Week 14 - Exams!!!

This evening, as I was studying for my exams, I got a call from my father. He had called to ask me about how my exam preparations were going and told me about how he used to slog it out in the old days with huge tomes surrounding his dorm. 


When I thought about his anecdotes, a random thought flew into my brain - how technology has changed the way in which students learn and use information. I compared myself to my father and realised that there has been a Study Revolution! To give a few examples:

• I even use videos to learn (far less boring)
• I type my notes, so that I can keep improving  and reprinting them throughout the term (there's no need to keep rewriting them)
• I search the Web for different explanations and perspectives on subject matter (I have far more information at my fingertips)
• Most of my reading is done on my laptop (I carry far less on my shoulders) 
• I ask questions on Facebook or any other online forums if I have any doubts (I can reach far more people for help and they can answer me more easily - even Skype can be used for face-to-face sessions with friends in my study group)
• I scan my notes to keep reproducible electronic copies just in case I lose them (not doomed by my forgetfulness) 
• etc. etc. etc.

All I want to say is that I am extremely grateful for the Study Revolution brought by technology that has transformed this learning process into a far more efficient, enriching and enjoyable (arguably) one. And I find that I appreciate its value even more during this exam period... I would like to wish all students a great week ahead :-)

Good Luck!

Shaak. 

Week 13 - Last Session - Presentations 2

The sudden end to our sessions feels too abrupt. TWC is not a subject that has strict boundaries and scope; it is an expression and examination of technology, an omnipresent phenomenon that envelopes our lives. This journey has had an unusual, enlightening effect on me that has changed the way I think about technology and the world at large. 


I must say that my dream of becoming an entrepreneur has been fed a great amount of insight; it has been put into perspective and has gained clarity. I now know how to better assess opportunities in technologies and view change. And, I feel that this has been a remarkable and enjoyable journey that will continue till the day I die because this is just the beginning. I intend to keep following technology and change, and one day hopefully even contribute to innovation and drive positive change. 


Here are some random summaries/thoughts on this week's web presentations:


The first group presented their intriguing website which shows how the world of music storage has changed over time. The journey from the gramophone and its records to the iPod and its mp3's is an intriguing one. And, since music is an essential part of our lives, it has revolutionised the way in which music fits into our lives. It also focused on the controversial issue of music piracy and how the music industry has been adversely affected by this "epidemic" with which most of us have been infected.    


The next group presented their fascinating website (http://www.wix.com/twc2011/vaccinations) on the different types of vaccines and how vaccination has evolved as a medical field in terms of capabilities and how it works. As prevention is better than cure, vaccination has been a pivotal player in the protection of our civilization from diseases that could have wiped out the majority of the world's population. An interesting development in this field would be that of nano-vaccines that could take this form of protection to another level. 
  
The topic of technology and food was presented by the next group. Their website (http://techandfood.weebly.com/) covers an interesting series of areas such as new-age agriculture, food security, genetically modified foods, preservation and the future of food technologies. As the world's population continues to rise in the 21st Century, the ability of humans to sustain ourselves and provide enough nourishment and nutrition is becoming a greater and greater challenge. 


The last group presented their website (http://www.wix.com/jasmine_siew/g11-grouph) on crime tracking technologies and the different ways in which man has and will facilitate justice with technologies. From sniffer dogs to advanced 3D facial recognition software, I have always been in awe of the ways in which crime is prevented. 


I'd give this session a 9 as I greatly enjoyed the delightful presentations and had the opportunity to say goodluck and goodbye to my fellow techangers. This is not my last post - I will definitely not stop posting on this blog as I have much much more to say but too little time to say it... This has been a great journey, one I will cherish and remember; rather than just give me knowledge, it has given me a new outlook and attitude towards technology which I will use to create new knowledge and insight in time to come...


I shall always remember to stay a rising star; Prof's diagram remains on my wall - it's not going anywhere!     

Week 12 - Penultimate Session - Presentations

This week we had a bevy of interesting presentations covering an interesting variety of areas. 


The first presentation was on an excellent website about eCommerce (http://www.wix.com/klgan70/twc-ebusiness), which explored the journey of commerce from a 'brick and mortar' system to an online one which is not restricted by physical boundaries and enables people to rid themselves of the constraints of conventional retail. I find the design of the website to be very novel, as it reflects an actual web retail site and explains the various aspects of eCommerce with great simplicity and interactivity. The website was very well presented by the team...


Next, was a superb presentation on eDating, a rising phenomenon that even sceptics are secretly trying out. The website (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/41472439/Finding%20Love%20Online%20Website/Finding_Love_Online/Welcome.html) was impeccably presented by the group; they effectively described the progress of dating to a worldwide search engine system with specific criteria and superior information retrieval capabilities that has exponentially increased the potential number of romantic candidates a person can have.


Lastly, the next group's website (http://www.wix.com/twcgroupd/supermansdiet) on genetically modified foods (AKA Superman's Diet) was presented effortlessly. The energetic group examined the benefits, impacts and challenges that GM foods bring to the world. On one hand, this potentially world-changing technology could save the world from calamities such as starvation and malnutrition while, on the other, it could cause several health and ethical issues. 


I learnt a great deal about these intriguing subjects during this session and greatly enjoyed viewing the creative presentations and websites. I look forward to next week's series. I'd give this session a  9.   

Week 11 - Technology Assessment and Forecasting

This week, we had a thought-provoking lesson on Technology Assessment and Forecasting. Prof highlighted that every time we have developed and adopted new innovations, we have gone ahead without thinking of the profound consequences that our actions have for Mother Earth. We have inadvertently caused harm to our planet’s survival and sustainability whilst pursuing our dreams of a “better” world. As always, we learn in retrospect; looking back in hindsight, everything “could have” or “should have” been done better.

It is becoming more and more important for leaders and businesspeople to have the foresight to anticipate the implications of future trends in technology and innovation. It is vital that every possible eventuality is addressed in a smart and mature way so as to prevent further damage to Mother Earth and maximize the benefits of innovations in an equal and sustainable way.

Basically, forecasting global trends allows us to be proactive in responding to change and enables us to bring the right sort of change in the world.  So instead of finding ourselves as victims of change, we can drive the change by smartly anticipating future trends in technology. With scarce resources and limited time, we need to make the right decisions and set the right priorities when looking at pursuing different technologies. Therefore anticipating the social, economic, ethical and environmental ramifications is crucial.   

Additionally, assessing the reliability of the assumptions made when predicting future trends is paramount. This is because if the assumptions we use to predict the future are flawed, then the whole basis on which our predictions lie is compromised, thus rendering our predictions useless.

Of course, the further in the future you venture, the greater the uncertainty becomes. This is why very few people like Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek), H. G. Wells and Steve Jobs have been able to look so far into the future. It is interesting how Steve Jobs created his vision of the future by developing a a product which had never been wanted (summit opportunity) and marketing it in such a way that everyone wanted it when it was sold. He worked backwards from his vision of the future instead of relying on current trends; he made the trends!

Personally, I hope to become competent at seeing the future (makes me sound like a waanabe fortuneteller) as this will allow me to conquer change – the only constant in the world.  

I’d give this session a 9, as I thoroughly enjoyed the discussions and had the opportunity to glean some great insight.

Week 10 - Emerging and Future Technologies

This week, we had an intriguing session on Emerging and Future Technologies. We talked about the greater ability of people today to develop new technologies that were considered unimaginable a few years ago due to the exponential rate at which technology is advancing through aggressive research and development. The more technology advances, the more it catalyses its advancement, hence resulting in its exponential growth.


We discussed the interesting phenomenon of Supply creating new demand in the cases of summit opportunities that don't yet have a market and that target unformed needs and wants. An excellent example of this is Apple's iPhone and it's rapid creation of new wants in our society since its sale.  


We then talked about emerging technologies that are set to affect our lives in time to come. I believe that Nanotechnology is going to be  the most pervasive and influential technology of the future. This is because, it will enable us to re-engineer all our materials, objects and even our bodies! The disruptive prospects it holds, such as nano-medicine, nano-electric devices and nano-energy, are truly mind-blowing. The ability to transmit and store electricity super efficiently, process data at a much faster rate and cure diseases far more effectively by targeting cells, is truly amazing.      


I found some of the quotes given by Prof Shahi very illuminating: 

“You see things; and you say, 'Why?'

But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'”

- George Bernard Shaw -

This beautiful quote highlights the importance of an open mind for a rising star; how vital it is to think outside the box and venture into paths less travelled. Of course, it is always much easier said than done. It has become a rule of thumb of sorts that visionaries are always the minority. I strongly hope to be able to keep my cauldron of creative juice full throughout my life...        

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

- Albert Einstein -

Again, these are fascinating words emphasizing the importance of going beyond what is already known and discovering "new knowledge", which is in effect, imagination. Nevertheless, I feel that pure imagination, without knowledge-backed actions to fructify that imagination, is useless. Einstein would not have been able to make his dreams come true without his extensive knowledge and acumen in science.  

“There is a space between man's imagination and man's attainment that may only be traversed by his longing”

- Kahlil Gibran -

This motivating quote shows how important it is to have determination and perseverance in order to realise one's dreams. 


I'd give this week's session a 9.

Week 9 - Energy and World Change

This week we had an interesting session on Energy and World Change. We discussed the rising energy crisis where the scarce fossil fuel reserves are facing the ever-increasing desire of our insatiable economies. We talked about the adverse ramifications of the use of fossil fuels such as global warming; and the need for sustainability and renewability in our future energy utilization, without which, the planet will become far less habitable for generations to come.

The very Mother Nature who has given us life is being betrayed and tortured by us – careless and ungrateful humans who speak of integrity and love but continue to ravage her of her valuable resources and ability to provide such a delicate ecosystem for us.

History has shown that the opportunity cost of greater economic success is the burning of greater amounts of fuel. Countries like India and China face a scary dilemma. Should they continue to use greater and greater resources to realize their economic potential and the dream of having the standard of living of the West? Or should they forget about those dreams as they are not green and will further destroy the sustainability of this planet? The answer that satisfies both questions is Green Innovation which will allow India and China to flourish with efficiency and, at the same time, not destroy this planet.

It is great to know that China is the world’s largest investor in green technology. India clearly needs to do more in this field and seems like an ideal candidate to develop cheap green solutions as it has been successful in providing inexpensive technologies in the past such as the world’s cheapest car – Tata Nano. In addition, Brazil’s superb adoption of sugar-cane based alcohol as a mainstream fuel shows that necessity is truly the mother of invention. 

Singapore would do well to take a leaf out of Germany’s book; it should install solar panels throughout and should capitalize on it’s location on the Equator. It is surprising that Germany, which receives much less sunlight than Singapore, has been successful in capitalizing on solar technology whilst Singapore is dismally ineffective in this area.

I’d give this session a 9.

  

Individual Topical Review Paper/Report Draft

My TWC Individual Topical Review Report Draft can be viewed through the following link:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=baffb27c3c4b73a7&resid=BAFFB27C3C4B73A7!127&authkey=eDXvROt6oS8%24


Thank You!

Week 7 - BioBusiness Revolution 2

This week we had another interesting session focusing on the BioBusiness Revolution. We also discussed the effects of urbanisation on agriculture and how one-fourth of the world's population, which is rural and agricultural,  would support the remaining three-fourth that resides in the towns and cities of this fragile planet.


I found it highly interesting to learn about the need to protect intellectual property when Prof Shahi gave the example of the dilemma the firm he was working with to set up a Vaccine Institute faced when embarking on its initiatives. An important conclusion was reached after looking at different cases where research facilities had chosen either to make their intellectual property available for free or to hold on to patents and charge for it's licensing. The conclusion reached was that, in order for a business to remain sustainable and resilient in the long run, it was in its greater good to charge for its intellectual property and plough back money into itself to further improve research and actually continue to make a difference in the world.


It was eye-opening to learn about Norman Borlaug, the unsung hero of the Green Revolution. He spearheaded the research and introduction of resilient, hybrid crops that gave far higher yields and resisted disease. His amazing work saved Mexico, India and China from predicted doom and billions of people from starvation. I find it surprising and disappointing that I hadn't heard of him before. At the same time, I am glad that I now have and that I have given the appreciation he deserves. I strongly believe that such unsung heroes must be given the popularity, appreciation and adulation they deserve. We people can often be very shallow, especially when giving due credit to those who matter. We choose to glorify mere celebrities and, at the same time, forget and ignore the profound achievements of people who actually make a difference in the world! So here's my shot-out to Mr. Borlaug: "Sir, I am deeply grateful!!"


An intriguing notion put across by a reviewer of Prof Shahi's work on the BioBusiness in Asia, was that educated farmers of the future "with specialised knowledge and skills across a wide range of disciplinary areas" should be more appropriately described as "farmists". This highlighted the need for farmers to become  semi-scientists in order to take agriculture to the next level and meet the rapidly growing demand of food whilst utilising lesser and lesser fertile land. Also mentioned, was the idea that the potential for growth in the agriculture market is immense as agriculture is transformed from a Valley Opportunity to a Summit Opportunity.


We debated on the use of genetically modified foods; I personally feel that without them we will have little hope of feeding a world population of around 10 billion people in years to come. The only issue I have with GM foods is that they should be free from harmful side-effects and should be compatible with our bodies. We also discussed about how waste management and the capitalisation of the value of waste, such as the use of biomass energy, was essential to the survival and sustainability of this planet.  


Lastly, I enjoyed the round of grabbing presentations we had at the end of the lesson. I'd give this session a 9.  


  

Week 6 - The BioBusiness Revolution

This week, we looked closely at the BioBusiness Revolution; the past, present and future of Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences. BioBusiness, being the commerce of life science, is a colossal field that encompasses a great number of businesses; from agriculture to genetic engineering. I was astounded by the fact that BioBusiness already constitutes over a quarter of the global GDP and employs some forty per cent of the world’s labour force!

I just felt like appreciating the wondrous beauty of nature. All living organisms have been built from the same basic source code or blueprint – DNA; and from this basic template, they have evolved into immense diversity. This explosion of existence of what works and what is better (adaptations and mutations) has created the millions of species that exist today. Prof mentioned how humans have played the role of God to date in shaping how life forms have developed. For example, the crossbreeding of different wolf species to get the desired type of dogs that we have domesticated and utilized in society. Humans have destroyed huge habitats and eradicated species through our exploitation of Mother Earth.

It is also fascinating to see how humans, through advanced scientific research, have been able to artificially synthesize natural compounds, enzymes and substances. Several people who are close to me have had to take artificial insulin injections to counter diabetes. This disruptive biomedical innovation has left me grateful and appreciative of this field and the potential it has to change lives. Additionally, being a football fan, I have marvelled at Lionel Messi’s use of artificial growth hormones which has enabled him to reach where he is today. Another important thing to note is that the innovations in healthcare have also found tremendous potential in applications in other fields such as agriculture. An interesting range of products are being innovated in the field of Bioplastics. Their amazing uses and non-reliance on oil for plastics makes them highly favourable in today’s markets.    

We discussed the worrying fact that the US takes up half of the globe’s Healthcare market as it invests mostly on the older end of the healthcare spectrum i.e. on end-of-life spending. These are people who, as Prof says, ‘already have one foot in the grave’; and yet, the US spends such a vast amount of resources to cater to their needs instead of focusing on boosting the wellbeing of its youth.      

It is interesting to note the re-emergence, acceptance and commercialization of traditional medicine and healing such as Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Herbal Medicine, etc.  I feel that this is a more open-minded and holistic approach to treatment as opposed to merely relying on allopathic cures. I can relate this to the movement towards organic food; people are getting more educated about what is good for their health and producers have no choice but to research and develop products that fill this gap. The fact that the closer you go to nature, the lesser your side-effects become shows that this is the ideal direction for us to head in.  

I must say that I greatly enjoyed the presentations and discussions we had this week; I’d give this session a 10.

Week 5 - ICT and World Change

This week, we explored ICT and World Change. We went through some various aspects and innovations of this field including Web 3.0, Cloud Computing, Gaming, Wireless Technologies, etc.


Of course, there will never be enough time to go through all the various aspects of this revolutionary field which has enveloped the most part of our lives. From the electromagnetic waves that surround us to our beloved smartphones, tablets and computers, ICT pervades us. Nevertheless, I would like to describe some of my random thoughts about this  topic and our session.


I learnt about the existence of CKO's (Chief Knowledge Officers), whose job is to ensure that their organizations maximise the value they achieve from their intellectual capital. They are responsible for gathering the laws and condensing the culture of a firm so that they can be preserved and instilled in future employees. 

Without a doubt, the Internet is the single most influential aspect in our modern lives. The amazing rate at which the Web is evolving towards Web 3.0 shows just how exciting a time this is to be alive! The idea of having a web browser as your personal assistant, or rather, an extension of yourself is sublime! The effect it will have on humans’ ability to be efficient will be revolutionary! I can visualise myself talking to my mirror every morning, planning my day. I could tell my phone to keep my home air-conditioned when I return home! The possibilities are endless!

“The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will not occur because of technology but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human”  

- John Naisbitt 

Interestingly, I have chosen Cloud Computing for my Individual Topical Review Paper because I strongly believe that the Cloud has had, and will continue to have, an exponentially disruptive impact on our world. I am fascinated by the possibilities of seamless integration of our services through a common source; allowing us to access profound processing power anytime, anywhere and through any computing device. 

I must say that I am astounded by Microsoft’s Project Natal. It is a truly mesmerizing breakthrough in human-to-computer interaction. I can’t fathom how complex and superior this technology is; to me, it is almost magical for a computer to have such human-like thoughts, emotions and responses.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”  

- Arthur C. Clarke 

We also talked about the untapped potential of ICT in poverty alleviation, closing the digital gap between the rich and poor, as well as it's application in healthcare and agriculture. I feel that the sky is the limit in terms of the ability of ICT to empower people. Giving them access to information, enabling greater efficiency in processes are paramount and can be done best with the use of ICT.

“Today’s real borders are not between nations,

but between powerful and powerless,

free and fettered, privileged and humiliated.”

- Kofi Annan 

Lastly, I would like to reflect on my presentation. I believe that I presented confidently and effectively though the presentation could have been a little more concise. This might have been due to my enthusiasm about my topic and the fact that there was so much to say yet so little time. I would tell myself that I must continue to improve my speaking as well as listening skills as a  I feel that I have a long way to go before I become the business leader I dream of becoming. I am proud that I have the opportunities to hone my personality and leadership skills in such an esteemed university.


I'd give this session a 10

Individual Topical Review Paper/Report Outline

Cloud-Based Business Applications

Cloud Computing’s Transformation of the World’s Business Environment

This paper aims to explore and describe the disruptive impact of cloud computing-based applications on the global business environment.

The advent of high-speed internet, coupled with rapidly developing computing technologies, have enabled businesses to tap into ‘The Cloud’ – a vast server pool of resources – and obtain access to integrated software applications and profound computing capacity without the need to install or maintain hardware and software.

This is a paradigm shift in providing productive, flexible, cost-effective and holistic improvement in how firms manage their information and business activities.

The rationale behind choosing this topic:

I am fascinated by how the cloud is transforming the way that businesses can exchange information by collaborating and integrating their internal and external operations. Personally, I feel that the savings in time, energy and money make this technology truly disruptive.

A game-changer for small businesses, cloud computing continues to shrink capital costs for start-ups and fuel competition by breaking entry barriers.

In times of economic uncertainty, cloud computing is a cost-cutting boon for both private and public sector organizations whose operations are being stretched. Cloud computing promises higher efficiency at lower costs; automation will diminish the need for staff to maintain and upgrade systems regularly. This will also allow IT staff to focus on more important, strategic goals. Firms will only pay for what they use; therefore, computing will change from a heavy cost to a utility.

Additionally, in this paper, I intend to focus on:

v  The pre-cloud era: how organizations managed their information and IT needs prior to the origins of cloud computing-based platforms and services.

v  How cloud computing has already changed the business landscape through cloud services like Google Apps, Salesforce CRM, Skype and Office 365.

v  How current firms plan to integrate cloud computing into their operations and propel their firms into a new era of efficiency and profitability.

v  How new services and applications built on cloud platforms will transform age-old industries, such as healthcare, financial, manufacturing and education.

v  The implications of this technology for staff; it is likely to have a positive effect on business culture by providing flexibility, as professionals will be able to access their business information anytime, anywhere and from a bevy of devices including their smartphones and tablets.

v  In times of environmental concern, cloud computing is a greener alternative, allowing firms to cut down on their carbon emissions. 

v  What are the possible or likely drawbacks and concerns about the use of this technology, such as: security, reliability, and control; and what developers are doing to counter them. 

The paper will conclude with my perspectives on the impact that cloud computing applications have on business competitiveness, and why I feel cloud computing is a significant technology revolution that will define the new IT-centric business era.

Week 4 - Riding the Wave of Change - Change Drivers, Leadership & Management

This week we learnt the about catching the wave of change at the right time and riding it with success. Prof Shahi showed us various Drivers of World Change that have shaped and continue to shape this planet’s destiny:

1. Evolution – the eternal process of incremental adaptation of species through millennia has transformed organisms on this planet into their current forms
2. Global Warming – the overheating of planet Earth due to the emission of Greenhouse gases is causing climate change and rising sea-levels – one of the biggest challenges facing humanity
3. Disease (The power of Germs) – including  the plague, SARS and Bird Flu epidemics which have killed millions of people
4. Scientific Discovery and Technology Innovation – the numerous breakthroughs that have dramatically transformed our lives and civilisations in terms of efficiency, standard of living, etc.
5. Business Innovation – entrepreneurship and private enterprise have created great wealth in our economies
6. Competition – businesses have continuously improved their products, processes, systems, prices, etc.
7. Social, Demographic, Ideological  and Cultural – through mass media and migration, we have been exposed to and influenced by various cultures; especially Western culture has had a great impact on our attitudes and outlooks
8. Globalization – the opening of new markets and the elimination of barriers to the movement of human, intellectual and financial capital
9. Changing Expectations and Tastes with Changing Times – due to humans’ unlimited wants and ability to rapidly take technologies and developments for granted

Adapted from: BioBusiness in Asia (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004). Gurinder Shahi

Subsequently, we learnt about Change Management and Change Leadership. First and foremost comes the Realization of Change. Prof Shahi described three realisation attitudes players could adopt:

1. Eagle Attitude – proactive; fast to act, with a bird’s eye view of the change and understanding of the greater good. Also has a “Rising Star” attitude with an open mind.
2. Ostrich Attitude -  passive; recognises the change, may even talk about it or make “wise” predictions,  but chooses to do nothing
3. Dodo Attitude – ignorant and inactive; fails to recognise the change and hence fails to adapt

A Change Leader is a visionary who has an idea, finds a solution, creates a paradigm and starts an entity by putting together a management team. Whereas, a Change Manager is a functionary who works to put the Leader’s ideas into practice by organising resources and implementing the Leader’s framework. Ideally, the Leader should back off and allow the Manager to continue with the management of the firm because not all leaders have the skills needed to manage an entity.

In recent, exponential times, it has become vital for firms to substitute the Traditional Model for Strategic Implementation with the Modern Model. The Traditional Model relies on periodical “freezing” and reviewing of business’ direction whereas the Modern Model is about continuously monitoring and tweaking the firms’ processes to keep in line with changing times.

I found Prof Shahi’s Pessimism-Time curve intriguing as it beautifully illustrated the hurdles a Proactive Change Leader had to overcome to successfully attain his/her goal: Uninformed Optimism > Informed Pessimism > Informed Realism > Completion. It was interesting to see that this applied to personal relationships as well! It highlighted that a Leader needed informed grit and perseverance till the very end in order to succeed. Prof placed emphasis on the need for a leader to always think differently, be curious, be unreasonable and never be satisfied even when society pushes you down.

Personally, I feel that it is also important for a leader to stop persevering sometimes and have the ability to abandon ideas he feels will not be feasible or viable in the long run and to devote his time and energy on those that matter. Steve Jobs is known for rejecting far more innovations than he has ever accepted. He had the ability to foresee which innovations would be the most worthwhile for Apple to progress with. I guess this is why the iPhone and iPad have caused disruptive changes in the smartphone and tablet markets respectively. Likewise, people in an endangered relationship should assess their situation and decide to end the relationship if they feel that it is not in the greater good to continue instead of persevering and losing out on other, potentially better, relationships. Of course, this is super subjective!

I look forward to learning about and having discussions on how Technology has transformed Medicine and Medical Science.  

I’d rate this session a 9/10.

Shaak

Week 3 - Sustainable Development

Our attitude towards Mother Earth has been a repugnant one. Everywhere I go, I observe people negligently wasting electricity, plastic, food, water, petrol and other resources. I cannot describe how indignant I feel when I see this abominable waste. I shudder to think what the world will be like when I’m 70 years old and have grandchildren. Thus, I was very pleased that we discussed the topic of Sustainable Development this week.

We have been relentless in our ravaging of this planet and it is payback time! I feel that it has a lot to do with human nature. We are always tempted to get away with what we can take and as long as there are no immediate setbacks, we continue acting with our short-sighted attitude until it is too late. Few men and women have had the ability to see the greater good; fewer have had the guts to pursue it and even fewer have been able to go against the tunnel-minded and greedy majority to achieve it.

A great problem that has plagued us has been the lack of pricing of externalities; we have not been accountable to mother earth. Firms have never included Environmental Cost in their balance sheets and consumers have never paid the actual price for their products. If the damage we have caused to Mother Earth could be given a monetary value, I am sure the fine we would have to pay would exceed the world’s cash reserves!

Prof showed us “The Story of Stuff” which I found highly intriguing. An important point was raised: the time has come for humanity to consciously and actively start shifting from a linear model of industrial development (build, use, bury) to a cyclical one (full circle) which will enable economic growth and environmental sustainability for generations to come.

I second the notion that it is also important to take into account not just the environmental welfare but also the welfare of people who work in toxic environments to deliver us the good we take for granted and the animals whose habitats we destroy.

I feel that I see that some of main answers to this problem are innovation with government support. Innovation is required in the development of superior Green Technologies which can:

• Recycle most materials
• Enable most products to be biodegradable
• Allow us to harness & store renewable energy more efficiently & cheaply hence enabling us to stop depending on fossil fuels
• Recycle materials and water efficiently and cheaply    
• Cut down emissions of greenhouse gases e.g. nano-catalytic convertors in cars

Without the support of the globe’s governments, this will be extremely difficult to achieve. Governments will be needed to fund green initiatives, provide incentives for firms to go green, put in place legislation on practices and product design for firms to follow and educate its citizens among other things. Consumers too would have to do their part by boycotting wasteful products and practices.

We also touched on India and China’s rise and whether the world should expect them to reduce their aspirations of the extravagant lifestyle of waste that America has adopted. I feel that India and China will have to look at the greater good of this planet and not be as greedy and short-sighted as America. They must of course be allowed to progress but must embrace green technologies which will enable them to achieve efficiency and sustainability at the same time.  

The second half of our lesson focused on Innovation Management where Prof Shahi introduced us to his Landscape Model for Technology. It described three types of opportunities:

1. Valley Opportunities: low barriers to entry > hence high competition > hence low margins > hence low interest for investment e.g. agriculture
2. Summit Opportunities: technology intensive > hence high barriers to entry > hence low competition > hence high interest for investment e.g. smartphones
3. Cloud Opportunities: Cutting edge hi-tech goods with high barriers to entry, low competition and no current markets e.g. cloning

Taken from: BioBusiness in Asia (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004). Gurinder Shahi

I loved this quote Prof gave us:

“Life is pretty simple:
You do some stuff.
Most fails. Some works.
You do more of what works.
If it works big, others quickly copy it.
Then you do something else.
The trick is the doing something else.”
- Tom Peters

Apple has kept doing that "something else" by taking the Cloud Opportunities and creating products unknown to man; creating new wants, new markets, new technologies before any other firm. And when the others copied, it moved on; it did that "something else" again, leaving them in its dust.

Prof Shahi then showed us his R-D-A Translation process which effectively outlined the different stages of Research, Development and Practical Application in the Innovation Process.

I could go on and on about my thoughts on this week … I must say that I have enjoyed learning so much and looking at this world with new TWC glasses… I’d rate this session a 10/10 because the topic of Green Technology is very close to my heart and we also had a round of superb presentations! I can’t wait till next class :D

Week 2 - Global Dominance and Human Development

This week we had an interesting session dealing with Global Dominance and Human Development as well as some thought-provoking presentations on Google, Genetic Engineering and Immortality.

We discussed different types of Global Dominance:

• Social (current trends, fashion, social networking, etc.),
• Cultural (Pop culture, Hollywood),
• Economic (India, China and USA),
• Industrial (China – the world’s manufacturing hub),
• Military (USA and Israel),
• Information (USA’s media empire)     

Subsequently, Prof Shahi showed us his Organizational Behavior Model for Identifying Innovation Leaders and Dominant Players. I was fascinated by the truth and simplicity it held; it highlighted that in order to dominate, a player had to have an open outlook, a positive attitude, the hunger to learn as well as the will to invest in new ideas. Exhibiting these qualities has been vital for the success of world-class firms like Apple and America itself. This applies to us all as individuals who seek to realize our potentials in this competitive world. Therefore, I have decided to paste this model on my wall to serve as a reminder of what it takes to be a “Rising Star” and to avoid becoming a complacent “Falling Star” once successful.

The first presentation raised the issue that “Google is making us stupid”. I strongly believe that Google and search engines as a whole have exponentially increased the human race’s ability to access and exchange powerful knowledge. This has allowed us to be more informed about our interests as well as have superior understanding of concepts which we would never have been able to attain otherwise. Personally, I find Google to be an indispensable tool with which I can skim through billions of libraries of information within milliseconds and harness valuable knowledge with just a few clicks. Therefore, I would say that Google has made us anything but “stupid”. As for us becoming the “same” due to Google, I disagree with this totally because I feel that Google has allowed us to explore our individual interests to a far greater extent and hence has made us more knowledgeable in them but no less distinct.  

The second presentation touched on the moral implications in parents’ Genetic Modification of their children. It was interesting to hear the different opinions of people on whether this was justifiable. Some argued that it would be beneficial, as parents could give their children the best abilities. On the other hand, some argued that such modification would be against the will of the child and hence would be unfair. I feel that the use of such technology should be discouraged for two reasons. Firstly, it would create further inequality between the rich and poor; the barrier-breaking qualities the poor can rely on to become rich, intelligence and effort, would be nullified if only the rich had access to this genetic treatment, thus leading to a vicious cycle. Secondly, throughout history, whenever man has tried too hard to defy nature, things have gone terribly wrong.  This technology might only be feasible if extremely stringent laws are put in place to counter the unscrupulous demands of humans driven by greed.    

We also had an engaging discussion about Immortality and I was intrigued to see where our class drew the line between man and machine such as the ability to have free will, imagination, love and emotions. 

I look forward to having discussions about future technological trends and where the knowledge-based economies of this world are heading.

I'd give this session a 9/10.

iCloud

Relax, There's No Tech Bubble Here!

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664769/infographic-of-the-day-relax-theres-no-tech-bubble-here

The minister of magic steps down

http://www.economist.com/node/21526948

Five things Steve Jobs taught us about technology

http://www.techcentral.ie/article.aspx?id=17318

DNA in Space? Biological Building Blocks Found in Meteorites

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2087758,00.html

The Paradox Of Expanded Choices: What Too Much Of A Good Thing Means For Consumers

http://www.fastcompany.com/1775873/the-paradox-of-choice-barry-schwartz

Why Facebook is not in decline

http://www.techcentral.ie/article.aspx?id=17003 

What Makes Steve Jobs So Great?

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1664863/what-made-steve-jobs-great

Technology & World Change - Week 1 Blog

This week we were exposed to some eye-opening material on the History and Future of Technology and Civilization. When Prof showed us the documentary, “Guns, Germs and Steel”, Yali’s question also resonated within me and invoked a burning desire in me to find out more about why the West has dominated the world and why inequality has enveloped the globe.

In class, we discussed reasons for this inequality such as endowment of natural resources, climate, necessity, organized systems that fully utilized the potentials of citizens, ingenuity and the courage to innovate and explore. We also touched upon the stereotype of superiority of the West and the fact that it was actually the East that enlightened the West in many ways.

I would like to focus this blog’s attention on ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’, as I find that it has impacted me the most.

(Farming), Guns, Germs and Steel

As I watched the documentary and read the excerpts from Jared Diamond’s fascinating book, I was taken by surprise. I had no idea that Geography could have such a great impact on the world.

I learnt that the ability of civilizations to progress depended on their ability to provide excess food for ‘specialists’ and innovators through efficient agriculture. For this, they had to be endowed with efficient and nutritious crops as well as domesticable animals. Specialists would in turn be able focus on inventing metal tools and developing key skills such as writing.

Farming and knowledge were also most effectively spread amongst the Eurasian countries which were located in the ‘Fertile Crescent’. This caused civilization to flourish in this region.

In the case of the supremacy in conquest, the Spaniards (and Europeans at large) developed superior weapons such as guns and swords through continuous improvement in steel technology over a long period of time. They also achieved great battle prowess through the use of horses and written strategies.   

I also learnt that the Eurasians had developed genetic resistance to deadly infectious diseases such as small pox through the survival of the fittest over thousands of years of epidemics caused by transfer of germs from livestock. This immunity was nonexistent in other continents as they had never encountered such diseases. Thus, the majority of populations in these regions were wiped out once the Eurasians transferred these diseases to them.      

It took the Renaissance and Revolutions to propel the West out of its hunter-gatherer existence and it was especially the Industrial Revolution that catalyzed the Europeans’ exponential increase in dominance of the globe.   

I found it heart-breaking to learn that Zambia’s enormous potential has been continuously beaten down by the power of germs – the killer disease - malaria. I strongly hope that Malaria gets exterminated and brings in a new era of productivity, prosperity and wealth in the region.

I must say that I am relieved that this explanation of global inequality does not stand on racial differences!

The ‘Timeline of Time’ and ‘Agriculture and the Origins of Civilization’ exposed gaps in my knowledge of human history and agriculture and brought this knowledge into perspective.

It was fascinating to learn about how the Middle East dominated in the fields of Mathematics, Science and Medicine and imparted this knowledge to the Europe allowing it to emerge from the Dark Ages!

I look forward to having discussions about the emerging technologies and their future ethical and social consequences.

I would also like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting my classmates and forming a Project group with such a diverse and affable group of individuals!

I'd give this session a 9/10.

Shaakalya Pathak 

TWC G11 - 21st August 2011 - 1425hrs 

NanoTech

Mother Nature as Engineer: 9 Design Tricks Borrowed From Biology

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/biomimicry-gallery/

Simply Amazing :D