London is the capital of Twitter

It seems to me many of the questions were a bit dis-connected from actual action on the Twitter social medium... It's fun to learn London "is the capital of Twitter"... imagine what this could be like with the Olympic Games! Who knows what other wonderful tools we me have in 2012? Thanks UK TechCrunch for bringing this up. The link on YouTube.

Transcript for students coming soon. Stay tuned! ... the post on UKTechCrunch also quotes the best.

On social networks and information

Social Networks as Information Filters

View more documents from Lee Bryant.

Presentation via @leebryant ... quote from the Headshift Blog: go there to read-learn more!

"The affordances of social web allow us to build a new relationship with each other and with information. New forms of media consumption and architecture of participation hold important implications for information management:" via #RebootBritain event ongoing flows on the web :)

Mind Blowing Thinking Tools

Another example of what is going on across borders ... superseding traditional media filters, traditional education restrictions and limitations, and a lot more... learning with new tools... in action: the E-Learning Journeys, by Julie Lindsay.

Changes in educational tools (a.k.a to some of us as "thinking tools" ) can get messy: we know how to institutionalize things all right building gigantic structures involving many rules, but we seldom have a smooth process to assess needed changes nor do we have the means, to implement them smoothly. Cultural changes whatever they may be... tend to disturb on-going routines that make us feel safe (even when an announced tsunami is bound to happen...).

Interesting notes from the 5th Episode of the ISTE Eduverse Talks.... go watch!). Listen to the story of the kids in the rural school (US but we could extend this to any other place), informing their teacher that according to their very real conversations with kids from other places they didn't know (and will probably never visit but now they have the means to get to know via interactive social media platforms...), some of the information provided by the traditional media and printed matter they were studying... wasn't .. how can we put this... accurate? ... to-date ... properly informed?

Components to think about: the infrastructure to enable this, acting leaders like Julie to show & educate the way letting others go do..., respect for dissent and learning from others across conversation (usual filters), the will, the space and time but also the tools to allow creativity in the classroom, the patience to learn from growing the learning experience by seeding the rules and coaching the learning process throughout the many mistakes that will inform the learning...

Furthermore we need to learn how to "grow" the freedom of mind to allow learners to explore and develop their own paths and ways to achieve given milestones... above all: listen... like Julie does... meaning: really pay attention to whatever the findings may be. If you don't listen and pay attention to your students... don't expect them to pay attention to you. If you play the game of heteronomy, don't expect responsibility and autonomy ... which game do you really want to play?

Heinz von Foerster informed meme with a slight variation: if you want to learn and know more... learn how to act... learn how to learn and which tools you need to explore ...and adjust. He defined cognitive homeostasis as stable realit(ies) recursively informed by certain "thinking paths". Put in simpler terms, heteronomous re-enforcing structures demand that we generate a great Spanish tortilla ... without allowing anyone... to break any eggs.

Are any of the current Bologna informed (and misinformed) rumblings in the Spanish educational system, even aware of any of this?... do they even know what is at stake? ...are we paying attention to the digitally informed generations that will have to live throughout whichever cathedral of given rules we decide to change or NOT change locally speaking? I don't think so.

Multiplicity of Re-cognition Evolving Systems

Wired brings this interview posted April 8, 2009. Tim O'Reilly founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media Inc. discusses much more than "the origins of Web2.0 and the rise of Twitter..." during his conversation with Fora.tv CEO Blaise Zerega on April 2, 2009 in San Francisco.

To cite some:

• We're moving into a more sensory-like evolution process involving humans and machines,... "starting to build hybrid human-computing machine as a sub-text of Web2.0".
• Companies that survived the previous crash: invited their customers (to contribute) to make the company better. (focus on Amazon.com)
• Google as a collective intel: the people point to a page and then Google elevates it... We are all contributing to Google every time we create web content. They are figuring their ad options in real time... measuring what people click on.

• There may be a revolution coming in business, when you see what Google does when it gets (new) information: Google has to adjust the algorithms all the time, so it's not about people taking in lots of data and making decisions but with figuring what's been mixed and changing algorithms.
• Imagine what happens when your supply chain is driven by sensors... voters ideas... we are starting to build autonomic systems, that respond automatically to stimuli...
• The vision of Web2.0 is learning to recognize things by accumulating content and analyzing it with new tools. Everything in Web2.0 was implicit in what Tim Berners-Lee originally designed.

• We are teaching machines to do recognition ... speech recognition, visual recognition.... we're are getting to that kind of augmented reality when our computers will have sensors that might be even be better than our own recognition senses. Google is developing "an ear" to recognize speech data and provide users what they are looking for utilizing their location and info they have on nearest places and data.
• Sub-systems that give you access to data bases in the cloud, constructed by human aggregated data: crowd sourced.

• It may not be about a single "new new thing" or that we might notice it right away... but he does highlight Twitter as a distinctive new thing: "it's brought real time to a new peak on the web".
• Modularity is one of the things we are learning from Twitter Vs a world with info delay, or a narrative that has to change altogether every time an element within changes. Revision controls for collaboration at scale must be improved.

• No need for a catalogue book on the Web... that book would be the World Wide Web.
• We don't wear name tags in everyday life to recognize people we've seen before. Our computers are getting best at recognizing context in order to perform better sensory induced recognition.
• It's not just about tools but about learning how to use tools better. We are changing our machines and they are changing us. We have always adapted to our artifacts. We use memory very differently in our different evolutionary stages. People thought only a couple hundred years ago that people who could read without moving their lips were... strange.

Franz Kafka International Airport

Prague's Franz Kafka International Named World's Most Alienating Airport

Via Onion News Network, as informative as usual.

Don't miss the tele text...

"If you only make certain to properly follow proper protocols... "

Sounds like bureaucracy in the University of ..., you know where.

Edited April 6th, to add:

Some gifts to check how alert we were on April 1st.:

• New Products (Kinda) courtesy of The New York Times.
• GMAIL on Autopilot by CADIE. (we loved this one :)

And lessons learned (Courtesy of Slideshare):

• Don't mess with statistics. (they must've done something right, they got my attention for say... 5 minutes ;-)

Wordled Trends by Leo Burnett Gp

Trend Predictions Report 2009 by Leo Burnett Group via YouTube also provides the text ... not an exact transcript, but it does offer their "piece of mind".

Maybe the tone could be improved, yet the fact that they sort of wordle all of it makes it funny and easy to follow.

Economic conditions have been affecting our cultural context for a long time now, we don't think there is anything "new" in this... it's just about awareness and it depends on the type of business and industry we are talking about.

We cannot but welcome a quest for more value reflection and reassessment: "what is truly meaningful to us", together with more "pragmatism and prudence". Funny that they are now highlighting values that were present at the origin of virtual communities and web environments: "organizations that show they are going the extra mile for people" ... to be developed now somewhat reluctantly by constituents and allies of (former reputed) traditional players in certain markets. Just check which companies are still doing well and are better prepared to surf the dire straits into the future.

Technology and Magic Wands (V.08)

Vía Bryan Alexander
Bryan distinguished this quoting the blog Tarina: Teemu Arina's reflections on networked learning, knowledge and collaboration in organizations. And I went on to read more:

"The future of mobile phones is perhaps... not a mobile phone at all, but rather a contextually aware and active mobile magic wand. (...) It's a wand, I tell you. (...) It´s going to combine cloud computing, augmented reality and the internet of things in a meaningful way."
(Teemu Arina, June 30th, 2008, on the history of mobile phones... Go read his blog!)

Plus this wonderfully illustrative comment to Teemu Arina's post:

| View | Upload your own

The origins of science involved the activities of alchemists and magicians, as much as the entertainment/funding practices of the time. In the early days of scientific practice, research with mechanical devices and other gadgets, frequently took place on stage. Science has evolved as institutionalized practice -in most regions so to say, and in a somewhat "flat world" we marvel with technology innovation and gadgets giving way to "discovery rituals" and cults that prevail in time.

In the the times of Houdini's "challenging the locks and chains to escape the barriers that constraint him" it attracted masses watching and maybe also dreaming about breaking their own chains... whatever those may have been. I like the way the two creative and informed mix&mash works above reflect relations with humans and the mystifying techno-objects we design ... the (techno) cultural practices and quest for something "magic" we sustain.

"Yes, we can"

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton with a cool new smile, and words that are making history.
Clip: Obama'08 @YouTube ... (It's Hillary's day)
I don't like the CNN banner at all, I prefer: Hillary Clinton Endorses Barack Obama.

And if you want some hints regarding the outcome, here is the approach of an open-ed at The New York Times. But better still, listen carefully and observe the following clip, in particular his reference to Senators Rodham Clinton and John McCain.


Clip: Barack Obama Site

Given the final outcome with Senator Rodham Clinton endorsing Senator Barack Obama's "Yes, we can" , the result of such a long campaign is positive. A Spanish student recently said: " Did you know that for many people here, the only two contestants in the US appear to be Clinton and Obama?". I thought he was kidding, he wasn't. Senator John McCain had almost vanished from the media, though he's coming back to headlines lately.

What do we know about Senator John McCain? We know that some mix and mash "participatory media planet" authors are making fun of some of his statements, for instance the one on delivering "bottle hot water to dehydrated babies ... which was probably taken out of context, but still, I wonder. We have learned that he has a hero service record not only for resisting torture in Nam, but also for refusing to accept privileges for his father was in a top position in the Navy, but he preferred to wait his turn amongst others to be sent back home. Then the usual highlights, already in politics, he married into a wealthy business family and went on to become a "maverick" republican who also wrote a book -made movie: Faith of My Fathers. Wot! no faith in Thy Mothers?? Gee, same with Barack Obama's first book: Dreams from My Father.

Now seriously, McCain displays evolution regarding his early days in line with Reagan and lobbying and business matters that led to an investigation. One of his top aides, is Carly Fiorina who according to the NYtimes- could be using the campaign to rebuild her image after leaving HP in the midst of internal issues that made the headlines. Come on you guys! would you say that if it were a guy??

Now have a go at this Business Week interview in March 2008, on why she backs John McCain. If we creatively apply now some of her words then, we may explain the "water bottles" phrase that has become so popular according to the YouTube nbr. of downloads:

"There has been some talk that after misspeaking about Iran and al Qaeda, Senator McCain is losing his edge. Would you say he's on top of his game right now?

Anyone who has spent any time around him knows that this is a man of great intellect, great curiosity. He understands the issues. But it's also fair to say that this is an exhausting process. Sometimes people get a little tired and misspeak, particularly when they're jet-lagged. But nobody needs to worry about his edge, his mental edge or his physical stamina." (Carly Fiorina, 03/2008)

Sure, but would you give such a person today, the authority that a US president has at large? Having learned what US presidents can do when becoming say... a bit emotional? (invade countries for the WRONG reasons misreading proof?) I wonder. Plus we have this. Then checking the strategy of the McCain team, I hear: "economy will be, the battleground in this year's election". Ouch, tough call for republicans today if we observe the mess they're in right now. This clip states however that as a candidate, he "overperforms by wide margin...") see min 04.:43. I don't think so guys, if you look for a minute at the widget I planted on the right side of this blog!

Stand by...

Awake in Sardinero
Originally uploaded by MarquiBeck

News update since the last Twitt(encounter) in Asturias: encuentro Twittero de Asturias in Oviedo last April:

* first public examination as teacher oposición past! in Spain (system org deserving another post, soon in Sistemas en Blog).
* 4th year anniversary as free-lance instructor and conversation coach (becoming sustainable!) and yes, it's much better in the north and split between regions.
* nill activity in Flickr for it won't stop raining!!!
* rain taking care of my state-of-the-daily-fumes ... usual "bitching" about pollution in the region and other smog related...
* summer is around the corner and I'm booked almost till August!!! (free-lance & self-employed know this means: celebrating)
* Hacienda: income tax done! And decent accounting pro found and hired. Hope to get btr deal than last year: shock when moving here from Cataluña learning the tough way that in Asturias, officers get a %bonus for limiting our returns... You thought administration served us the citizens? Ha!! Self-employed don't get the support the employed get with Tax, digital Padre program (paternalismus dixit) discriminates non-windows' users and design sucks! They also discriminate free-lance instructors, in relation to show business free-lancers, who get a better deal. The latter can deduct all costs if directly related (travel, gas expenses), we depend on the officer's moods, lot's of arguing and a formal complaint. Should we Lobby? They invite you to upgrade to full enterprise -bureaucracy fees for initial paperwork only, around 1200€ . Confirmed by Oviedo Chamber of Commerce, leading to many other expenditures, consulting, tax % and VAT increase, etc. etc. Believe this system was designed for Spain pre-labor flexibility plans ... right?
* on TwittAstur -group version, seems it will remain as "encounter" status only, we're all too busy to "walk the talk", and it's now final exams' time. Hoping there might be another kedada/gathering soon. The TwittAstur gang, has a lot to share and infoloop.... Stay tuned!

Community Dimensions of the Media

Via Twitter DigitalNatives to an informative debate on Identity and Privacy: Berkman Center Live Webcast, to a hillarious presentation by Ethan Zuckerman: Beyond Broadcast: Reinventing Public Media in a Participatory Culture. May 12 & 13, 2006, added in YouTube April 24, 2008.

Watch: "The Evolution of Digital Communities"


In the context of a recent TwitterAstur gathering where we debated "Web2.0" issues (oops.. the traditional media and scholars are finally aware ;-) IMO this creative-transformative human art by means of a videocast brings forth some of the human potential: "talking-to-one-another", generating and debating Commons and sharing different textual and visual narratives.

From Dis-enabling to Enabling

An International Psychology and Education Congress took place in Oviedo, Spain, this past week. The diversity of frameworks attempting to dialogue and debate was a very interesting experience to observe, according to the reports of some participants. Hopefully the planned integration of these two major areas of inquiry -if it does occur, might evolve into a different type of "learning organization". Think "win-win" you guys!! for a change...

At the same time, the now confirmed c h a n g e of Governance at the University of Oviedo following the electoral process, might bring forth not only new challenges (some change for starters) but also (hopefully) a bit more of an evolutionary learning context in the future.

Now back to check "what's up" in virtual planet following favorite authors, experts in "thinking tools" who actually "walk the talk", and evolutionary learning communities, that do exist and "insist", I came across this:


See: Howard Rheingold's Vlog
Yochai Benkler's web

Science, Politics and the Media

By way of the Exploratorium, I found this very informative talk excerpt of Speaking Science 2.0, given in May 2007 by Chris Mooney.



The other speaker who does not appear on this video, Matthew C. Nisbet focuses on the "intersections between science, media and politics", informing on the implications and uses of the concept of "framing", extensively on his Blog: Framing Science.

My line of work is far from politics and the media, but I do apply "re-framing" and constructive intervention in conversational practices: to enhance English language communication pragmatics and skills, operating with Spanish native speakers. I first learned about "re-framing" as a concept-frame/work applied in systems and cognitive sciences, observed it being applied with good results in family therapy and group dynamics, to facilitate cultural and generational change, and foster creativity, amongst other possibilities.

Going back to "Science, Politics and the Media" and with the coming elections in the US and in Spain, together with the ecological issues at stake, the above clip needs to be underscored, in order to generate awareness, demanding: "productive policy action". I live in Asturias region, where these days there is a "low profile" controversy on who is to blame for an oil slick along the Avilés estuary...with the local media seemingly more inclined towards the political controversy they are also "framing", while informing that "probably there will be no investigation outcomes". Understanding: -quote- "no serious legal responsibilities".

Last but not least: "Monkey see, Monkey do" on "Mirror Neurons" by Daniel Glaser, on the Nova Science Now-PBS archives from 2005.