Experiential learning and sharing are key to understanding new technologies... The theoretical framework behind the Network Society is sound, and to some could appear complex, however it allows to be understood very clearly and concretely through hands-on experimentation of its underlying technologies. Energy. It is very easy to start participating in solar energy generation, even if with just a single small panel to charge your phone. Manufacturing. Do you want to understand the power of 3D printing? Find a local hackerspace or maker space or TechShop and in minutes you can start. Or even, if the other options are not available, upload your design to Shapeways and receive the prints at home. Food. Just starting to grow something in your apartment in a simple vase will make you understand more about nutrition, and food. Health. Many apps on your smartphone will allow you to track your daily steps, but even weighing yourself daily is a good habit of personalized health. Learning. Sign up for an online course: there are many starting in September, and you are guaranteed to find a subject that interests you. Finance. You can start playing with 0.001 bitcoin or even a smaller fraction, and you’ll get a feeling for its mechanics very rapidly. Security. As easy as catching Uber from the airport to go home, or providing feedback on an Ebay purchase, you can realize the strengths of the trust platforms. Policy. Ask your local representative about the issues around the Network Society, and provoke some discussion to raise the issues of active and broad participation in policymaking. The low barriers of access to these experiences allows for a high level of risk taking, and a low cost of failure. Only by understanding how things can and do fail we can successfully manage them, as illustrated by the botched attempt to create a 3D printed version of the Network Society logo above.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:00:56 +0000
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