Human Communication

Documentation of the exchange of information can be found as early as 30,000 BCE, in cave paintings at The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-D’Arc. Human communication and the transfer of information may have begun with cave paintings of indigenous tribes and evolved to Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Phoenician’s alphabet. We know that as humans evolved so did technologies and the way in which we transfer information. The origins of the Internet go back to the 1960’s when the U.S. funded research so that the military could build better computer networks. This research led to worldwide participation in the development of new networking technologies. In the mid 1990’s, commercialization of an international network exploded with popularity and today an estimated quarter of the Earth’s population uses the services of the Internet.

 While there us no universally agreed upon definition of what constitutes ‘pervasive censorship,’ RSF (Reporters sans frontieres) maintains an Internet enemy lists while the ONI (OpenNet Initiative) categorizes some nations as practicing extreme levels of Internet censorship. Such nations often censor religious views, women’s rights, and, of course, political content. RSF and ONI have listed the following 17 countries for pervasive or substantial monitoring Internet usage: Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Bahrain, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Retaliation against citizens who violate the censorship can range from fines to imprisonment or even death.

Censorship of Internet content is not exclusive to the above named countries or subjects. France made ONI’s watch list for demanding that Yahoo! block all Nazi related content. Brazilian legislation restricts freedom of expression, according to RSF, by blocking publications considered to be racist. The Brazilian Constitution also prohibits the anonymity of journalists.  Google.de and Google.fr remove Neo-Nazi and other listings in accordance with German and French law. Most but not all countries either block or track Internet usage attempt to view or distribute child pornography.

“Universal education is the most corroding and disintegrating poison that liberalism has ever invented for its own destruction.” Adolph Hitler

All dictators and oppressors know the dangers of an educated and well-informed populace.  But where do knowledge and the right to the possession of information cross over to the violation of common decency or the clash with what is morally or ethically right?  Where does the need for censorship begin or does it?

Is the Air Force Playing Games?

Why is the Air Force to acquire 2,200 PlayStation3?

As part of the continuous enhancement of the Research Laboratory of the Air Force, 2,200 PlayStation 3 units will be purchase to add to the 336 units already in use for supercomputing research

This is nothing new for the use of the PlayStation 3′s eight-processor to power other supercomputers, as currently doing so for the world’s second-fastest, RoadRunner, at Los Alamos National Laboratory

The processors used in the PlayStation are cheaper than the Intel’s and AMD’s, therefore its broad use in supercomputers

The need for higher resolution of images from radar imaging, build-up of computers with speeds close to human brain’s, and high definition video processing, among other research topics made the PlayStation’s processors ideal for the job

With estimated $700 million expenditure per year for R&D the Air force use of these supercomputers will help to innovate/improve cybersecurity, computer modeling, networking, and collaboration

Think about the useability of these babies!

ICT Global Collaboration – The answer to fix the US economy?

John T. Chambers, Chairman & CEO, Cisco, USA states “Broadband access literally transforms the way we live, work, play and learn by providing unprecedented opportunities for people to communicate, access information, improve education and healthcare, enter new markets and expand the reach of businesses,” as part of his point of view toward The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009. I think that Johnny states the obvious.

Now here come the boring stats. The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009 from WEF ranks the U.S. in 3^rd place, up from 4^th in 2007-2008, on the Networked Readiness Index. The U.S. has ranked in the Top 10 on the NRI since 2001, and placed 1st three times during the past eight years. Based upon those stats, it’s probably safe to say that the U.S. holds a strong presence with Information and Commutations Technologies on the Global platform.

If we recognize that ICT plays a dominant role within the global community equating to global economy, it stands to reason that collaboration is necessary. The U.S. entered into a global economy long ago. Is it possible that the U.S. has had such tunnel vision that we’ve overlooked an approach to change the U.S. economy?

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010 will take place January 27-31 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. This humble Global citizen is curious to see the US ranking for 2010 but more interested in the ranking for 2011. Will the powers that be humble themselves and get the United States back on track?

Sources: http://www.weforum.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Networked_Readiness_Index