Month: September 2013

T.O.M.O.R.O.

A great session at CultureTECH was the “Internet as CounterCulture” session held by Paul Moore, Professor of Creative Techniologies at the University of Ulster, Magee Campus. The takeaway message was that we have let the Internet get away from us. In 1991, there was an Internet but there was no Web, there were no ads … Continue reading “T.O.M.O.R.O.”

A great session at CultureTECH was the “Internet as CounterCulture” session held by Paul Moore, Professor of Creative Techniologies at the University of Ulster, Magee Campus.

The takeaway message was that we have let the Internet get away from us. In 1991, there was an Internet but there was no Web, there were no ads and you couldn’t buy anything. As pre-occupied as we have become with the web, it runs on the pipes of the Internet and despite the fact the web has become a shallow, ephemeral and image-obsessed place, the Internet-proper retains (for the most part) the ethos of it’s adolescence (rather than the conception – as a US Department of Defense research project).

The Internet has long had a curious relationship with the government. While much has been made of how they spy upon us, I would counter that our taxes pay for us to be spied upon. And if our security forces were unable to spy, then I would expect them to be replaced with a service that can. After all, Google seems to have a very detailed picture of all of our movements and desires.

I’m not suggesting we should proactively resist the spymasters but really that we should not worry about those things which are inconsequential and instead focus our minds on those things where it becomes important. I am not remotely concerned if the NSA knows how many Internet Cat Videos I watch (it isn’t a lot). However I am concerned that my government is unable to accept my voice using a digital platform. Both of these examples are underpinned by the concept of identity and it is my feeling that “identity management” is a skill that is vital to learn. This differs slightly from the “info literacy” argument made by Professor Moore, or rather, identity management is a subset of “info literacy” theory.

The essential part of the conversation is the choice of whether you are anonymous in an information transaction or whether your identity is verified. We discussed how the new Fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S can potentially obviate your 5th Amendment (or similar) rights (if the items you purchase are illegal in the jurisdiction you are in). It invokes a conversation about the right to privacy and the need for identity verification:- these are arguments which are utterly opposed on a certain axis.

e.g. I may want to be securely identified
as a purchaser on Amazon.com
but I don’t necessarily want a
record of what I’m buying to be
known widely.

Identity management is the first pillar of information literacy. The ability to recognise when your identity is being verified or when it is being accessed without permission is essential for an information-literate society. What’s missing is the toolset to be able to manage identity effectively and the mandate that online services must submit to these tools to allow citizens to not only make informed choices but act upon them (and, perhaps most importantly, be able to recover from poor choices).

Related posts:

  1. The Broadband Blueprint (re DETI Telecoms Consultation)
  2. FSF on iPhone 3G: Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt.
  3. iPad University
  4. One Vision for the North of Ireland

AUDIT/AVTIT

An audit is an educational term for the completion of a course of study for which no assessment is made or grade awarded.[1] Some institutions may record a grade of “audit” to those who have elected not to receive a letter grade for a course in which they are typically awarded. I think that all … Continue reading “AUDIT/AVTIT”

An audit is an educational term for the completion of a course of study for which no assessment is made or grade awarded.[1] Some institutions may record a grade of “audit” to those who have elected not to receive a letter grade for a course in which they are typically awarded.

I think that all colleges and universities should open their courses to audit. It’s done in the US but I’ve only seen it done very infrequently here in the UK. One such example was the AVTIT course which I hold responsible for starting my career in IT.

AVTIT was a 12 month course at the University of Ulster. While enrolled you had 3 months to attend any class they were running, you had a project/lab room (with some oldish PCs) and you had a lecturer who would call in once a day to check things were going ok. You had a library card and 24 hour access to the lab. Lastly, and probably most importantly, it paid £100 a week (ESF funded) and the course itself was free at the point of delivery. The remaining 9 months had to be spent in a work placement where you maintained your £100 a week pay and you worked your ass off to ensure you would have a job at the end of it.

There were 10 people on the course, all graduates with disciples in other areas, who all managed to train themselves to a standard required by the IT industry. Some tutored themselves in Delphi or Visual Basic, others (like me) immersed themselves in the internet and networking. I spent 3 months learning how to plug computers together. Then I spent 9 months in Nortel taking on responsibility until they couldn’t afford to get rid of me.

Now, the need is greater than ever for people who are skilled in Information Technology. I proposed in 2011 the idea of a computer programming “Free School” which has morphed into delivering Coder Doja and 3D Dojo.

Are there any colleges or universities that permit Audit?

Related posts:

  1. Pepsi? I wanted Coke. But if that’s all there is, I suppose I’ll drink it.
  2. Freedom of Information, with data not information
  3. The Holywood-esque nature of Silicon Valley.
  4. I want him in the Game until he dies playing. End of Line.

#goingdigital #culturetech

Sinclair Stockman on the need to go digital in analogue businesses. Be demanding on your suppliers. The danger is that you’ll stagnate or die. Related posts: The Broadband Blueprint (re DETI Telecoms Consultation) Tech journos decrying Apple’s ‘child labor’ scandal miss bigger picture. Digital Circle going independent and my thoughts on the Future cultureTECH: What … Continue reading “#goingdigital #culturetech”

Sinclair Stockman on the need to go digital in analogue businesses. Be demanding on your suppliers. The danger is that you’ll stagnate or die.

Related posts:

  1. The Broadband Blueprint (re DETI Telecoms Consultation)
  2. Tech journos decrying Apple’s ‘child labor’ scandal miss bigger picture.
  3. Digital Circle going independent and my thoughts on the Future
  4. cultureTECH: What I did…

iWatch?

There’s been a lot of speculation about whether Apple will enter the wearables market. There was an equal amount of speculation when they were thinking about entering the pocketables market. I guess that the reasoning is like this: This watch I have is a bit crappy I wish someone would make a less crappy version … Continue reading “iWatch?”

There’s been a lot of speculation about whether Apple will enter the wearables market. There was an equal amount of speculation when they were thinking about entering the pocketables market. I guess that the reasoning is like this:

  1. This watch I have is a bit crappy
  2. I wish someone would make a less crappy version
  3. Yes, like when Apple changed MP3 players into desirable and usable things.
  4. Yes, when they did the same with phones.
  5. And yes, when tablets stopped being crap.
  6. So maybe they will save us from watch interfaces being crap?
  7. I wish they’d been redesigning VCRs three decades ago.

But, if we pretend for a second that a watch is on the cards…how would it work and what would it do?

When Apple introduced the iPhone they said they were introducing

  • a fabulous new internet communicator
  • a fabulous new phone
  • a fabulous new iPod

So…they’ll introduce

  • A fabulous new body monitoring device that will go beyond the Nike and other brand integration
  • A new way to control communications (including the Do Not Disturb and Reply with Text options)
  • A new way to view reminders and calendar items (and vibrates when it’s time to leave for a meeting
  • A new security device that warns you when you leave your devices (locks screens, makes noises)

…and it will probably tell the time too.

Related posts:

  1. Nike+
  2. Get Rid of the Crappy Stuff
  3. Who Watches The Apple Watch Men?
  4. Kirkisms: Funding by Numbers part 2

Awesome new trailer from @italicpig

Awesome trailer is awesome. They also have an awesome web site. With awesome bio bits about the team. Related posts: Raspberry Pi: some useful links for doing more than playing around. iPhone. 4. There’s no ‘me’ in team. Oh, no, wait… Raspberry Pi + Camera Module + Clever = Awesome

Awesome trailer is awesome.

They also have an awesome web site. With awesome bio bits about the team.

Related posts:

  1. Raspberry Pi: some useful links for doing more than playing around.
  2. iPhone. 4.
  3. There’s no ‘me’ in team. Oh, no, wait…
  4. Raspberry Pi + Camera Module + Clever = Awesome

Relatively Expensive iPads

Some education experts ask why Irish schools insist on parents paying for relatively dear iPads and not alternatives http://t.co/INeR5EVAwC — Adrian Weckler (@adrianweckler) September 3, 2013 Because of the confusing use of the word ‘alternative’. It really means ‘something else’ in this context as opposed to ‘something just as good’. Obviously everyone wants an iPad-class … Continue reading “Relatively Expensive iPads”

Because of the confusing use of the word ‘alternative’. It really means ‘something else’ in this context as opposed to ‘something just as good’.

Obviously everyone wants an iPad-class device for €200. But in the real world, that simply doesn’t happen.

Related posts:

  1. iPad
  2. Selling the iPad
  3. The wrong question: Are iPads healthy for children?
  4. We’ve decided as a society that it’s too expensive to modify the kid’s environment. So we have to modify the kid