Terminator, The Matrix, I Robot and many other movies deal with an exciting topic of what happens when humans gain the powers promised by a certain technology. Will the robots rebel? Could internet turn into SkyNet? Will advanced nano technology allow building bombs that make nuclear weapons seem like sticks and stones? What about merging ourselves with technology?
In so many ways further technological development seems akin to playing with fire and powers once only prescribed to gods. Are we up to the challenge? Are we ready? And if not, how can we become ready? Technology could give us the power to destroy, but it could also give us the power to create a world of unimaginable prosperity and freedom. It could be used to enslave, but also to liberate the potential of each individual.
We need to identify the *good* uses of technology and we need to evolve our social and cultural mentality to the point where destruction and enslavement wont even be a temptation anymore. If that ideal is an utopia, if it cannot be reached then perhaps we are already doomed.
WorldChanging isn't a real user's guide. This collection of articles is not a collection of HOWTOs, it is a collection of inspiring examples supporting a message: The tools, both technological and social, to create a better, greener, healthier, sustainable, more human-friendly future are available, and using them won't make us uncomfortable. We can ignore the tools, and let our planet go down the drain, or we can decide to use them.
Having a "Wow moment" with Windows Vista? Bill Gates invites you to share them on Monday January 29th at the Vista launch event.
FSF's DefectiveByDesign and BadVista campaigns plan to be there outside the event and they invite you to come along as well.
According to the email announcement sent to the DefectiveByDesign.org mailing list, "DefectiveBydesign.org and BadVista.org are organizing events to coincide with Microsoft's launch of the Vista Operating System in New York City on Monday, January 29th at 11am and 2pm in Times Square and further east near Grand Central Station" to "share some “Wow moments,“ with Bill Gates and other invited guests."
It seems that Sun Microsystems are considering GPL-ing Solaris. What's even more interesting is they are thinking of using the controversial version 3 of the license, which has yet to be published. This follows a post last January by Sun's Jonathan Schwartz where he indicated that Sun were looking into the use of the GPLv3 for Solaris.
This may seem like a bold statement. Apple's just released iPhone is not only very attractive as we would expect from an Apple product, but includes some impressive features and specifications. It's probably unrealistic to claim that anything currently available on the market competes with this offering. However, is it really a revolution in mobile communication devices?
Just before new year, on December 31st 2006 the Free Culture Foundation site has been launched. The site appears to be mimicking the Free Software Foundation in form and also presents four core freedoms on which the Free Culture Movement should be based, to use, create, share and learn. On Libervis.com we have been discussing the need for defining core principles of the Free Culture Movement before and the FCF might just be filling the gap. Here is the press release:
