A Logic Name Joe

Out of all of the readings in this class, this has been the most enjoyable for me! (And I have thoroughly enjoyed reading “The World is Flat”.)  It is almost a stupid statement to say, the world is not the same as it was 5 years ago because it is quite apparent when we read about the lack of Google, Microsoft Word, and printers to name a few in previous generations. However, there are many factors that play into the idea of a changed world.  For the younger generation all we have ever known is technology.  We have had answers at our fingertips (and because of the easiness of getting responses, laziness has set in and we cease to seek, we just accept what we have been given.)  Factors that play into the world’s constant change are many; in the short story, “A Logic Named Joe” many of these factors are presented and the change that comes from them is quite humorous.

            The first 5 paragraphs of the story were ironically confusing.  I had a difficult time understanding just what the logic was that ‘Ducky’ was talking about.  The feeling of not understanding and being in somewhat of a fog is, I am sure, quite relatable to individuals who are not as familiar with computers.  They are machines that function and can complete certain tasks, but to get it to turn on is even a feat they are unwilling to learn and try.  It is a mystery as to what it really is and what it can accomplish-this is how I began feeling toward logic.   But as I read on I realized logic was actually a computer.  The logic, or Joe, as he now refers to him, has humanly attributes in Ducky’s mind.  Joe can think independently and is more intelligent than the average man…by far. 

            The importance of this concept of a computer having humanly attributes comes because of the way we treat our technology today.  To many adults and teens a cell phone receives more of our attention than literal human beings whom we can actually connect to, if we simply spend time with them.  After pondering on this idea I began realizing technology is so important to us because it seems to understand our problems, but never informs us of our weaknesses and never gives us specific instructions.  It doesn’t get offended if we fail to perform a duty. In short, it will listen to every bit of us, but we only have to listen to it as much as we desire.  The problem is, when we do listen to its responses, the answers are so logical that one of two things happens:  we don’t do it because it’s too easy, or it’s irrational, both ending in not accomplishing anything.  Granted, this is not the only outcome, there are many tasks accomplished successfully because of computer’s answers to problems, but that is because another human (most commonly unknown to the inquirer) attached it to the Internet. 

            Another irony in the history of Joe was his ability to entertain both adults and children.  The Korlanovitch children are the perfect example of how young minds are able to grasp technology quickly.  They used Joe to watch their favorite movie whenever they had a free moment.  When the children weren’t occupying Joe, the parents used him to find answers to the deepest questions of their souls; including, neighborhood gossip, how to get rich, etc.  The realization of a computer’s vast ability to entertain and provide a different life-style is the greatest theme of the story.  Whether it is a better life-style is up to the reader.  How the technology is used also plays a major factor.  Suddenly security and safety are at risk due to information availability.  Children have answers to any question they may have, and it may be researched in such privacy that trouble is bound to happen.  However, the positives of its vast amount of information outweigh the negatives.  Too much education and connection between individuals can be made to even think about removing the great robot, who some call Joe. 

Unit 9

            The process used today to make a Dell Computer came as quite a shock to me when I first read it.   Not only are multiple countries involved in each individual part that goes into the complex machine, but also they are all collaborating on a seemingly minute-to-minute basis to “make just-in-time deliveries of goods and services…(Friedman 587)” Once an order is placed Dell sends the order specifics to one of its suppliers. (They have multiple suppliers simply for backup, so they are never telling a customer they cannot meet their demands.)  Once their orders are sent within a few short hours parts are delivered and the computers can then be pieced together.  Once it is one whole component the programs recommended by the buyer are loaded onto the computer, and it is finally shipped off for final delivery.  Needless to say the process of making a Dell laptop is the perfect example of how flat the world really has become.  Pieces of each country are shipped to a common destination (because of the new ways of simple, easy communication) and combined to make a wonderful machine, which will allow more opportunity to communicate and flatten the world out: one Dell laptop at a time. 

Al-Qaeda:  I find it difficult to relate to a country such as Al-Qaeda.  From this week’s reading I have come to learn that the only way to gain an understanding of the culture and the people there is to think of the opposite of America.  I say this for many reasons, however, mainly because we have freedom of thought and their minds are behind bars; this seems to bring them comfort because that is all they have ever known.  They have no opportunity to freely create new ideas and interpret literature, art, and other means of communication because their government is so afraid if their people have the ability to get outside of the box they will be overpowered.  Their culture is such that new ideas are unwelcome.  They strive to live in the 17^th century while everyone around them has progressed forward at such a staggering rate; the only way to live is by depending on others new ideas, just what al-Qaeda has been avoiding, for its citizens anyways.  The rulers of al-Qaeda have creepily manipulated the concept of supply chaining.  They “use the Internet-not only for easy, cheap, global command and control but, even more important, as a global megaphone to radiate ideas (Friedman 598).”  The fear they have placed in Americans alone has come solely from their use of the Internet.  The videos, images, and messages they post are full of threats and disturbing scenes.  What was once simply entertainment you could find only in a movie theater is now real-life news media coming to us live from unsettling networks such as al-Qaeda. 

If you ponder the true, deeper purpose of government it would be to provide a better life for the people-this notion comes from the mind of a citizen.  From a govern mentalist it would simply be to provide life for the people.  Not necessarily ‘better’ life, just life.  In order to fulfill their purpose, from their perspective, all they need to do is create jobs.  Rather than using the natural talents of the citizens, they use the natural resources they have been given.  This doesn’t sound too bad until we realize that, “(t)hey can use oil money to monopolize all the instruments of power-army, police, and intelligence-and never have to introduce real transparency or power sharing.”  Whenever there is no pressure to innovate there is no development.  Just as a group of seventh-graders would play outside at recess all day if they were not pressured by a teacher to stay in and develop their young minds, communities that are not challenged to meet the demands of a developing world would simply do the same old jobs they were required to do since they were teenagers.  Where there is challenge there is growth, and where there is growth there is success.   

Technology Through the Schooling Years

              It is difficult to pinpoint a specific moment in my life that computers and technology have impacted my education. Every moment of my schooling has been impacted by a computer program, grading system, or an app. It is however, more clear to decipher how technology has changed throughout the years as I have gone to school. From kindergarten to my sophomore year of college many advancements have occurred. 
              My first experiences in elementary school dealing with technology started in the computer lab: keyboarding. Cardboard boxes were placed over our little hands (so we couldn't peek) as we typed the letters that appeared on the screen. Granted, the programs used were quite underdeveloped, but to inexperienced minds such as ours, it was the most exciting hour of the whole day! Little did I know the hours spent learning the keyboard would benefit my education, and later career, for years to come. 
              My next major experience dealing with computers came a few years later in middle school when I began writing my first few papers for English class. It seems like such a simple concept to anyone who has grown up knowing the process of printing a document. However, to create something on a computer and then to hold it physically in your hands moments later is a remarkable invention! This is the process I went through for every English assignment I was given from then on. Later in high school this became a much more common practice. Due to the ability to save documents to the computer I could take my draft to AP English class, have a fellow classmate scribble over it so I could take it home, make corrections to it, and turn it in the next day. 
              Now that I am in college, advanced research projects are the norm and using the Internet is not only the most effective method, but it the ONLY method to research topics and create a final project.  My first semester of college I faced a new challenge: memorizing vast amounts of information in a single week, consecutively, for nearly fifteen weeks. I knew it was possible, but only with the correct resources. Soon after the semester began I found an app that allowed me to make electronic flash cards. Whenever I had a moment I could take my phone out, which is constantly attached to our sides today, and study the flash cards for my upcoming test.  Not only were the cards saved to my iPhone, but   I have also found it helpful and efficient to record in-class lectures and re listen to them at convenient times throughout the day. 
              To be a college student means you either become competent in computer usage or... well there is no other option! For example, in order for me to turn in this assignment on time I used my iPhone to type up the document and post it to a blog. Every step of this assignment involves technology. 
              It is difficult to comprehend how a single individual was educated 30 years ago. It involved library books, scratch paper, pencils, and typewriters. Without technology, I feel my form of education would be very limited and a slow process. Today there is no excuse for students who need to learn about life in Zimbabwe, or how to determine the amount of calcium in blood. The resources are unlimited and can be found nearly everywhere we go. 

Comparative Advantage: Individuality

Some countries are better at doing things than other countries; true.  Why? Because countries are composed of individuals.  Individuals have their own talents, skills, weaknesses, and strengths.  When you combine all of these elements together, what do you get?  A sum total of every angle of every individual combined.  This leaves the country with its own overall total of talents, skills, weaknesses, and strengths.  We have all experienced a change within ourselves because of the influence of another individual whom we are closely associated with- whether it be a neighbor, friend, or especially family member.  This is how a culture is formed.  A group of people slowly meshes together and becomes quite similar.  Granted, they are still individuals and remain distinct, but when looked at as an overall whole it is easy to decipher what talents and skills they have.  In the case of Friedman’s “The World is Flat” he frankly states that, “every region of the world has its strengths and weaknesses…(Friedman 412).” 

What an interesting principle to try to understand!  Every country contributes to the growth and development of the world in its technical advancements, ideology, medicine/health improvements and findings, education, and so forth.  Because of each country’s “specialties” we can all benefit.  However, it is also easy to discern the weaknesses of each country as well (we have become quite good at it, sadly).   When we focus on the strengths and resources we each have (just as we are taught in our homes as individuals) everyone prospers. 

The next major issue that has come from the flattening of the world is whether or not globalization equals Americanization.  There are, as always two sides to the debate.  Many have feared that because America has such a large influence on the rest of the world that rather than being distinct, as talked about before, we would all slowly morph into one mass American-influenced society.  What a boring, unproductive, and unsuccessful world we would live in if this were the case!

However, many fail to observe the positive influence the Internet has on this issue.  The ability to upload presents the opportunity for individuals all around the world to share their culture-meaning their “native dress, native cuisine, native music, and extended family-all the things that make up a native culture (Friedman 479).”  I have just recently begun noticing the American style change towards more European and even Indian styles! Culottes, a very Indian-based style of pant has become quite popular.  Not quite as recent are the European recipes that are extremely posh.  There are many examples of the positive effects globalization has had on the world, and it has not meant in any form that Americanization has been the result.  These styles, recipes, etc. have been a direct result of individuals placing their culture on the web where anyone and everyone can learn and then apply them into their own lives, halfway across the world. 

After studying this section my understanding of self-directed consumers is that when one sees a need, they fill the need.  If a product is not created or ones’ way of life is not ‘up to par’ they do something about it.  This is the world we live in today, hard work and imagination truly do get you places and what is even greater are the resources available today to provide entrepreneurship.  I would not consider myself a self-directed consumer.  I often see needs, but do not even scratch the surface of all that is available literally at my fingertips.  However, this book has begun helping me change towards becoming a self-directed entrepreneur.  If the opportunity to improve life is available, do it!

Free Trade and the New Middler

Free Trade, according to New Oxford American Dictionary, is “international trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions”.  What a brilliant concept!  It came as quite the surprise to me to learn that there were actual products that could be and actually are purchased between countries that have no added amount (tariffs) attached to it.  Of course there are benefits to having free trade and there are drawbacks as well.  It simply depends on which side of the trade you are on, and in all honesty, whether or not you live in America.  Free trade allows us to exchange product for the value that it is at, and sell it as such.  Whenever we place barriers between us and other countries, no good ever comes of it.  There are products and designs that would take us years to think up, whereas other countries create it in a few short months; and vice versa. 

The basic concept of a sports team applies well to the concept of free trade.  If a team member were willing to give more than they take, they would be considered a ‘team player’.  Even if a team member practices for hours every day to improve their game but isolate himself or herself when practicing with the team and refuse to depend upon others’ skills, they will contribute nothing to the game they are so fond of.  So it is with Free Trade.  Every individual has the capacity to donate something to the world.  If they are unwilling to share, or those receiving are unwilling to receive all due to minute and insignificant details, (usually as a result of selfishness and greed) the world would not progress.  We would be stagnant, and so would every other continent on the planet.  The moment we begin trading amongst one another and do it freely, we progress and ideas build upon others’ ideas. 

However, this brings us to another point that could be a downside to the concept of Free Trade.  When jobs are being sent from the United States to other countries to be more efficient, suddenly the United States’ economy suffers; jobs are lost, and people no longer have the ability to contribute.  There are many more perspectives and angles that ought to be looked at when considering Free Trade.  All in all, the ability to trade freely between countries and share ideas is beneficial to nearly everyone involved. 

As previously discussed, Globalization can be broken down into 3 parts : Globalization 1, 2 and 3.  In Globalization 1 “countries had to think globally”, then in 2, “companies had to think globally”, and in 3, “individuals had to think globally” (Friedman 278).  Simply put, individuals have to be concerned more with themselves and their fitting into the world (not just their family or community) now.  In order to fit in and thrive they must find the new middle.  To continue doing what ‘old timers’ have always done will bring little to no success.  New middlers include ‘The Untouchables’ and ‘The Greats’.  Untouchable persons are those whose jobs are nearly forever secure.  They have the prime situation-they are the heads of businesses and the famous individuals we hear about in the news.  ‘The Greats’ are individuals who succeed in their area of expertise simply because of their talents and drive.  In order to ever feel secure globally it would be wise to become one of these individuals.  Getting there is quite the feat though. 

The equation CQ+PQ=IQ would be of great benefit for anyone striving to feel the security previously talked about.  CQ (curiosity quotient) and PQ (passion quotient) are more important to society today than IQ.  If a child has curiosity and passion, they can accomplish nearly anything they put their mind to.  My husband is the perfect example of this.  While driving in the car he speaks of nearly anything and everything we are passing by, things that, to a ‘regular’ person, would be quite boring.  It is truly a talent to turn something that seems common in the world into something fascinating and fantastic.  Desire and curiosity are main players in the rising generation’s success; they require diligence and hard work.  In a flat world, those two qualities are becoming more costly than gold.