Sunday, July 17, 2011

Module 3: Rhymes of History - Google Upward






As I viewed Kevin Kelly’s 2007 discourse, “Kevin Kelly on the next 5000 days on the Web”, over the TED network, I found fascinating his analogies of the progress of the web, and where we will be heading in the future.

Kelly introduces the concept of “co-dependency” on the web. His example of this is eloquently illustrated on his no longer having to know a number: what he does not know he simply Google’s the number to obtain it. Yes, I do that now. I don’t keep any information: I simply find Google search engine on my Blackberry to locate the information I believe I need. It is simple, quick, and since I am in possession a Blackberry, just plain simple to access. I no longer need Directory Assistance (at almost $2.00 per call, I can certainly live without DA).

Upon first hearing this discourse, I was shocked at how accurate his analogy had become. This co-dependency is the main purpose for the rise in smart phone and their respective applications. There is an application for everything, and our co dependent nature has lead us to the need for such applications. “There is an app for that” is now the most commonly used phrase one hears with respect to mobile devices.

I was further shocked to liken this “co-dependency” on the internet to the co dependency we currently have on the technology of alphabet and the written word: we simply cannot exist without it. Funny, I never thought of alphabet and writing as being co-dependent within the realm of human existence, yet we are hampered by our very communication with members of our community, society, and world this essential form. How thought provoking his analogies.
Hmm…I wonder will it be an app in the future for that…

Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html


4 comments:

  1. I found myself having a conversation with my sister a couple of days ago about this. While driving around Las Vegas trying to find her hotel, we were following the GPS instructions that were perfectly being told to us by her "car". We started to laugh because she still has several Thomas Guides floating around in her back seat. She said that she never uses them anymore, but feels a sense of comfort having them there. Thanks for the good memories!

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  2. Your post reminded me how Smart Phones allow us to keep so much information at our fingertips. My two college-aged kids have their phones in their hands continuously, as if it were another limb of their body. When my son's phone was stolen, he was absolutely paralyzed. He had moved to a new city and couldn't use his GPS, he didn't know phone numbers by heart, his student ID# was in his phone, etc. I'm not even sure if my kids have ever used a payphone before (do they still even exist outside of airports in the US?.
    The digital immigrant in me resists being completely dependent upon recent technologies. I have had too many incidents where technology has failed at a critical time or the internet is inaccessible. So, I do keep an "old fashioned" address book at home, just in case. While technology is great, I think it is important for there to be a back up plan in case of technology failure and lack of access to it.
    I have been traveling in California on vacation this week. Since I live in Germany, I do not have a cell phone that works in the USA. My access to internet has been sporadic. I have felt a level of discomfort this week that has demonstrated this dependency upon technology. I'm trying to remember how we "survived" without our technology and how quickly we become dependent upon the technologies that make our lives more productive and enriched.

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  3. Cathy, you have brought up a point made by my colleagues. We have a district mandate to keep our grades in an electronic gradebook. The digital immigrants balk at this mandate: our progress is being monitored by local, area, and district personnel. Connectivity issues plague the system as the bandwith needs to be expanded to accommodate the increasing demands. Complaints have arisen within the past academic year of lost work, inaccurate calculation of grades, etc. Clearly there is room for improvement. Now, the monthly and quarterly assessments are taken online. Not a comforting thought as the issues uncovered have been many. Yet, the co-dependence on technology continues to grow: in all facets of our educational system.

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  4. Mr. Chappelear, you are most welcome. There have been several copies of the paper Yellow Book nicely placed next to our Condo gate. The books have been sitting there for several days: no one has bothered picking them up. There is no need: that is what Google is for...

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