In this issue:
Fast Company • September 1, 2010
Spreading the wealth. TED, which began as an exclusive
in-crowd gathering and has now morphed into a global online
knowledge-sharing enterprise, in many ways represents the
learner-centered education model we've been looking for, says
writer Anya Kamenetz: "With the best minds, an experiential
aspect that doesn't burden the venture with ridiculous
overhead, a business model that works, a brand name that
creates great opportunities for alumni, and a fantastic way
of disseminating this learning to the world, TED seems pretty
far along in creating a 21st-century education model that's
open, yet high in prestige."
I've promoted the TED talks in Above The Fold many times.
This article nicely summarizes what makes the events and
the talks special. Richard Saul Wurman, the founder but not current owner
(that's Chris Anderson, NOT Mr. Long Tail),
crafted a brilliant event. Get the TED iPhone app or
just bookmark the site which supports HTML5 and you'll fill those
bits of found time very satisfactorily. Check out Wurman's
latest project, 192021, on
his Web site. P.S. For all it's wonderfulness, TED is not
the 21st century education model—that's just journalistic
hyperbole.
(Michalko)
Smithsonian Magazine • August 2010
Shifting focus. Author Joel Kotkin offers an upbeat
perspective on future population growth, immigration
increase, environmental stress and suburban sprawl.
I like articles that force me to think about a world that
I won't experience. Somehow that makes me feel more
objective about evaluating their arguments and forecasts.
(I might be more convinced if this had been built on top
of the 2010 US Census results.) The article has some
serviceable click-through graphics but they sure look tame relative to the Wurman project mentioned above.
(Michalko)
O'Reilly Radar • August 9, 2010
Seeing isn't believing. As complex data visualization
technology becomes increasingly amateur-friendly, beware
of depictions like the one in this article representing
"Your New Healthcare System." Data is easily manipulated
and pictures pack a powerful message.
We seem to have a visualization theme emerging from this
set of ATF choices. In this case I think the visualization
actually represents a purposeful sort of advocacy journalism.
My favorite current favorite visualization of real-time data
is the WebTrend Map brought
to you by the clever folks who also produced the map of the most influential Internet sites displayed on the Tokyo
Subway system. You might also enjoy the TED talks on data. They are
visually arresting as you might imagine.
(Michalko)
MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History • Summer 2010
Finders keepers? The debate over stolen art has been raging
for centuries, as evidenced by the opening anecdote that
describes the Swedish Army's sweep through Prague in 1648,
plundering artwork, jewels, scientific instruments, statuary,
an entire library and a live lion on the direct orders of
Sweden's Queen Christina. Despite repeated requests, the
most valuable item—the Silver Bible—remains at the
University of Uppsala. Read on for a cogent discussion of
the difficulties in establishing artifact ownership through
the ages.
Fascinating article on a topic with which I am unfamiliar.
I wouldn't be surprised if many of the library, archive and
museum readers in the Above The Fold readership have faced
this issue. I found the commentary on the article equally
interesting.
(Michalko)
Meanland • July 28, 2010
Giving back. Author McKenzie Wark ponders the merits of
the gift economy of the Net vs. the commodity culture of
publishing: "Make something, give it away, let people
find it and do what they want with it, and sooner or
later someone will return the gift. Someone will offer
something back, even if it is just their own time and
attention to what you made." Read on for his perspective
as someone who has tried it both ways.
Redefining intellectual property as a new kind of social
relation seems a bit strained but this is a cogent article
by somebody who has been on both sides of the intellectual
property discussion. This utopian tone is so at odds with
the mainstream business view of this issue I can't imagine
them every being reconciled c.f. this interview with Lewis
Hyde, the author of Common as Air: Revolution, Art, and
Ownership.
(Michalko)
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