once tied to a territory and people, now he is plugged into a network and can make his own virtual community.”
-from In the Name of Humanity

I found this excerpt while I was doing some outside reading this week and I think it echoed what was said in the Economist article, A World of Connections; we all live in a world that is becoming increasingly connected and more personalized everyday.

The invention of the internet and social media tools are making it easier for people to organize based on real interests and concerns. People can make connections with people socially and professionally with much greater ease than ever before.

Information is available within an instant. Geographic borders and locating information are no longer relevant concerns. People can communicate across the globe, instantly. This kind of interaction makes it possible for more intentional, meaningful action to take place.

This can be a double-edged sword. People of every walk of life are participating in the same activities and creating common bonds with one another. Potentially, this can help develop a deeper sense of trust world-wide. Unfortunately, people can use these tools to organize for harmful purposes too.

We all live in the “internet bubble” to some degree. We get our information ranging from news to music to events from the computer. We all share the same sources, the same servers and the same networks.
As Twitter co-founder, Biz Stone, said, there is a “trend towards greater openness” and people are “happy to share more information about themselves”. But this involves obvious dangers too.

How can this system be monitored to allow for maximum freedom yet protect people at the same time…


9/10

tell-a-vision (reflections on cognitive surplus...)

We’re witnessing a shift in paradigm from television to tell-a-vision.

People are taking an active part in world events.

Instead of watching TV, people are talking to more and more people, making more and more connections, and sharing more and more information.

People are taking full advantage of the opportunity they have to be more connected to the world.

Personally, I know without Facebook and cell phones, more than half of my friends would be completely out of touch. Within the same second, I can communicate with people in South Korea, Florida, California, Hawaii, and right here in Boston. It’s as though time zones no longer exist.

Left unchecked, this can be devastating. People can use these devices will ill intent; and bad information can travel as fast as good.

But, there is a lot we can understand about social media & with the right balance of expertise and collaboration we can create more and more positive outcomes…

Groundswell

"In groundswell, relationships are everything."

What can we do with current technology? Does it enable people to connect with each other in new ways, does it facilitate relationships, does it make people feel more connected?

These are the questions that we need to ask when making new tools for social media.

What kind of relationships can exist via social media?

How can we facilitate and support new ways for people to connect across the internet and the world?


Reading Groundswell left me with more questions than comments. I'm looking forward to learning some possible answers...