Jason Silva's insanely appealing enthusiasm for the potential of exponential technology...
Monday, January 09, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
the storm
This is a look at my June 2010 view of "the storm" - the congregation of energy systems gathering momentum in the shift toward a new worldview, a new way of being. I am revisiting this now to see how/what has changed... stay tuned.
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| click on image to enlarge |
Saturday, December 31, 2011
information overload - full body engagement
It seems like I react to email for a living. I don't want to read 100 emails a day. It leaves me little or no time to reflect on what is happening around me so I can act pro-actively - take initiatives that are in synch with my evolving overall worldview. I just want to know what I need to know and do what I need to do.
Specifically I want to be "in" the world again - to directly engage with reality in a natural way but with the power of information - as I see fit. I want augmented reality, but one that I can adjust or turn off. I realize the threshold for information is much higher the younger you are. Nevertheless, given the expected exponential increase in information access and computing power, we're going to need better and better user interfaces that bring what we need to the surface at the moment we need it...
Some of the better advances in user interface are coming from the Media Lab not surprisingly. Check out Pranav Mistry's Ted Talk.
While the Media Lab might be ahead on the user interface side, I'm betting the software functionality side is going to come from gaming. Here Will Wright is breaking new ground with Hive Mind and personal gaming using your own mood, real-time environment, data etc. to heighten your awareness of the real world while letting your trusted network of friends help you. As he says: "how do make a game that gets you more engaged in reality rather than distract you from it?"
Mark
Note: Here are 10 iPhone Apps in the direction of augmented reality
Friday, December 30, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
looking for superman
A number of truly remarkable things are being expressed in our global mass consciousness at this unique juncture in time... it makes me think they may be linked, or are perhaps just expressions of the same phenomenon in different ways, specifically:
1. The recent discovery (still to be confirmed) that particles may travel faster than the speed of light upending some of the fundamental physical laws of the universe as currently understood.
2. The advances in the material world like the one-atom-thick planar sheets of graphene transforming the thermo-mechanical-electro-conductive potential of everything from solar panels to cell phones to their use as anti-bacterial agents in preserving fresh food.
3. The exponential acceleration of technology itself. While speed and memory are what we think of most when considering this acceleration, I would now add adoption and connection. The speed that people can and are adopting technology like cell phones that allow them to connect to each other and to information is having impact in ways that are impossible to ignore.
4. This is being most dramatically expressed as the seemingly autonomous mass movements springing up around the world including the youth-led Mid-east and London uprisings and now the Occupy Wall Street movement.
I could add more and will, but jeeze what's going on?!?!? Is the material and social world reorganizing its own structure?
What led me down this path this morning was this thought by Jim Holt in a New York Times article:
"It is interesting to consider the Large Hadron Collider itself in this light. Here we have a gigantic and complex physical object that was consciously created by humans motivated by the desire to obtain, in Randall’s words, “a more comprehensive picture of the nature of reality.” But this physical object, like the scientists who planned it, ultimately just consists of elementary particles bumping around. It came together through interactions that, in principle at least, could be entirely accounted for by the laws of physics, without any reference at all to human will or purpose. Seen in this non-anthropocentric way, the Large Hadron Collider looks like the physical universe’s bid for a kind of self-awareness. Its existence is a sign that the laws of physics mandate their own discovery."
Hmmm...... now that's a leap. I would argue that these potentially inter-related phenomenon are not just a sign that the laws of physics mandate their own discovery, but mind itself does. Its as if mind is ultimately expressing its fundamental nature, that is, its limitless potential to be anything, everything and no-thing simultaneously.
mark
2. The advances in the material world like the one-atom-thick planar sheets of graphene transforming the thermo-mechanical-electro-conductive potential of everything from solar panels to cell phones to their use as anti-bacterial agents in preserving fresh food.
3. The exponential acceleration of technology itself. While speed and memory are what we think of most when considering this acceleration, I would now add adoption and connection. The speed that people can and are adopting technology like cell phones that allow them to connect to each other and to information is having impact in ways that are impossible to ignore.
4. This is being most dramatically expressed as the seemingly autonomous mass movements springing up around the world including the youth-led Mid-east and London uprisings and now the Occupy Wall Street movement.
I could add more and will, but jeeze what's going on?!?!? Is the material and social world reorganizing its own structure?
"It is interesting to consider the Large Hadron Collider itself in this light. Here we have a gigantic and complex physical object that was consciously created by humans motivated by the desire to obtain, in Randall’s words, “a more comprehensive picture of the nature of reality.” But this physical object, like the scientists who planned it, ultimately just consists of elementary particles bumping around. It came together through interactions that, in principle at least, could be entirely accounted for by the laws of physics, without any reference at all to human will or purpose. Seen in this non-anthropocentric way, the Large Hadron Collider looks like the physical universe’s bid for a kind of self-awareness. Its existence is a sign that the laws of physics mandate their own discovery."
Hmmm...... now that's a leap. I would argue that these potentially inter-related phenomenon are not just a sign that the laws of physics mandate their own discovery, but mind itself does. Its as if mind is ultimately expressing its fundamental nature, that is, its limitless potential to be anything, everything and no-thing simultaneously.
mark
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
occupy israel - hub tel aviv
Hub Tel Aviv: “The Athens square brought back to life”
Text by Imke Musterd
The winds of change that are blowing in the Middle East are not leaving Israel unaffected. The Hub Tel Aviv community is taking an active part in shaping the movement. Members started a process that encouraged the protest movement to shift onto the trail of dialogue: in 40 cities all over Israel, 10.000 people assembled around 1000 tables discussing where their society should go and what they can do to bring it about.
Here’s a story on how The Hub’s vision and practices can make a difference. A real-life tale on the importance of hosting, the power of co-creation and the need for new leadership.
As Danny Gal, founder of Hub Tel Aviv, puts it: “In Israel the crowd is out in the street at last, after years of deep sleep. The protest is not against anything (cost of living etc.) as reported by the news. The protest is FOR something: for solidarity, connection, freedom. I believe it is the same in every country the protest exists. This is a new era in which more and more people understand that we are connected much beyond what Facebook can offer.
I believe we are watching a new kind of democracy being shaped. The democracy in which the focus and emphasis is on the basic right of everyone to be free not only to voice his/her concern but also to initiate and lead the moves needed for a better world. This is exactly in line with our little movement at the Hub and I am proud to be part of it”.
Incubation
No story without context, no impact without the right timing: different developments coming together at a crossroads to generate a real shift. In this case, on the one hand people who are connected through the Art of Hosting, The Hub and related networks who know how to create a place where people are hosted in a safe way. On the other, a wider context that moves people to act – to take risks and follow their guts. And some defining moments in which people discover their own strength and take their destiny in their own hands.
This Summer, Daphne, a 24 year old student, gets kicked out of her apartment by her landlord and finds herself in the street. Angry, she puts up a tent in the main boulevard of Tel Aviv and takes residence there, right between the luxury shops. She posts her intentions on Facebook. People start visiting her. Hundreds of people, growing into thousands and overflowing into protests by ten thousand people and eventually reaching half a million. The atmosphere is respectful. There is no violence, people are listening to each other, sharing their pains and concerns.
At the Hub, members wonder what to do, how to relate to the movement. They decide to do what they are good at: setting up 4 round tables in the main boulevard inviting people to join for hosted conversation. Raising 3 questions: Who are you and what is touching you in this protest movement? What changes would you like to see as a rseult of this movement? What are the actions that you would be willing to take responsibility for in order to change the situation? For 3 weeks, every evening the tables are filling up. People are completely taken in and excited by the process, by the possibility to sit and listen and share their concerns with strangers. One evening, the discussion is devoted to the process: ‘How should we design the process from now on to move from a protest to a sustainable change?” The general feeling was: set up more circles! One idea being to create a main event and set up 1000 tables in the main square of Tel Aviv.
The Athens square brought back to life
Danny Gal immediately recognizes the potential of such an event and decides that the Hub will take leadership here. Documents are written, a team is formed, partners and media involved. The concept: a 1000 tables across the country, hosted by experienced facilitators, a laptop at each table to capture highlights at each table that are transmitted to a central editorial team and reflecting them back to the tables realtime. Making the nation-wide field tangible at each table: we are not alone but part of a huge exchange taking place all around us.
To realize it, a wide range of people and partners are involved. Mails are sent out to associations of organization developers, coaches, mediators to recruit professional hosts for the tables, familiar with group processes. Who knows how to have people open up and have a real conversation, to foster trust? As it turns out, people love to take part, they jump on the occasion offered. One of the keys of the success. Another one is to involve a professional producer to organize the main event: receiving 500 people in the city center is no small task, providing a space and a structure in which people feel in capable hands even more so. It is a professional operation. People lend their heads, hands and hearts.
Members from the Hub step forward to co-organise the main event in Tel Aviv. Outside of Tel Aviv the organization is left entirely to local leaders: 2 weeks before the event a mail is sent to recruit site leaders and coordinators. Again, massive response. 40 more cities and villages participate. A Hub coordinator ‘coordinates the coordinators’, providing them with site requirements, instructions on how to set up the rest, etc.
On Saturday September 10, 8 pm, the stage is set. 50 tables in the Tel Aviv main square, a big stage, sound system, projectors and screens, and people flooding in.
In Danny’s own words, the day after: “Amazing experience of collective wisdom and a call for wake up and social action and innovation. I am still full of adrenaline and can’t fully grasp. It was amazing to hear the productive silence of 5000 people in Tel Aviv discussing the future of our country. We could not believe when we saw how many people said YES to our invitation to be part the co-creation of the future of a democratic and just Israel. For many people it was a first experience in such a dialogue and it was an eye opener. The social technologies from the World Cafe, Open Space, Circle practice and others was now the platform to enable this miracle”.
Into the future
As we speak, follow-up initiatives are being started and platforms set up to support ongoing engagement and co-creation. Raw materials are offered in an open source manner so that anyone can access it and take it further. An online initiative market is opened up where people can connect in a more specific context. Thoughts are shared on Twitter and Facebook. Further circles are being set up in city neighbourhoods. Where will this lead to? Just wait and see.
What is certain is that this event does not stand alone. Rising out of the Middle East protest movements, elsewhere this vibe is being picked up as well. Art of Hosting practitioner Maria Bakari interviewed Danny Gal (providing in large part the information for this post) to spread the story. She lives in Greece and investigates how this process may translate to the Greek situation. Anis from Hub Brussels tells us about a similar initiative in Belgium to discuss the political future of Belgium. Hub Oaxaca in Mexico too. In the UK I hear about Deep Democracy processes being set up in response to the recent riots. And so on. When the time is there, let’s make sure we are ready in Holland too!
References
- The whole interview by Maria Bakari with Danny Gal, offering a lot of practical information on how the event developed, how it was set up, main success factors, hints and tips: http://soundcloud.com/bakari-1-1/rec-dannygal-14-sep-2011-09-03
- Direct impressions, pictures and highlights from the table discussions on the Daily Kos blog: http://goo.gl/ohkcf
- Facebook group We Dare to Care engaging coaches and facilitators to develop constructive responses to the UK riots:http://www.facebook.com/groups/200914716605833/
- Link to the Belgian initiative: http://www.g1000.org
occupy wall street - doug rushkoff
if you want to understand what's going on with this movement and other internet fueled emergent movements like this... listen to my friend doug...
his accompanying article at cnn here.
mark
his accompanying article at cnn here.
mark
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Oaxaca Forum on Social Innovation
Culture & Design as a Social Entrepreneur
Oaxaca, Mexico Nov 2-5, 2011
Come join the growing group of brilliant people attending the Oaxaca Forum on Social Innovation, including:
Paula Moreno Zapata, Former Columbian Minister of Culture, Lucina Jimenez (ConArte), Cheryl Heller (PopTech & SVA Design for Social Innovation), Rodrigo Villar (Director New Ventures Mexico), Hernan Fernandez (Angel Ventures Mexico), Tony Carr (Halloran Philanthropies), Nick Kislinger and Elizabeth Stewart (Hub Los Angles), Saul Fuentes (Director CORAL Oaxaca), Daryn Dodson (Calvert) Javier Lozano (Clinicas del Azucar, Luis Duarte (YoReciclo), Michael Cox (Hub Cities), and more....
What's it all about: Social entrepreneurship and innovation as a catalyst for local economies. Contemporary strategies for achieving well being by design. Creative interventions that engage with community. Ideas and knowhow that drive social enterprises to create the world we all want.
Who should attend: Social entrepreneurs and impact investors seeking new ways to start and/or support social initiatives in emerging regions; Designers, social architects and others looking for inspiration and guidance in building social movements that inspire change from the grass roots up; Analysts and consultants who want to explore new ways to develop productive projects with high social impact, particularly in the Latin American context. (Forum in both Spanish & English)
Partnering Organizations: Performing Pictures & The Euroaxacan Inititative for Transformative Cultures, SVA Design for Social Innovation, Next Plays, Con-Arte, New Ventures, Comunicacíon Lateral & Creative Industries Conference, Colibri Consulting and more to be announced.
Check out the video recap from last year!!
Sponsor Halloran Philanthropies and others TBA
Music by La China Sonidera
Tentative agenda:
November 2: Mentors Meet Entrepreneurs
November 3: Site Visits, Opening Keynote & Reception
November 4: Culture & Design As A Social Tool
November 5: Centers of Culture
Logistics and Program Fees:
Early bird registration $350 by Oct 15; Regular registration $395
Some partial and full scholarships availalable.
Access to conference, cultural events and workshops
Transportation to all events and activities
Lunches, Dinners and cocktails mentioned in the program above
Bilingual Hosts and Guides. Forum in both Spanish & English
Payment instructions and more details to follow.
Lodging is NOT included
More about Day of the Dead here.
VERY IMPORTANT:
The selected dates for this program were chosen to coincide with Oaxaca’s greatest cultural celebration. The Day of the Dead runs from October 30 to November 2nd. Therefore availability of Hotel rooms is very limited. We have blocked rooms in different hotels with different price ranges but these will go VERY fast. Family stays are also available. Please confirm your participation so we can help guide you in making reservations. Send email to cath_kumar@hotmail.com
Let us know if we can help with your planning!
mark beam
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