Tactical Tech are a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) of activists who recommend technological solutions for people in the front line of aid organisations, NGOs, charities, anyone with no money who wants to stay safe online,and provide online services.

http://www.tacticaltech.org/

Much harder to ignore your best mate's obnoxious partner at a dinner party (and all the other occasions you'll see them) than on facebook. I suppose this is another example of the Filter Bubble. ("what does she see in him? I suppose we can't not invite him....")

Is there really a deep change in economics heralded by open source and networked collaboration? Harvard Law Professor talks about social production. (Oh, and I'd recommend his book, "The Wealth of Networks"

http://www.ted.com/speakers/yochai_benkler.html

This is two things: a poem by Richard Brautigan that imagines a future where machines surround and protect us.

http://web.archive.org/web/00000000000000/http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/10496-Richard-Brautigan-All-Watched-Over-By-Machines-Of-Loving-Grace

The second is a set of films taking the poem as a start, and looking at the history of computing from a social perspective. Very much worth watching, even if the rather pretentious style put you off.

(HD) All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace - Intro. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL9BjKH5MSY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's the poem:

All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace

I like to think (and
the sooner the better!)
of a cybernetic meadow
where mammals and computers
live together in mutually
programming harmony
like pure water
touching clear sky.

I like to think
(right now, please!)
of a cybernetic forest
filled with pines and electronics
where deer stroll peacefully
past computers
as if they were flowers
with spinning blossoms.

I like to think
(it has to be!)
of a cybernetic ecology
where we are free of our labors
and joined back to nature,
returned to our mammal
brothers and sisters,
and all watched over
by machines of loving grace.

Aww. I'm a softie, so i was taking it at face value. Actually, it reminded me of when my Mum was in Intensive Care, very very sick, and had every machine in the world hooked up to her with a big display like something out of Star Trek (OS, of course). All of that technology there to keep her alive and well. As a technologist it was inspiring and deeply satisfying to see the good use it gets put to.

A volunteer organisastion that does an enormous amount around the worl to address information literacy and digital divide issues, as well as much more.


From their website:
"Shaping the Future of the Internet

The Internet Society helps to make sure the beliefs at the core of the Internet's success remain with people that use it. "

Internet Society. (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2012, from http://www.internetsociety.org/

RISKS is a venerable mailing list on risks to the public from computer and related systems. It has in depth discussion on transport systems, viruses, health systems - and a really really bad streak of puns. Good for searching for particular topics, like privacy.

http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks