IT and the future

Our future... probably full of technology and we are just at the beginning of this development. I'm sure that any kind of activity will be reduced to the minimum of necessary human work and the rest is done by any kind of machines. Another trend will be to put as much as possible in one thing, like in the cellphone. The challenge will be to avoid getting those things too complicated and still usable for "normal" people without needing to be an expert in order to understand it.

I'm kind of afraid that one day my grandchildren or even children will despair of explaining me how things are working because of the enormes fast changes of technology.... uhhhh... I never want to get this happen... But it worries me a bit to think about the eventuality that one day we just can't keep up with this fast pace life.

Furthermore I think that we should watch out that we don't confound technology as a medium to help us doing things faster and more efficient with technology as an all-dominant factor of our lifes. Are we theoretically able to live without it, even when it's only for a period of time? How much do we really rely on it?

I think this question can only be answered by everybody himself but I for my part often have to remind myself to observe my interaction with computers and technology from a meta-level in order not to spend too much time in front of the computer. I think it's important that the time we interact with technology is in a due proportion to the time we have social interaction (and not only by chat or phone).

I don't doubt about the valuable services technology already has done and will continue doing for us in medical, peace and life conserving ways. But every medal has two sides. We have to be aware of the comercial purpose of technology and how much money it really makes us to spend. Do we really have a lot of choice left? In order to use new programs we need relatively new computers and if you don't have one you eather get stucked on the old programs or you have to buy a new computer. It will end up having to buy a new computer every year... like new clothes.. Ok, maby by than the price is comparable as well;-) Than I wouldn't mind... But seriously I think a reflected and critical way of handling technology should be getting a subject in school soon...

The long tail

The Long Tail was first coined by Chris Anderson in October 2004 in an Wired magazine article to describe certain business and economic models such as Amazon.com or Netflix.
The Long Tail is the name for statistical distributions where a high-frequency population is followed by a low-frequency population which gradually "tails off".

In many cases the infrequent or low-amplitude events - the long tail, can cumulatively outnumber or outweigh the initial portion of the graph, such that in aggregate they comprise the majority. That means that products that are in low demand or have low sales volume can collectively make up a market share that rivals or exceeds the relatively few current bestsellers and blockbusters, if the store or distribution channel is large enough. At online stores the inventory storage and distribution costs are insignificant so it becomes economically viable to sell relatively unpopular products and distribution costs are the same for a popular or unpopular product.

The advantage of this potential market is the wider range of movies, music, books and to enable the consumer to really having a choice. The long tail may also have possible imlications for culture and politics. Where the Long Tail works, minority tastes are catered to and individuals are offered greater choice. Where popularity is determined by the lowest common denominator, a Long Tail model may lead to improvement in a society's level of culture and cultural diversity rises. Further more the Long Tail has also implications for the producers of content which makes it possible for them to publish their work which wouldn't be possible otherwise for economic reasons. Maybe the long tail will have the effect of reducing demand for the most popular products or change the offer of entertainment products in general.

social gap

The new medias are gonna be self-evident for most of the kids in the industrialized countries. But what makes me worried is the generation who woun't have the possibility to have acess to this enormesly fast growing development of information technology. Are they gonna be left behind and not even have a change to take part in this new economical development?
What relieves me is the fact that the youngest company-owner in the world is an indian...

The triumph of the nerds

It's really a long movie, but it's worth while!
I knew the biografie of Steve Jobs and more or less of Bill Gates as well, but I'm consistently impressed of their path of life, this immovable will of succeeding and beeing the best, having taken this opportunity at the right moment and just beeing obsessed of their aims to revolutionize the world of technology. The age at what Bill, Allen and Steve started their companies is impressive as well. It's unbelievable how these inventions have actually changed our daily life in such a short period of time.

Only some years ago, when I went to school information technologie was hardly included in the education . Now it's already used at primary schools. At the one handside I love it because it opens a multitude of potentialities for teaching but on the other handside it demands a constantly updating of knowledge which costs a lot of time as well.

What I had to laugh about as well was that the movie confirmed this image of the coke drinking, only pizza eating, obsessed nerd, with greasy hair and hardly social life. It made me a bit contemplative...

Video of Freiburg

Here a little video of Freiburg;-) It's really unique!!

little presentation

So at first I'm gonna present myself a bit...

I'm studying at HLK communikation and technology. At my home university in Freiburg, south of Germany I'm studying mathematics, technics and mediapedagogics for beeing a teacher. I have to say that I'm impressed of Jönköping university!! The building, libary and facilities are so nice, modern, well equipped, bright, friendly and it just makes fun studying here!!! I like my university as well, but it's just a chaos and because of the savings in university-education, it's overcrowded, there are not enough lecturer and the lectures are most of the time cramped...

But Freiburg is not only the warmest city in Germany it's also on of the nicest!! It has a vibrant student life, everybody is cycling and there are lots of pubs and even though it just has 215 000 inhabitants there is always something going on;-)