<strong><em>“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.</em></strong><strong><em> “</em></strong> – <strong>Albert Einstein</strong>
<strong></strong>It would be foolish of me to negate Dr. Einstein’s claim here, I can’t predict the future. The assertion that all humanity would revisit the Stone Age pending an Atomic war can be valid, but on the other side of the coin I am inclined to argue that the third edition of the World War is taking place right under our noses – and it’s a whole new ballgame. In fact, YOU very well may be leading it.
As we progress further into the Digital Age we become accustomed to new and more “active” technologies. Almost every single device we use today provides us with an invaluable opportunity to channel our voices back into the world. The days of “passive” media are in rapid decay and the rise of the human say, vote and opinion at the most granular levels live on.
Galvanized by the power of social media, this is a battle for a tremendous power, a privilege that was a luxury to only a select few, and a volatile authority that took years to establish; this is a war for influence. The tools are all within our reach – from online posts and their comments to SMS, tweets, facebook posts, and beyond. The introduction of these technologies has leveled the world’s playing field, and we can turn into dynamic leaders in our own right across multiple fields simultaneously if we chose to do so. Depending on the complexities of hierarchy amongst social graphs, what is being created here are 21st century communities that can double as armies – or though it may seem.
What we don’t always realize is that technology is the classic double-edged sword. In a large sense, technology is absolutely agnostic towards its outcomes. For the overwhelming majority of cases, the concept of the “garbage in – garbage out” applies to that of “happiness in – happiness out” as well. Thus when proficiently employed, technology can only disproportionately enhance the existing power structure as it stands.
The events in Egypt have awakened much hope to its people. The popular notion is that advances in information technology have already given voice to the marginalized —that dictatorial control can be extorted from the hands of wicked elites as soon as the power to be heard is devolved upon the burdened populations.
Protesters can use technology to unite, dissent, and organize; however, oppressive regimes can similarly leverage the exact same technologies for surveillance, tracking, and locating. This type of advantage has been in the hands of governments for decades. It seems as though that these regimes, when not spent by the blazes of revolution, generally lean toward relative stability. During those times of constancy, their direct ability to gather information on the masses through the use of technology is absolutely colossal. In fact, it is unparalleled against anything the general public has access to.
This raises a fishy point in my book. Going back to the press, I am astounded by the confidence I read and the assumption that the majority of opinion makers, seem distrustful and wary of the technologies we consume throughout the workday and at the comfort of our households. The type of individuals who worry about not getting hired by a future employer because of an inappropriate photo posted on Facebook, don’t seem to fathom the appalling potential of social networking technology in the hands of tyrannical regimes, or even governments in general.
Now do you remember the opposite side of the equation? The one where technology can be used to organize, unite and voice your opinions and objections to the world? – I didn’t think so. The cold hard truth is that there is a switch to deactivate the infrastructure by which these channels function. Are our Tweets and Facebook messages worth much in the name of revolution when the plug has been pulled by state controlled service providers? Fire will be fought with fire in the form of revolutionary technologies, they have the upper hand. Hopefully it’ll be used to protect freedom.
As a diehard technologist, it aches to say that in the grand scheme of things I must be a realist and observe that there are but two forces in the mix; information and revolution. Sadly, the technology I hold within the palm of my hand is nothing but a modest, frail, and highly mortal tool. For the leaders involved, we can quote Winston Churchill that in war you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times. This will be ugly for them and will leave a heightened mark in the books of history, but this war will be won by the men and women who are willing to bear its terrific burdens, and not digitally.
Technoliberty: The Evolution of Revolution
FJ
May 17
|17:10
<strong><em>“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.</em></strong><strong><em> “</em></strong> – <strong>Albert Einstein</strong>
<strong></strong>It would be foolish of me to negate Dr. Einstein’s claim here, I can’t predict the future. The assertion that all humanity would revisit the Stone Age pending an Atomic war can be valid, but on the other side of the coin I am inclined to argue that the third edition of the World War is taking place right under our noses – and it’s a whole new ballgame. In fact, YOU very well may be leading it.
As we progress further into the Digital Age we become accustomed to new and more “active” technologies. Almost every single device we use today provides us with an invaluable opportunity to channel our voices back into the world. The days of “passive” media are in rapid decay and the rise of the human say, vote and opinion at the most granular levels live on.
Galvanized by the power of social media, this is a battle for a tremendous power, a privilege that was a luxury to only a select few, and a volatile authority that took years to establish; this is a war for influence. The tools are all within our reach – from online posts and their comments to SMS, tweets, facebook posts, and beyond. The introduction of these technologies has leveled the world’s playing field, and we can turn into dynamic leaders in our own right across multiple fields simultaneously if we chose to do so. Depending on the complexities of hierarchy amongst social graphs, what is being created here are 21st century communities that can double as armies – or though it may seem.
What we don’t always realize is that technology is the classic double-edged sword. In a large sense, technology is absolutely agnostic towards its outcomes. For the overwhelming majority of cases, the concept of the “garbage in – garbage out” applies to that of “happiness in – happiness out” as well. Thus when proficiently employed, technology can only disproportionately enhance the existing power structure as it stands.
The events in Egypt have awakened much hope to its people. The popular notion is that advances in information technology have already given voice to the marginalized —that dictatorial control can be extorted from the hands of wicked elites as soon as the power to be heard is devolved upon the burdened populations.
Protesters can use technology to unite, dissent, and organize; however, oppressive regimes can similarly leverage the exact same technologies for surveillance, tracking, and locating. This type of advantage has been in the hands of governments for decades. It seems as though that these regimes, when not spent by the blazes of revolution, generally lean toward relative stability. During those times of constancy, their direct ability to gather information on the masses through the use of technology is absolutely colossal. In fact, it is unparalleled against anything the general public has access to.
This raises a fishy point in my book. Going back to the press, I am astounded by the confidence I read and the assumption that the majority of opinion makers, seem distrustful and wary of the technologies we consume throughout the workday and at the comfort of our households. The type of individuals who worry about not getting hired by a future employer because of an inappropriate photo posted on Facebook, don’t seem to fathom the appalling potential of social networking technology in the hands of tyrannical regimes, or even governments in general.
Now do you remember the opposite side of the equation? The one where technology can be used to organize, unite and voice your opinions and objections to the world? – I didn’t think so. The cold hard truth is that there is a switch to deactivate the infrastructure by which these channels function. Are our Tweets and Facebook messages worth much in the name of revolution when the plug has been pulled by state controlled service providers? Fire will be fought with fire in the form of revolutionary technologies, they have the upper hand. Hopefully it’ll be used to protect freedom.
As a diehard technologist, it aches to say that in the grand scheme of things I must be a realist and observe that there are but two forces in the mix; information and revolution. Sadly, the technology I hold within the palm of my hand is nothing but a modest, frail, and highly mortal tool. For the leaders involved, we can quote Winston Churchill that in war you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times. This will be ugly for them and will leave a heightened mark in the books of history, but this war will be won by the men and women who are willing to bear its terrific burdens, and not digitally.
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