Technology is forcing us to re-examine ?We the People?

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Civic engagement and responsibility is undergoing perhaps its largest change in 200 years thanks to technology.

Over the course of the last two months the world has witnessed two peaceful revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, as well as protests in Libya, Bahrain and other Middle Eastern and North African countries. While the chicken and the egg debate continues over whether social media was the cause or the enabler of these uprisings continues, the fact remains that they happened/are happening. In the end, they are all chickens (of the most courageous kind) in that indisputably the events happened, whatever the initial spark.

On a less dramatic scale, we have the ?Gov 2.0? movement as well as the ?Citizen 2.0? movement, with Gov 2.0 being change within government itself and Citizen 2.0 being how citizens are changing their interactions with their governments. You could argue that both of these ?movements? are one-in-the-same, but again, we come to the chicken and the egg: if citizens change the way they interact with their governments, governments need to adapt. At the most extreme end, when governments don?t adapt (or listen) of course, they get revolutions ? and as we?ve seen in this short year, revolutions can happen now in nearly an instant.

At the center of all of this is technology, especially information technology. Though it?s easy to think of information technology as just the Internet (or even just Facebook and Twitter) at this point, with 4.5 billion mobile phone users in the world, voice and SMS are arguably even more important than the still nascent (in many ways) Internet. Regardless, both telephony and the Web enable one-to-many communications across space (and to an extent time, though we?re increasingly dealing with a real-time world), and the ideas and/or grievances that people have, spread quickly ? even when our governments try their best to block, censor or even shut down the whole system.

So ?We the People? have this power that is information technology, now the question becomes ? do we leave the business of government up to the governments as we?ve mainly done throughout history, or are we on the verge of something new?

Last weekend in Los Angeles (while Egyptians were celebrating into the night half a world away) at the excellent Gov 2.0 LA conference, one thing that seemed to seep through the discussions between technologist and government officials was a sense of waiting/uncertainty. Not for the stability of the institutions or parties of government, but more in anticipation of whether or not ?We the People? would see things such as www.data.gov, the revolutions in the Middle East, and the increasing feelings of solidarity across the world with the peaceful uprisings, as a call to really take government into the hands of the people to shape.

Whether it?s WikiLeaks possibly changing the face of diplomacy, protesters changing the face of the Middle East and North Africa, drivers in Los Angeles reporting potholes via CitySourced on their smartphones, or future platforms such as VocalPress bringing telephony and the Web together, one thing is clear ? we sit at a point where information technology can be used to shape/change government (especially tyrannical, secretive and/or just plain inefficient government), with the wild card being simply?

What do ?We the People? want those governments to look like?

Please let us know what you think it should look like in the comments below.

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Source: http://thenextweb.com/us/2011/02/20/technology-is-forcing-us-to-re-examine-we-the-people/

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Weekend Open Forum: Will you get a tablet this year?

The Best of Mobile World Congress 2011

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Now that the dust has settled and my head has recovered from the relentless week that is Mobile World Congress, it?s time to take a look at the show?s highlights.

I?ll point out from the start that MWC is a vast show and there was no way I could see everything alone, however from a personal perspective, this is my opinion on the best of what the event had to offer.

Best New Handset: Samsung Galaxy S II

Android dominated the major new handset announcements this year. While many devices were incremental upgrades on existing technology, some manufacturers managed to make their handsets stand out. Sony Ericsson had its gaming-focused Xperia Play on offer, while HTC and INQ both showed off Facebook-centric phones and LG went for the novelty factor of being the first to show off a mobile 3D display on its Optimus 3D.

However, when it came to the handset that felt (based on first hands-on impressions) to be the best all-around device, the Samsung Galaxy S II clinched it. Managing to feel both almost impossibly slim and reassuringly substantial at the same time, this Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone with a 4.3 inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display was a fast and beautiful offering. While Samsung?s TouchWiz UI may annoy some people who prefer a pure Android experience, it?s certainly more subtle than some other manufacturers? additions to Google?s mobile OS.

Best New Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

MWC certainly wasn?t the tablet-fest that CES was, although three notable Android launches were worth taking notice of. HTC?s Flyer turned heads with its Scribe technology for writing directly onto the screen, although the device itself was encased in glass, making it impossible to get a good feel for it.

LG?s Optimus Pad and Samsung?s Galaxy Tab 10.1 are both credible iPad competitors, running Android Honeycomb and sporting 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch displays respectively. While the Optimus Pad?s 3D video camera was a first for a tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was the one that really had me questioning whether I?d still be using my iPad in a few months? time. Like the same manufacturer?s Galaxy S II, it combined feeling ?just right? to hold with fast and smooth dual core performance.

To be fair, both the LG and Samsung tablets boast similar specs, but LG?s 3D camera will most likely end up as little more than a rarely used, expensive novelty for many users. As such, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 won out for us as an all-round package.

Best Branding: Android

There?s only one contender here. There was no way to avoid Google?s Android branding, it was just about everywhere. Aside from the obvious prevalence of devices running the OS, the Android ?waiters? pictured here were present on many stands, while Google?s own stand was overrun by the little (and sometimes huge) green guys, as our video this week showed. We even heard of a ?Cowboy Android? on the Texas Instruments stand.

As souvenirs, Android pin badges and collectible plastic dolls in a variety of designs were being handed out to those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Some of the pin badges are already attracting buyers on eBay.

Stand Most Likely To Have Come From Twenty Years Ago: CBOSS

While most exhibitors stuck to promoting their wares, it seems that one company had its head stuck firmly in the past. CBOSS Corporation actually had booth babes. Yes, walk past the stand at any time and you?d be almost certain to catch a bunch of scantily clad women on stage, being photographed by passing businessmen.

Sure, CBOSS? business is the rather dull sounding ?Development of innovative convergent IT solutions for end-to-end automation of telecommunications companies?, so you can understand why they?d want to drum up a bit of excitement, but booth babes? Really? In 2011? No, I didn?t take a picture ? I?d have felt like a perv.

Most Brash Press Room Activity: A freaking iMac

The press room at Mobile World Congress this year always felt almost, but not quite, big enough. Rows of desks were continually full of journos typing up stories, hogging the few wired Internet connections that were available and leaving the rest of us to cope with overloaded WiFi connections.

While I don?t blame people for holding on to their hard-won desk space, this example took the biscuit - someone actually set up an iMac on one of the desks. Everyone else had brought laptops but much to the annoyance of others roaming the room for a place sit, this person had seemingly set up a desktop computer and then walked away, leaving it there to hold the space. To be fair, it wasn?t there later, so either they were asked to move it or (more amusingly) they?re actually using an iMac as a portable computer and setting it up everywhere they go. Either way, it amused me enough to grab a photo.

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Source: http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2011/02/20/the-best-of-mobile-world-congress-2011/

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Hardware 19 - The Cockney Cast

Hardware 19 - The Cockney Cast

Posted on 18th Feb 2011 at 10:18 by Podcast with 5 comments

This week's bit-tech and Custom PC podcast is brought to you by Clive, Antony and Paul.

First on the agenda is the continuing Intel Sandy Bridge saga, and what motherboard manufacturers are doing to sort it out. We also comment on MSI's returns strategy, which the company announced on Wednesday.

Next we make some time to talk about the gorgeous Silverstone FT03. It's a pretty peculiar case due to its inverted design, but it's always refreshing to see manufactures taking a different approach.

Finally, Antony gives us a sneaky look at the CPU cooler group test from the latest issue of Custom PC, which went on sale at newsagents yesterday. Make sure you pick up a copy if you want to see which new CPU coolers offer the best combination of cooling and value.


As always, we've also set up our weekly competition, although there's a slightly different twist on it this week. The lucky winner will be able to get their hands on a Mionix Propus 380 mousepad, which will provide the perfect tracking surface for whichever mouse you choose to use.

As ever, the bit-tech hardware podcast features music by Brad Sucks, and was recorded on Shure microphones. You can download the podcast direct, listen in-browser or subscribe through iTunes using the links below. Also, be sure to let us know your thoughts about the discussion in the forums.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bit-tech/blog/~3/9YDeYBokO2k/

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Weekend Open Forum: Will you get a tablet this year?

Hardware 19 - The Cockney Cast

Hardware 19 - The Cockney Cast

Posted on 18th Feb 2011 at 10:18 by Podcast with 5 comments

This week's bit-tech and Custom PC podcast is brought to you by Clive, Antony and Paul.

First on the agenda is the continuing Intel Sandy Bridge saga, and what motherboard manufacturers are doing to sort it out. We also comment on MSI's returns strategy, which the company announced on Wednesday.

Next we make some time to talk about the gorgeous Silverstone FT03. It's a pretty peculiar case due to its inverted design, but it's always refreshing to see manufactures taking a different approach.

Finally, Antony gives us a sneaky look at the CPU cooler group test from the latest issue of Custom PC, which went on sale at newsagents yesterday. Make sure you pick up a copy if you want to see which new CPU coolers offer the best combination of cooling and value.


As always, we've also set up our weekly competition, although there's a slightly different twist on it this week. The lucky winner will be able to get their hands on a Mionix Propus 380 mousepad, which will provide the perfect tracking surface for whichever mouse you choose to use.

As ever, the bit-tech hardware podcast features music by Brad Sucks, and was recorded on Shure microphones. You can download the podcast direct, listen in-browser or subscribe through iTunes using the links below. Also, be sure to let us know your thoughts about the discussion in the forums.

EnvisionStar Hosting

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bit-tech/blog/~3/9YDeYBokO2k/

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US launches first National Broadband Map

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has unveiled the National Broadband Map for the US. The map is the first public, searchable nationwide map of broadband Internet availability: its goal is to help expand broadband access and adoption in communities at risk of being left behind in the 21st century economy as well as aid businesses and consumers seeking information on their high-speed Internet options.

The NTIA created the National Broadband Map in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), using data that each state, territory, and the District of Columbia (or their designees) collected from broadband providers or other data sources. The result is more than 25 million searchable records showing where broadband Internet service is available, the technology used to provide the service, the maximum advertised speeds of the service, and the names of the service providers. Users can search by address, view the data on a map, or compare broadband across various geographies (states, counties, or congressional districts).

The map shows that between 5 to 10 percent of Americans lack access to broadband at speeds that support a basic set of applications, including downloading webpages, photos, video, and using simple video conferencing. This is a rather confusing number, given that the FCC defined broadband in July 2010 as 4Mbps actual speed downstream and 1Mbps upstream to support these applications. The NTIA only collected data in ranges between 3 to 6Mbps and 6 to 10Mbps maximum advertised download speeds, meaning that all 3Mbps connections were lumped into the broadband category. The FCC found in December 2010 that 68 percent of US broadband connections weren't really broadband.

"The National Broadband Map shows there are still too many people and community institutions lacking the level of broadband service needed to fully participate in the Internet economy. We are pleased to see the increase in broadband adoption last year, particularly in light of the difficult economic environment, but a digital divide remains," Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, said in a statement. "Through NTIAs Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, digital literacy activities, and other initiatives, including the tools we are releasing today, the Obama Administration is working to address these challenges."

The NTIA has also released a new report previewing data collected through the Internet Usage Survey of 54,000 households, conducted by the US Census Bureau in October 2010. Here are a few highlights:

  • Broadband Internet access at home continues to grow: 68 percent of households have broadband access, as compared to 63.5 percent last year. (In the survey, broadband was defined as Internet access service that uses DSL, cable modem, fiber optics, mobile broadband, and other high-speed Internet access services.)
  • Notable disparities between demographic groups continue: people with low incomes, disabilities, seniors, minorities, the less-educated, non-family households, and the non-employed tend to lag behind other groups in home broadband use.
  • While the digital divide between urban and rural areas has lessened since 2007, it remains significant. In 2010, 70 percent of urban households and only 60 percent of rural households accessed broadband Internet service. (Last year, those figures were 66 percent and 54 percent, respectively.)
  • Overall, the two most commonly cited main reasons for not having broadband Internet access at home are that it is perceived as not needed (46 percent) or too expensive (25 percent). In rural America, however, lack of broadband availability is a larger reason for non-adoption than in urban areas (9.4 percent vs. 1 percent). Americans also cite the lack of a computer as a factor.
  • Despite the growing importance of the Internet in American life, 28.3 percent of all persons do not use the Internet in any location, down from 31.6 percent last year.

If you want to read the whole 28-page report, check it out here: February 2011 Digital Nation (PDF).

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Source: http://www.techspot.com/news/42493-us-launches-first-national-broadband-map.html

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Thoughts on The Arctic Cooling GCM

This isn?t really a review, and I can?t label it as such, if only because Arctic Cooling?s GCM isn?t really the type of device we usually cover. Still, when it landed in the office I just couldn?t help myself. It looked so cheap and nasty that the other guys in the office recoiled from it in melodramatic disgust. I had to write about it.

You?ve seen gizmos like the GCM before, probably. It wouldn?t be out of place on the prize rack of a fairground attraction, or in a machine at that really run-down arcade that your parents never let you go to. The packaging is emblazoned with bold claims that try to sell the GCM to you on a sheer value factor ? 80 games in 1? Wowee! ? all of which strengthens the impression that it?s going to be rubbish.

But, hey, at least it comes with its own Arctic Cooling batteries!

Of course, you can tell from the moment you turn it on and first hear those tiny, tinny speakers squeak into life that the 80 games it offers are going to be terrible; the lowest, cheapest emulations of the franchises and games that the creators feel they can get away with. You know that they?re going to be full of simplistic knock-offs at best, if they work at all.


Still, if you?re anything like me, you can?t help but hope a little. Maybe one of those games could actually be quite good, eh? Or maybe it?ll be just entertaining and cheap enough for it to be worth shoving the GCM into the bottom of your rucksack and keeping it for an absolute last resort ? those times when your DS, PSP, iPod Touch, Gameboy Color and mobile phone are all out of battery life. And your solar charger is broken. And you?ve not got a book. Then the GCM might sputter its way towards usefulness, maybe.

As soon as I picked up the GCM, however, all these ideas scuttled out of my head and it suddenly dawned on me what the others knew intuitively ? that there is no way the GCM could ever be good at anything, ever, for whatever reason. It?s too light and flimsy to even make a good paperweight, too bulky to fit into a pocket and too flimsy to feel satisfactory in your hands.

The GCM seems to sum up everything bad about mass production; vomited onto the market thoughtlessly and crudely because ? and I'm guessing this is the extent of any executive approval it might have received ? ?someone must want to buy this crap.?

And, seriously, it?s so badly made and designed that it makes broken glass look like a solid product. The sensitive Reset and Main Menu buttons are on the shoulders, right where your fingers normally rest. Even the screen rattles.


And the games? Sheesh. There are 80 of them, but they're all even worse than you might have feared ? mostly boring one-button affairs with no depth or excitement, in which bland Mii-like avatars drift floatily around boring backgrounds and respond to your button presses after a half-second delay. There are a few titles in the mix, such as the obligatory Breakout clone and Schmup, which work OK, but even they lack enough lustre or speed to encourage more than the first five-minute fiddle.

Most of the included games don?t even work, in fact. The GCM has got more bugs than an ant farm, and it crashes regularly too. One time I tried to boot up Jet Girl, one of the less obnoxious titles in the Racing Games category, but got nothing more than a 12 second loading screen followed by a burst of numbers running across the screen. A moment later the Fencing game loaded up instead. In French.

The GCM is really a joke, and its punchline must be the price. £40 for this pile of cheap, worthless trash? It?s one thing for the GCM to fulfil expectations by turning out to be a poorly built and cheaply produced pocket-toy full of games you wouldn?t play if you had to. It?s something altogether to charge such an outrageous RRP ? you could have a nice meal for two for the cost of this bloody thing!

As I predicted earlier, the GCM is indeed the type of product you?d expect to see in an oversized gumball machine outside a hairdresser in the bad part of town. No wonder this isn?t a proper review; there just isn?t a score low enough.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bit-tech/blog/~3/Y0xOeP4qYOQ/

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TED Conversations: an intelligent Q&A platform launches

Technology Entertainment and Design (TED), a global set of conferences curated by the American private non-profit Sapling Foundation, has launched TED Conversations. TED speakers, TED Translators, TED Fellows, TEDx hosts, and TED staff are all active on the site.

TED Conversations fall under three categories: Questions, Debates, and Ideas. Unsurprisingly, they can be linked to specific TEDTalks on TED.com and can be tagged and searched for by subject.

TED Conversations have an expiration date: just as TEDTalks are limited to 18 minutes or less, TED Conversations are set to last one day, one week, or one month. When you start a conversation, you also decide when it will end; afterward, you can summarize the discussion with a closing statement.

"We're thrilled to announce today the launch of TED Conversations, a new social platform on TED.com that connects people for conversation, collaboration and debate," a TED spokesperson said in a statement. "TED Conversations was designed and built from the ground up to foster meaningful conversation among the global community who watch, share and discuss TEDTalks. Anyone who participates in online communities will find the interface familiar and intuitive."

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Source: http://www.techspot.com/news/42494-ted-conversations-an-intelligent-qa-platform-launches.html

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Facebook App Reveals Your Social Cliques

Socializing online and in the real world may be edging ever closer, but one stark difference remains: it's much easier to juggle different groups of friends offline than it is online. A new tool developed at Stanford University addresses the problem by automatically working out a person's different and overlapping friendship groups by analyzing the history of their Facebook or Gmail account.

The tool?called SocialFlows?is available as a Facebook app. Once a Facebook user connects it with their account, they can extract their social groups in two ways. The researchers' software can either work from the images a person was tagged in over the last two years, or from the pattern of e-mail recipients recorded in the last two years via a Gmail account.

Once SocialFlows has processed the necessary data, it suggests different groups of contacts or friends, some overlapping. An interactive interface allows the user to add, remove, or reshuffle the groups and then save them to either Facebook or Gmail as contact lists or new groups.

Putting different types of contacts into different groups?family or coworkers, for example?can be useful to people who want to control what they share, and with whom, online, explained Diana MacLean, a member of the MobiSocial Lab at Stanford where she and colleagues created SocialFlows.

"The current solution is friends lists," said MacLean at the Intelligent User Interfaces conference earlier this week. "That does give some granular control over who gets to see our data, but they're very tedious to create and even more tedious to maintain over time." As people acquire new contacts, they must keep adding them to groups or perhaps create new ones, and there is currently no way to transfer groups between services, she pointed out.

Social sites actually have all the data they need to tackle these problems, said MacLean. "Your social topology is captured latently in your communication data." SocialFlows is an attempt to tap into that. The algorithm behind the tool first creates many small groups by linking people who have often appeared in the same photo as the SocialFlows user, or who have been recipients of the same e-mail. Larger groups are then assembled by merging groups that are similar. Some groups become nested inside others, as when the data reveals a pattern of connections between a subset of people within a larger group.

MacLean and colleagues conducted a user study in which 19 volunteers were asked to use SocialFlows on their e-mail to generate and fine-tune groups that could help them achieve specific tasks, for example, notifying close friends in their home town of an upcoming visit, or inviting guests to a birthday party. Study participants also performed the same task using Gmail's contact manager.

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Source: http://feeds.technologyreview.com/click.phdo?i=658fb72353f3fa788b90664779cef996

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