tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43360291547083056652011-04-21T18:59:58.678-07:00Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12301586369057883603noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336029154708305665.post-59832617830993583792007-05-23T17:38:00.000-07:002007-05-23T18:58:55.198-07:00I take a while to process my information and when I first read Chapter 1 of "The World is Flat" I did not have a clear picture about the concept. With time and help from reading the beginnings of Chapter 2, I believe that my confusion lies in this hypothesis, where as the world becomes more and more "flat" it was simultaneously "shrinking." Due to the advances in technology, the human race has been able to communicate with more of itself. Unfortunately, that communication has not become efficient; in the sense that we are still having wars over misunderstandings between politics and culture. Not only through Internet and world-wide-web (www) have the human race become more in touch with itself, but travelling has become more affordable and more people are able to physically be with each other. Hooray from technology!<br /><br />Moving on to what I have discovered in the beginnings of Chapter 2; Mr. Friedman points out that the "flattening of the world" is a metaphor for "leveling the playing field" which is also a metaphor that just means that everything is even now. So, this leads me to the reason I have interrupted my reading and began to post this blog.<br /><br />First, Mr. Friedman titles this chapter "The Ten Forces that Flattened the World." Although I am anxious to read about the others, I needed to mentally vomit my questions that have arisen because they keep intruding into my reading. <br /><br />So, here goes; of the forces that flatten the world I have read thus far, Mr. Friedman first lists the crumbling of the Berlin Wall, the creation of the Windows software, and the development of work flow software. He explains and defends his reasoning behind all of this with interesting facts and anecdotes, but the next "flattener" is called "Uploading" with a subtitle "Harnessing the Power of Communities," and this is where my questions flare up again. This section really made me begin to "buy in" and believe that technology, as a form of communication and collaboration, can truly lead to a better society where people collaborate using computers and working together to improve our existence. <br /><br />It is convincing in that Mr. Friedman describes and explains how the Internet and the www, in general terms, was created through the collaboration of "common geeks" and professional scientists resulting in it becoming a free commodity prior to corporate takeover. Corporate businesses have now jumped on in the collaborative process because it was such an efficient way to improve the "system." Sites such as Blogger and Google are evidence that technology can be great. But, aside from the great free stuff, the question comes to mind: "If it's all free, then what?" "Is the human race ready to let go of the power money has brought to it?"<br /><br />Realistically the answer is definitely, NO! But, I would take pleasure in hoping that through the "shrinking" and "flattening" process that technology has begun, we are making strides closer to a global community where we are all working toward improving our species; perhaps even encouraging a next step in the evolution of life as we know it.<br /><br />I am curious if any of these concerns are addressed later in the book. I have only scratched the surface and enjoying every moment. Return for more of my thoughts on the book as I work through it. Also, please feel free to respond and enhance my understanding.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4336029154708305665-5983261783099358379?l=mrjacksonswords.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12301586369057883603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4336029154708305665.post-53669126889968530842007-04-30T14:57:00.000-07:002007-04-30T15:25:54.568-07:00After reading this chapter, I was very interested to continue reading on how the world has become flat, but I came to wonder what does he mean by a flat world? Is the world flat because technology has made it easier for people to do business? When the world is flat does it mean that we no longer need physical human contact to function as a society? I am unsure if Mr. Friedman addresses this in the chapters to come, but it seems unnatural and a bit scary if that is the case. I am wondering if a "flat world" is really a good thing. Also, if our world is indeed flat where are the edges that define it? Will there be a time that we fall off the edge of our "flat world?" Check in for more of my thoughts and I welcome any responses that will enlighten my understanding.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4336029154708305665-5366912688996853084?l=mrjacksonswords.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12301586369057883603noreply@blogger.com0