Hello, my name is Mr. Malley

An excerpt from Al Gore’s new book “The Assault of Reason” has been published on Time.com. This guy really amazes me lately and makes me wish that his candor and sincerity would have come out back in 2000. This excerpt is a must read for anyone concerned with the current direction that our republic (and its people) is heading.

I’ll stay out of the political fray of Gore’s arguments and stick to what I know best - technology and education.

In the world of television, the massive flows of information are largely in only one direction, which makes it virtually impossible for individuals to take part in what passes for a national conversation. Individuals receive, but they cannot send. They hear, but they do not speak. The “well-informed citizenry” is in danger of becoming the “well-amused audience.”

I have to point out that, when asked, very few of my students report watching much television. Most of them use thier TV for video games, and these students tell me that they spend more time on their computer than they do plopped in front of the old tube.

So, when I write about things that appear to be sensational happenings on Digg.com, or the democratic nature of web 2.0, I do so from the point of view that a shift appears to be occurring in the habits (and perhaps minds) of the American youth.

What’s worse: sitting in front of a television, passively taking in American Idol, or sitting in front of a computer, actively taking in and commenting on others’ thoughts and opinions? I know that any media in excess is unacceptable, but, at the end of the day, which one makes a more informed electorate?

I found this in the Moodle Lounge today. Well worth a listen for anyone with interests in online learning and teaching in the 21^st century.

http://www.edtechlive.com/audio/OReilly.mp3

Until educators actually use these tools of web 2.0, they have a hard time understanding exactly what’s taking place, and once they do … they become so engaged and excited, they’re able to look at education with fresh eyes and start asking “Why isn’t education more engaging?”

Tim O’Reilly is the founder of O’Reilly Media and supporter of free software and open source.

Or, check out EdTechLive, in general … a lot of resources there.

I’m not sure if many readers here are big of fans of “blogosphere” monitoring sites like Digg or Technorati. If not, you should be! These sites are a quick and easy way to check out what’s cool on the web right now.

Anyway, something interesting is afoot on Digg that is worth mentioning. It involves a leaked HD-DVD encryption code that allows super-dorks (like the one pictured above) to play HD-DVDs on their computer.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a YouTube video that an anthropologist from Kansas State University created about Web 2.0 - called “The Web is Us/ing Us.” Watch this if you haven’t already done so. It is one man’s well-produced vision of what the web has become: a place where content is formed to fit around the user, rather than the user fitting their habits around the content. Watch the movie! It’s much cooler than I make it sound.

Well, out of this Web 2.0 atmosphere, we have Digg - people from around the world submit articles, pictures, etc. that they … digg. Users (like me) then visit the site in search of what other people are buzzing about on the web. Users then “Digg” what they like, and “bury” what they don’t like. This process, repeated thousands of times each day, produces a variety of hot (and not) items of the day. I find a lot of cool stuff this way.

Anyway, what happens when the people “Digg” something that the providers of Digg don’t find to be in the best interest of their business model? What happens when a large corporate entity asks Digg to remove something from its front page that is proprietary? Well, Digg complies.

Then, the masses revolt against Digg!

Then, Digg submits to its electorate!

… after seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you’ve made it clear. You’d rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won’t delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.

If we lose, then what the hell, at least we died trying.

- Kevin Rose, Digg founder

If you’re still reading (and interested), you can follow the story a little deeper at the New York Times, Forbes.com, CNet, or the BBC.

Or, just check out Digg! The story is all over the front page.

Update: Here are some of the ways clever bloggers spread the code:

I stumbled upon a really cool site that helps individuals organize web content to suit their needs. It’s called Netvibes and it uses AJAX to produce a smooth, interactive, application-like interface.

This sort of web application is really what Web 2.0 is really all about - separating web content from web form to suit individual needs. For example, why look to more than one place for the weather, news, your favorite podcasts, YouTube, Flickr, movie listings, your email, your to-do lists, and your favorite search engine? Programs like Netvibes lets you conform your favorite web content around you, rather than conforming to web content.

Interesting and useful.

Interesting.

Web 2.0 … The Machine is Us/ing Us

Edit: I have replaced the video with it’s original found on YouTube. 10:50am EST April 11, 2007