Session 5: An expanding concept of what it means to be human

Firstly, we had a broad overview of how Information Communications Technology has progressed over the years. We covered many areas, and I shall elaborate the most exciting points:

-Mass Media


-Internet


-Wireless Technologies- What would it be like to have a completely wireless Singapore? This would definitely revolutionize the way businesses are carried out. Will there still be the concept of offices in the future, when people can create value from anywhere in the world, and share it with their colleagues any time they wish? However, what is the purpose of a physical office? Perhaps an element of physical reality is still needed to keep employees more accountable and feel a sense of loyalty to their organization.

-Gaming


-Interactive telecommunications- Presents very exciting potential, especially in the realm of virtual reality. This technology has overlapped with that of gaming- we have technologies like Wii that detect physical movements and integrate that into the gaming system. But what about projecting the gaming system into reality? The applications of Virtual Reality are boundless- to social, military and educational aspects, just to name a few.

-Cloud Computing- more open concept.

-Knowledge management-
Data -> Information -> Knowledge –> Wisdom


Digital Divide: Can ICT help to close that?
“Today’s real borders are not between nations, but between powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated.”
– Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the UN.

There is also the changing dynamics in the political realm – where political leaders can use technology as a platform for interaction. I feel a good example of this is Barack Obama’s use of New Media:

“Were it not for the Internet, Barack Obama would not be president. Were it not for the Internet, Barack Obama would not have been the nominee,” said Arianna Huffington, editor in chief of The Huffington Post.

Here’s an interesting article from the New York Times on How Obama’s Internet Campaign Changed Politics. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/how-obamas-internet-campaign-changed-politics