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Wildcat2030 wildcat

Are You An Internet Optimist or Pessimist? The Great Debate over Technology's Impact on... - 11 views

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    "The impact of technological change on culture, learning, and morality has long been the subject of intense debate, and every technological revolution brings out a fresh crop of both pessimists and pollyannas. Indeed, a familiar cycle has repeat itself throughout history whenever new modes of production (from mechanized agriculture to assembly-line production), means of transportation (water, rail, road, or air), energy production processes (steam, electric, nuclear), medical breakthroughs (vaccination, surgery, cloning), or communications techniques (telegraph, telephone, radio, television) have appeared on the scene. The cycle goes something like this. A new technology appears. Those who fear the sweeping changes brought about by this technology see a sky that is about to fall. These "techno-pessimists" predict the death of the old order (which, ironically, is often a previous generation's hotly-debated technology that others wanted slowed or stopped). Embracing this new technology, they fear, will result in the overthrow of traditions, beliefs, values, institutions, business models, and much else they hold sacred. The pollyannas, by contrast, look out at the unfolding landscape and see mostly rainbows in the air. Theirs is a rose-colored world in which the technological revolution du jour is seen as improving the general lot of mankind and bringing about a better order. If something has to give, then the old ways be damned! For such "techno-optimists," progress means some norms and institutions must adapt-perhaps even disappear-for society to continue its march forward. Our current Information Revolution is no different. It too has its share of techno-pessimists and techno-optimists. Indeed, before most of us had even heard of the Internet, people were already fighting about it-or at least debating what the rise of the Information Age meant for our culture, society, and economy."
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    I'm definitely an optimist...
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    yes, so am I, but somehow lately I feel it is not enough..
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    I think I fall into his category of 'pragmatic optimism-- "...The sensible middle ground position is "pragmatic optimism": We should embrace the amazing technological changes at work in today's Information Age but do so with a healthy dose of humility and appreciation for the disruptive impact pace and impact of that change.'" There's enough cool new stuff out there to warrant concepting a bright future, but that has to be tempered with the knowledge that nothing is perfect, and humans have a tendency to make good things bad all the time. I always refer back to the shining happy images that were concocted back in the 40's and 50's that predicted a wondrous new future with cars, and highways, and air travel, yet failed to foresee congestion, pollution, and urban sprawl. Yin and Yang in everything, right?
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    I don't believe in dichotomies, thus I am both at the same time. I prepare for both digital nirvana and the end of civilization and collapse of techology at the same time. I am here discussing the future of work with all of you, but I have a disaster kit in the basement and a plan with friends and family where to meet at a fertile plot of land with lots of water (I call it Kurtopia). I would recommend all of you do the same. Of course you must also carry on based on the status quo (don't quit work and cash the retirement funds and buy gold coins), as well as react to any variation in between. Crystal balls are a waste of attention. Consider all scenarios, make plans, then throw them away and react to circumstances as they are presented. Understand that plans are merely insurance policies and come with a cost to attention on the present. They are robust but not optimized. Considering the spectrum from optimistic to pessimistic, if we assume a bell curve distribution of probability (with the stops across the bottom being discrete and independent), I would say these days, for me the bell is flattening, it is less and less likely that the status quo will survive. I would go so far as to say perhaps the bell is inverted. This could be interpreted as a polarization - one of the pessimists positions - except that I don't believe that the person experiencing the optimistic paradigm will necessarily be a different person than the one experiencing the negative, thus don't subscribe to the position that technology will result in a new classism.
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    nice collection of articles listed in this article, I've missed some of them so will go remedy that situation now
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    does Kurtopia need someone to mow the lawn?
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    no, but we do need someone to take our throm-dib-u-lator apart though
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

How to Live Forever - The New Yorker - 0 views

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    "Part IV in a series on technological evolution. Part I was "If a Time Traveller Saw a Smartphone." Part II was "As Technology Gets Better, Will Society Get Worse?" Part III was "The Problem With Easy Technology.""
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    "Part IV in a series on technological evolution. Part I was "If a Time Traveller Saw a Smartphone." Part II was "As Technology Gets Better, Will Society Get Worse?" Part III was "The Problem With Easy Technology.""
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Institute for Responsible Technology - GMO Myths and Truths report - 0 views

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    "Executive Summary GMO Myths and Truths report Genetically modified (GM) crops are promoted on the basis of a range of far-reaching claims from the GM crop industry and its supporters. They say that GM crops: Are an extension of natural breeding and do not pose different risks from naturally bred crops Are safe to eat and can be more nutritious than naturally bred crops Are strictly regulated for safety Increase crop yields Reduce pesticide use Benefit farmers and make their lives easier Bring economic benefits Benefit the environment Can help solve problems caused by climate change Reduce energy use Will help feed the world. However, a large and growing body of scientific and other authoritative evidence shows that these claims are not true. On the contrary, evidence presented in this report indicates that GM crops: Are laboratory-made, using technology that is totally different from natural breeding methods, and pose different risks from non-GM crops Can be toxic, allergenic or less nutritious than their natural counterparts Are not adequately regulated to ensure safety Do not increase yield potential Do not reduce pesticide use but increase it Create serious problems for farmers, including herbicide-tolerant "superweeds", compromised soil quality, and increased disease susceptibility in crops Have mixed economic effects Harm soil quality, disrupt ecosystems, and reduce biodiversity Do not offer effective solutions to climate change Are as energy-hungry as any other chemically-farmed crops Cannot solve the problem of world hunger but distract from its real causes - poverty, lack of access to food and, increasingly, lack of access to land to grow it on. Based on the evidence presented in this report, there is no need to take risks with GM crops when effective, readily available, and sustainable solutions to the problems that GM technology is claimed to address already
Wildcat2030 wildcat

Digital Distinction - Status-Specific Types of Internet Usage - 1 views

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    Objective. Sociologists of technology propose that not only a technological artifact, as such, but also patterns of usage should be considered when studying the social implications of technologies. Accordingly, we explore how people's online activities are influenced by users' socioeconomic status and context of use. Methods. We analyze data from the Allensbacher Computer and Technology Analysis (ACTA) 2004 survey with uniquely detailed information about people's Internet uses and context of usage to explore this relationship. Results. Findings suggest that highstatus and low-status individuals cultivate different forms of ''Internet-in-practice.'' High-status users are much more likely to engage in so-called capital-enhancing activities online than are their less privileged counterparts. Conclusion. Results suggest differential payoffs from Internet use depending on a user's socioeconomic background. Digital inequalities might be mitigated by improving people's Internet equipment and digital experience, but they do not account for all the status differential in use.
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Overcomplicated technology and the need for biological thinking | Ars Technica UK - 0 views

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    "Sam Arbesman's newest book, Overcomplicated, looks at how many technological systems have grown so complex that they defy easy understanding. In the following lightly edited excerpt, he argues that we need to learn to think more like biologists in order to work with the technology we've created."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Fedora 22 Advances Linux for Cloud, Workstations, Servers - 0 views

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    "The open-source Fedora 22 Linux distribution, which became generally available May 26, provides desktop, cloud and server users with an updated array of technologies and capabilities. Fedora is Red Hat's community Linux distribution and often serves as an incubator and a proving ground for the latest and greatest open-source technologies. "
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    "The open-source Fedora 22 Linux distribution, which became generally available May 26, provides desktop, cloud and server users with an updated array of technologies and capabilities. Fedora is Red Hat's community Linux distribution and often serves as an incubator and a proving ground for the latest and greatest open-source technologies. "
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Humans evolved by sharing technology and culture: Our early ancestors, Homo sapiens, ma... - 0 views

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    "Our early ancestors, Homo sapiens, managed to evolve and journey across the earth by exchanging and improving their technology"
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Key principles of an open organization | Opensource.com - 0 views

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    "They say life imitates art. But, I believe life imitates technology. Look at distributed systems, decentralized computing, open source, and lean principles. With these and other technical initiatives, we've pushed boundaries and improved our applications, our networks, our companies, and our lives."
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    "They say life imitates art. But, I believe life imitates technology. Look at distributed systems, decentralized computing, open source, and lean principles. With these and other technical initiatives, we've pushed boundaries and improved our applications, our networks, our companies, and our lives."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Future of Open Source Survey 2016 - 0 views

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    "* 1. Which of the following statements best represents your primary role with regard to open source? Which of the following statements best represents your primary role with regard to open source? Application Developer - I use open source to speed my development of applications Open Source Developer - I work full time contributing to open source projects Architect - I play a key role in the selection of technology, including open source, for my organization Security - I ensure that the applications we build and deploy are secure Development Management - I manage one or more teams of developers that build applications for my company IT Infrastructure and Operations Manager - Responsible for IT infrastructure and operations, identifying and justifying open source technologies and process changes in my company's infrastructure Legal - I am responsible for ensuring open source license compliance within my organization Executive Leader - I lead a company that utilizes open source in the development environment"
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Four leadership principles for the Fourth Industrial Revolution - World Economic Forum ... - 0 views

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    "Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum Every day we see the emergence of new technologies. And every day we see a widening gap between progress and society's ability to cope with its consequences. Whether it is an impending shift in the nature of work as technology changes production systems, or the ethical implications of reengineering what it means to be human, the changes we see around us threaten to overwhelm us if we cannot collaborate to understand and direct them."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Technology Changes; People Don't | Baseline [# ! Note] - 0 views

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    "As smart devices advance, they deliver more detailed, actionable data, but it's doubtful whether they will actually make any significant difference in our lives."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Be a civic hacker for your community | Opensource.com - 0 views

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    "There is a civic hacker in you! He or she is in there... I promise! Today, technology has evolved into a perfect storm of open source tools, code, social networks, and lots of data. Civic technologists thrive on all of these getting together with like-minded hackers and turning all these sources into useful applications, websites and visualizations."
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    "There is a civic hacker in you! He or she is in there... I promise! Today, technology has evolved into a perfect storm of open source tools, code, social networks, and lots of data. Civic technologists thrive on all of these getting together with like-minded hackers and turning all these sources into useful applications, websites and visualizations."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Starting Your IT Career With Linux (A Slide Show) | Linux.com - 0 views

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    " Thursday, 25 June 2015 09:04 Linux Training Staff |Exclusive Interested in starting a new career in IT? Linux is one of the hottest technologies in the market today, with tens of thousands of job openings, and salaries outpacing many other IT specialties. This presentation demonstrates the steps you should take to launch your career in Linux."
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    " Thursday, 25 June 2015 09:04 Linux Training Staff |Exclusive Interested in starting a new career in IT? Linux is one of the hottest technologies in the market today, with tens of thousands of job openings, and salaries outpacing many other IT specialties. This presentation demonstrates the steps you should take to launch your career in Linux."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Teaching open source communities about conflict resolution | Opensource.com - 0 views

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    Interview with Gina Likins and Donna Benjamin At OSCON in Portland this year, Donna Benjamin and Gina Likins are combining forces to talk about a topic that is sometimes easily dismissed: conflict resolution. Given the growing need to address conflict in technology, and that even popular projects like the Linux Kernel adopting codes of conduct, it's no surprise that conferences feature talks on human interaction."
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    Interview with Gina Likins and Donna Benjamin At OSCON in Portland this year, Donna Benjamin and Gina Likins are combining forces to talk about a topic that is sometimes easily dismissed: conflict resolution. Given the growing need to address conflict in technology, and that even popular projects like the Linux Kernel adopting codes of conduct, it's no surprise that conferences feature talks on human interaction."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

What Is Open Source Software? [MakeUseOf Explains] - 0 views

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    "By Joel Lee on 1st February, 2013 | Technology Explained, Web Culture | 25 Comments "Open source" is a term that's thrown around a lot these days. You may know that certain things are open source, like Linux and Android, but do you know what it entails?"
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    "By Joel Lee on 1st February, 2013 | Technology Explained, Web Culture | 25 Comments "Open source" is a term that's thrown around a lot these days. You may know that certain things are open source, like Linux and Android, but do you know what it entails?"
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

La física demuestra que hay vida después de la muerte, pero nuestra mente no ... - 0 views

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    ""La muerte, tal y como la concebimos, no existe, sólo es una ilusión". Esta es la conclusión a la que llegó Robert Lanza, director de Advanced Cell Technology"
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Mission: ​Funding all those small but important open-source projects | ZDNet - 0 views

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    "Summary:Too many open-source programs try to get by on a shoe-string, and our technology suffers for it. The Linux Foundation is working on funding these projects. By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for Linux and Open Source | February 9, 2015 -- 22:38 GMT (22:38 GMT)"
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    "Summary:Too many open-source programs try to get by on a shoe-string, and our technology suffers for it. The Linux Foundation is working on funding these projects. By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for Linux and Open Source | February 9, 2015 -- 22:38 GMT (22:38 GMT)"
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

All Things Open 2014 lightning talk with Scott Nesbitt | Opensource.com - 0 views

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    "Open source scares people. And tossing them into the deep end usually doesn't help dampen that fear. Instead, we need to help ease people into using open source. Scott Nesbitt, technology coach and writer, shares some advice to help you do that."
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    "Open source scares people. And tossing them into the deep end usually doesn't help dampen that fear. Instead, we need to help ease people into using open source. Scott Nesbitt, technology coach and writer, shares some advice to help you do that."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

Top 10 Open Source Developments of 2015 | Business | LinuxInsider - 0 views

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    "Open source is driving an ever-expanding market. The notion of community-driven development is a growing disruption to proprietary software controlled by commercial vendors, and the free open source software concept has become a major disruption in industry and technology."
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    "Open source is driving an ever-expanding market. The notion of community-driven development is a growing disruption to proprietary software controlled by commercial vendors, and the free open source software concept has become a major disruption in industry and technology."
Gonzalo San Gil, PhD.

5 signs your Web application has been hacked | ITworld - 0 views

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    "hacked FREE Become An Insider Sign up now and get free access to hundreds of Insider articles, guides, reviews, interviews, blogs, and other premium content from the best tech brands on the Internet: CIO, CSO, Computerworld, InfoWorld, IT World and Network World Learn more. Other Insider Recommendations Java 101 primer: Composition and inheritance 6 simple tricks for protecting your passwords Free course: "JavaScript: The Good Parts" Free Course: The Dark Side of Technology Careers Website defacements? Database dumps? Mysterious files? Here's how to tell if your Web application has been hacked -- and how to secure it once and for all"
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    "hacked FREE Become An Insider Sign up now and get free access to hundreds of Insider articles, guides, reviews, interviews, blogs, and other premium content from the best tech brands on the Internet: CIO, CSO, Computerworld, InfoWorld, IT World and Network World Learn more. Other Insider Recommendations Java 101 primer: Composition and inheritance 6 simple tricks for protecting your passwords Free course: "JavaScript: The Good Parts" Free Course: The Dark Side of Technology Careers Website defacements? Database dumps? Mysterious files? Here's how to tell if your Web application has been hacked -- and how to secure it once and for all"
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