Month: November 2014
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Should everyone on the web be identified?
Nov 24, 2014 8:53am | by jesse
One of the great ongoing battles of the Internet in our era is over the ability to become anonymous. For many this has been a founding virtue of the network of networks, and for others it has been a dangerous myth that never really existed. Ironically it makes sense that our perception of the way […]
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How much do you share?
Nov 19, 2014 8:59am | by jesse
The rise of social media has been both rapid and euphoric. While we remain critical of its side effects and by-products, such as the erosion of our privacy, we are, as a society, seduced into the Facebook fold and the Twitter flock because it appeals to fundamental instincts of love, friendship, and community. Dr. Sue […]
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Can the Internet predict your behaviour?
Nov 12, 2014 9:14am | by jesse
The rapid rate of technological change makes it difficult for us as individuals, or for us as a society to keep up. Although the concept of “keeping up” is really just a metaphor for our relationship with time, how much we feel we have, and whether we feel ahead, with, or behind the times. Similarly […]
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What can we learn from the failure of Samaritans Radar?
Nov 10, 2014 7:48pm | by jesse
The UK based charity Samaritans recently released an app designed to address issues related to depression and suicide. Called Samaritans Radar it seeks to turn your social net into a safety net by using an algorithm to spot when friends are in need of help. Could it play a role in fostering greater social support […]
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Do you take responsibility for your technology?
Nov 5, 2014 7:22am | by jesse
Does technology alter your behavior? Is technology changing us? Is technology eroding our social values? Do we make our tools? Or do our tools make us? This debate around agency and technological determinism has raged for the past few decades and continues to divide scholars, hackers, and activists who wish to harness the empowering […]
