Printing and American Heritage

It is interesting to me that the topic for today's discussion should include printing and movable type, when this was just yesterday the topic for discussion in an entirely different class, American Heritage. By the 1500s Gutenberg and his movable type had washed across the European scene completely changing the availability of reading materials and the influence of the common man, provided he could read.

(Modern Technology)^(Language)

Just as with the Renaissance of ancient times, the world is now experiencing a different sort of language revolution, this time with the technological world, as the power to effectively convince and affect people through technology shifts from the few to the many. Now, as seen in recent elections, especially in the US, the masses are unlocking the power of language and combining it with technology to have their voices and opinions heard nation and world-wide. But what would happen if mastering of technology became the sole power in the world?

A Digital Renaissance to Pull the World from Poverty

One Laptop per Child

During the Renaissance a return to Latin helped empower the common man through rhetoric. A certain parallel can be seen to our day with the Digital Renaissance we find ourselves swept up in. The program One Laptop per Child is a great example of this empowerment in our day. The communication and educational tools that would be provided by these laptop could empower the world's children to change the world they grow up in, and the way they grow up in it.

Letters to the Past

In her blog Katherine Chipman mentioned the idea of writing letters to those in the past, and after reading Cicero's Letter One and Cicero's Letter Two I have completely fallen in love with the idea, and as Katherine said what we could gain from the experience. Petrarch's letters address a long-dead Cicero and praise him for his influence on humanism, and Roman thought, as well as report to Cicero on the state of Rome. I mentioned in Katherine's blog the idea of writing to the Founding Fathers and what they would have to say about the state of America today, but I was also thinking of ordinary people that are 20, 50, 100 or more years dead, and what sort of changes would they react to not only in America, but throughout the world as it has changed. Are we a place completely foreign to our ancestors, and, in the spirit of American Heritage here at BYU, do we care what they think, do they are their legacy matter to us, should they? Contemplate that as you microwave your oatmeal on your way to your hybrid car while talking on your cellphone and facebooking the world.

Skype and social interactions

I recently was able to develop my skills with the wonderful social networking, and phone service know as Skype. This calling system allows users to call one another via the internet and have face to face conversations. There are many applications of such a tool, including the abiltiy for military families, and others over seas from their loved ones, to communicate face to face and continue interaction on a personal level.

I have also found this to be a great tool for communicating with loved ones 8 hours away! It truly helps to keep your family close, and for everyone far from someone they'd love to see I strongly encourage this program!

Networking on the Internet...

Many of us (and certainly those reading this blog!) are familiar with the social networking sites avaliable on the internet including myspace, facebook, and even on-line dating sites, but how much of our interactions should be based solely in the internet? For example, should we "friend" people of facebook that we don't know and will never meet face to face? If you have need of humor on this subject go "online". A similar example could be found in the recent movie, Julie & Julia, where Julia develops a friendship with a woman she has never actually met. Obviously, with the internet especially, there are dangers present in anonymity, but can such relationships exist and be beneficial to all parties? I for one am not "friends" with anyone I don't already know, but I have seen the benefits of beginning a relationship online. Where do we draw the line?