Technology has effected people personally, internationally and economically in many different ways. The development of technology has reshaped the world personally, internationallyand economically. Freidman discusses the ten forces that flatten the world and its effects on us personally, internationally and economically.
First, Netscape (web browsers and search engines) have allowed many benefits including, increase in ability to communicate, increased competition, products to be put online, for people and businesses to shop online and made things cheaper online. Internationally, Netscape has improved the worlds ability to collaborate, allowing business, government, inventors, scientists and many others to work together. It has also made an easier connection internationally. Netscape has personally has allowed people to immediately connect to knowledge and research and expres their own views(uploading). Economically Netscape has providede a place for individuals and businesses to advertise and sell their goods/services and led to the invention of pay pal, which makes it easier for people to purchase goods and easier for people to take payment for their goods.
Secondly, technology has allowed people to upload to the internet. Internationally this has created a platform of collaboration for people around the world to plug and play, compete and connect on knowledge, start companies and invent and sell goods and services. It has also internationally allowed everyone everywhere to put information online or access other information and others opinion's. Personally it has allowed people to blog and add knowledge online which is acessable to the whole world and search for knowledge/information easily and independently. Economically uploading has allowed people to post reviews on products to help the sale of the product.
Thirdly, technology has created the ability to outsource. Economically outsourcing has made companies more competitive because they can produce cheaper goods. It also provides new jobs in other countries and has allowed educated people to stay in their own countries. Due to increased jobs/income in growing countries world markets have grown creating a larger group of people to sell products to.
Next, technology has increased off shoring, sending products away to be made. Economically off shoring has created new jobs in other countries and companies to compete to produce cheaper goods. Again creating larger world markets. Internationally off shoring brings jobs to poor places where there is a need of jobs so labor cost are less. Creating cheaper goods and services for consumers.
Technology has increased and improved supply chaining. Technology allows the tracking of products needed for better supply chaining. Economically supply chaining creates a world with cheaper goods and allows stores to better stock their goods that are wanted. Internationally supply chaining makes supplies and goods available in global markets.
Technology has increased insourcing. Economically insourcing created new mid level jobs in business jobs such as Fed Ex deliverers, also becoming asssemblers and repair men. Internationally in sourcing helps international companies provide better service for their customers. Personally in sourcing quickens and makes local repairing easier and more available.
Next, technology has allowed the in-forming of people all over the world. Economically in-forming advertises products and aided the development of pay pal. Informing has also created new jobs. For example Google hires mathematicians to work on algorithms to bring up the best websites first.
Finally, technology has created what Friedman calls the steroids. Personally the steroids have allowed you to have quick connection to knowledge, it allows you to share info, music and improved technology. The steroids also allows calls over the net cheaper and also they allow computers to connect with others who have a different language.
Overall, technology has allowed people personally, internationally and economically to connect, communicate, gain knowledge and buy and sell cheaper goods.
Monday, July 16, 2007
What is "convergence" as friedman describes it? Why is it importaint?
There are three pieces to convergence as Friedman describes it. They include the ten flatteners coming together, alligning businesses horizontally versus veritically and three billion people from arounf the world joining business production.
The first piece is the ten flatteners coming together to flatten the playing field for businesses. This created a new global platform for people to educate communicate, collaborate and work together. Friedman believes that these ten forces are now well established and working together like complimentary goods making a whole new global platform.
The second piece is businesses and individuals alligning horizontally not vertically. For example, H.P. demonstrates this with the consolidation of their supply chains. They had 87 different supply chains all with their own staff and administration, however they now have reduced to only five supply chains wiht one staff cpmleting tasks such as accounting, billing and human resources versus one for each supply chain. This also forces employees, companies and individuals to acquire new skills. Friedman discusses South West Arline e-ticket process and how this process had helped South West Airlines improve but not himself until he became educated to the e-ticket process and realized he could print his ticket at home saving himself time and South West Arlines the staff person to print the ticket.
The third piece to Friedman's convergence is three billion people from China, Russia, India, Eastern Europe and Latin America joining the business production world. For the most part these folks have not been competing with us before. It brings a huge number of people into the world market for competition of jobs, resources and products. Friedman feels that this is the most important piece of convergence. Convergence is very important because now innovation will come from all over the world not just America.
The first piece is the ten flatteners coming together to flatten the playing field for businesses. This created a new global platform for people to educate communicate, collaborate and work together. Friedman believes that these ten forces are now well established and working together like complimentary goods making a whole new global platform.
The second piece is businesses and individuals alligning horizontally not vertically. For example, H.P. demonstrates this with the consolidation of their supply chains. They had 87 different supply chains all with their own staff and administration, however they now have reduced to only five supply chains wiht one staff cpmleting tasks such as accounting, billing and human resources versus one for each supply chain. This also forces employees, companies and individuals to acquire new skills. Friedman discusses South West Arline e-ticket process and how this process had helped South West Airlines improve but not himself until he became educated to the e-ticket process and realized he could print his ticket at home saving himself time and South West Arlines the staff person to print the ticket.
The third piece to Friedman's convergence is three billion people from China, Russia, India, Eastern Europe and Latin America joining the business production world. For the most part these folks have not been competing with us before. It brings a huge number of people into the world market for competition of jobs, resources and products. Friedman feels that this is the most important piece of convergence. Convergence is very important because now innovation will come from all over the world not just America.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Once and Future King: Book One
Summary:
The sword in the stone was about a boy named Art, the second son of Sir Ector. Art goes on a quest in the forest Savage, to find a tutor. Art finds an old man named Merlyn who agrees to go home with Art and be his tutor. Merlyn stays for many years teaching Art by changing him into various animals, vegetables and minerals of which Art wanted to know about. Myrlyn also sends him on various quest all of different meaning. Word comes of the death of the King and a sword that is thrust through an anvil and stone. Upon this sword is the inscription, "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise King born of all England." Art is sent to retrieve Kay's sword when he finds the door to the hotel locked. Art then rides to the sword in the stone and pulls the sword from the stone. He brings the sword to Kay when Sir Ector notices what sword it is and demands Art to put the sword back in the stone and take it back out many times until he is declared king of all England.
Vocabulary-
Words I did not know:
Jerkin- a close-fitting hip-length usually sleeveless jacket
Astrolabe- An astrolabe is an instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects (like the sun) in the sky.
Melancholy- an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression
Rheumatism- any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue
Conglomerations
Scombre
Conundrum- a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun
Fritillaries
Anachronism- a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
Morosely- having a sullen and gloomy disposition
Imperceptibly- not perceptible by a sense or by the mind
These words i did not know what these words meant and had to look them up as I was reading. A few words I was unable to find the definitions for.
Words I found interesting:
Liddle
Measter
I found these words interesting because of there spelling.
Reaction and Reflection-
I have liked this book the most out of the books I have read this summer. I find it an easy and enjoyable read. I predict that if this book by TH White is anything like the packet assigned Arthur will grow to become a great king. I also predict that he will establish the round table with twelve knights, some of which he will like better then others. He will also fight many knights and go on many other quests and adventures. I also believe that many more characters will be introduced in the second book. So far I have found Merlyn and Arthur to be the characters I have liked. I like how Merlyn teaches Arthur, by sending him on various journeys, quests and also turning him into different animals. I like how Arthur is always willing to learn about nature and willing to go on the different quest and journeys that he is sent on. A character whom I did not like very much was Kay. Kay was always the one who would talk down to Arthur because Kay was the older son. Kay was also very self centered character, but without him being self centered Arthur may never have had a reason to pull the sword from the stone and become king. TH White's characters were not always realistic and made the book interesting and fun to read. This book by TH White is very similar to the beginning of Le Mort d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. The plot is very similar where Arthur is sent away to live with Sir Ector and spends his childhood with Sir Ector. Arthur then pulls the sword from the stone and becomes king. There are only slight differences in the technicalities of the story in the amount of time and the message on the Anvil is slightly different but has the same meaning. I hope that the plot and characters of the next three books in Once and Future King are as good as the first book.
The sword in the stone was about a boy named Art, the second son of Sir Ector. Art goes on a quest in the forest Savage, to find a tutor. Art finds an old man named Merlyn who agrees to go home with Art and be his tutor. Merlyn stays for many years teaching Art by changing him into various animals, vegetables and minerals of which Art wanted to know about. Myrlyn also sends him on various quest all of different meaning. Word comes of the death of the King and a sword that is thrust through an anvil and stone. Upon this sword is the inscription, "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise King born of all England." Art is sent to retrieve Kay's sword when he finds the door to the hotel locked. Art then rides to the sword in the stone and pulls the sword from the stone. He brings the sword to Kay when Sir Ector notices what sword it is and demands Art to put the sword back in the stone and take it back out many times until he is declared king of all England.
Vocabulary-
Words I did not know:
Jerkin- a close-fitting hip-length usually sleeveless jacket
Astrolabe- An astrolabe is an instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects (like the sun) in the sky.
Melancholy- an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression
Rheumatism- any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue
Conglomerations
Scombre
Conundrum- a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun
Fritillaries
Anachronism- a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
Morosely- having a sullen and gloomy disposition
Imperceptibly- not perceptible by a sense or by the mind
These words i did not know what these words meant and had to look them up as I was reading. A few words I was unable to find the definitions for.
Words I found interesting:
Liddle
Measter
I found these words interesting because of there spelling.
Reaction and Reflection-
I have liked this book the most out of the books I have read this summer. I find it an easy and enjoyable read. I predict that if this book by TH White is anything like the packet assigned Arthur will grow to become a great king. I also predict that he will establish the round table with twelve knights, some of which he will like better then others. He will also fight many knights and go on many other quests and adventures. I also believe that many more characters will be introduced in the second book. So far I have found Merlyn and Arthur to be the characters I have liked. I like how Merlyn teaches Arthur, by sending him on various journeys, quests and also turning him into different animals. I like how Arthur is always willing to learn about nature and willing to go on the different quest and journeys that he is sent on. A character whom I did not like very much was Kay. Kay was always the one who would talk down to Arthur because Kay was the older son. Kay was also very self centered character, but without him being self centered Arthur may never have had a reason to pull the sword from the stone and become king. TH White's characters were not always realistic and made the book interesting and fun to read. This book by TH White is very similar to the beginning of Le Mort d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. The plot is very similar where Arthur is sent away to live with Sir Ector and spends his childhood with Sir Ector. Arthur then pulls the sword from the stone and becomes king. There are only slight differences in the technicalities of the story in the amount of time and the message on the Anvil is slightly different but has the same meaning. I hope that the plot and characters of the next three books in Once and Future King are as good as the first book.
Le Mort d'Arthur
Summary-
The first few pages of Le Mort D'Arthur describe the legend of King Arthur and how it began. In these pages it also describes the changes of the legend and who they were made by. It then goes into the legend of King Arthur by Thomas Malory. Merlin arranges for the upbringing of King Uther's first son, Arthur. Arthur lives out his childhood with Sir Ector and his son Kay. When Uther dies Britain goes into chaos until a sword is placed into a stone with the with the inscription “Whoso pulleth oute this swerd of this stone and anvyld is rightwys kynge borne of all Brytaygne”. Arthur pulls the sword from the stone and is named king of Britain. Arthur fights a number of battles to prove that he is the rightful king of Britain. Arthur then marries Gwynevere and establishes the twelve knights of the round table. Sir Launcelot and Sir Lyonel leave for an adventure when Sir Lyonel gets captured by sir Tarquin. Sir Tarquin then captures Sir Ector while Sir Launcelot was captured by four Queens. He refuses to choose one of the queens and he escapes by agreeing to help King Bagdemagus. He defeats all of Knights in the tournament and continues on his way to find adventure. He defeats many knights and frees many knights in captivity. Launcelot returns to Camelot to become the most famous knight at King Arthur's court. Arthur then went to fight Sir Launcelot. While he was away, Sir Modred faked the death of King Arthur. Arthur and Modred fight. Sir Gawain dies and Arthur and Modred plan to sign a peace treaty the next day. At the signing, a soldier raises his sword and the armies attack. Sir Modred is killed by King Arthur and King Arthur is wounded in the head. King Arthur is then sent across the water.
Vocabulary-
Words I did not know the meaning of:
Prerogative- an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege
Royal Seneschal- person in charge of a royal household in medieval times. The royal seneschal held a position of consideration power and responsibility.
Copse- Grove of trees
Ninescore- one hundred eighty
Barony- Nobles of the lowest rank
Scaffold- A temporary or movable platform for workers to stand or sit on when working at a height above the floor or ground.
Vouchsafed- to grant as a privilege or special favor
Words I found interesting:
Whoso
Pulleth
Oute
Swerd
Anvyld
Rightwys
Kynge
Brytaygne
Reactions-
I liked this packet and found that it was easy to read and understand. There were a select few words that I did not know the meaning of but the packet gave most of those definitions for me so I did not have to look them up. I found this packet very informative and I hope that it will not spoil the story Once and Future King. The plot and characters were both fairly easy to follow and made the packet enjoyable to read.
The first few pages of Le Mort D'Arthur describe the legend of King Arthur and how it began. In these pages it also describes the changes of the legend and who they were made by. It then goes into the legend of King Arthur by Thomas Malory. Merlin arranges for the upbringing of King Uther's first son, Arthur. Arthur lives out his childhood with Sir Ector and his son Kay. When Uther dies Britain goes into chaos until a sword is placed into a stone with the with the inscription “Whoso pulleth oute this swerd of this stone and anvyld is rightwys kynge borne of all Brytaygne”. Arthur pulls the sword from the stone and is named king of Britain. Arthur fights a number of battles to prove that he is the rightful king of Britain. Arthur then marries Gwynevere and establishes the twelve knights of the round table. Sir Launcelot and Sir Lyonel leave for an adventure when Sir Lyonel gets captured by sir Tarquin. Sir Tarquin then captures Sir Ector while Sir Launcelot was captured by four Queens. He refuses to choose one of the queens and he escapes by agreeing to help King Bagdemagus. He defeats all of Knights in the tournament and continues on his way to find adventure. He defeats many knights and frees many knights in captivity. Launcelot returns to Camelot to become the most famous knight at King Arthur's court. Arthur then went to fight Sir Launcelot. While he was away, Sir Modred faked the death of King Arthur. Arthur and Modred fight. Sir Gawain dies and Arthur and Modred plan to sign a peace treaty the next day. At the signing, a soldier raises his sword and the armies attack. Sir Modred is killed by King Arthur and King Arthur is wounded in the head. King Arthur is then sent across the water.
Vocabulary-
Words I did not know the meaning of:
Prerogative- an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege
Royal Seneschal- person in charge of a royal household in medieval times. The royal seneschal held a position of consideration power and responsibility.
Copse- Grove of trees
Ninescore- one hundred eighty
Barony- Nobles of the lowest rank
Scaffold- A temporary or movable platform for workers to stand or sit on when working at a height above the floor or ground.
Vouchsafed- to grant as a privilege or special favor
Words I found interesting:
Whoso
Pulleth
Oute
Swerd
Anvyld
Rightwys
Kynge
Brytaygne
Reactions-
I liked this packet and found that it was easy to read and understand. There were a select few words that I did not know the meaning of but the packet gave most of those definitions for me so I did not have to look them up. I found this packet very informative and I hope that it will not spoil the story Once and Future King. The plot and characters were both fairly easy to follow and made the packet enjoyable to read.
Friday, July 6, 2007
What does Friedman mean by "the world is flat"?
When Friedman says "the world is flat" he is not trying to say that Christopher Columbus' discovery of a round world is incorrect. What Thomas L. Friedman means by "the world is flat" , is that technology today is leveling the turf for individuals, businesses and countries. Technology has created the link that allows companies, businesses and people to outsource, in source, offshore, inform, upload and to have better supply chaining. This is connecting the world giving individuals, companies, businesses and countries equal power. The development of technology is changing the way the world will compete for jobs, business, communication services and power. People around the world now have more equal opportunities- thus creating a flatter world.
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