After getting a couple of positive responses to my previous digest, i decided to continue. So, here is the “official” first digest. I started compiling the list in late August - early September, but then got swamped with other tasks. So, here you can find something of the early September links as well as some of the more recent ones.
Recent batch
“The XO files” is first article in a series of three, where Jon Camfield discusses the OLPC projects and how/if things could be different. In fact, I found his second part about the new 4PC market resembling my own thougts from a while ago. Don’t forget to look at the last, third part, which includes thoughts about the OLPC destribution model.
“UK Government to spy on every phone call, text and email” - it looks like UK government is trying to compete with some ideas being pushed in Israel regarding storage of personal communication data. Also “UK: Government sets up online child safety watchdog“, though i could not really understand the authority of this organization and the exact course of action and criteria it proposes
“Skype Admits Joint Venture in China Monitoring Users’ Communications” - I was certain that it was hoax, but it turns out to have more substance.
“Election Websites” - a shortish reflection on the spike in election-related websites in the US, posted on the blog of Alexa.
“Number of cell phone subscribers to hit 4 billion this year, UN says” - the number itself and the pace of growth are indeed breathtaking; I also found the link between growing number of phones and achieving MDGs (i.e. making poverty history, etc.) very interesting.
“Indicators for media in a democracy” - a resolution of the European Council aimed at institutionalizing some media freedom principles in Europe. I don’t think it states anything particularly new or innovative, but i find it interesting to look at the language used to describe these issues.
On a related note, and from the same source, you may be interested to look at “UNESCO creates wiki on journalism curricula“, which seems interesting. I looked a little bit around the website and it looks like only UNESCO editors can contribute to the content, but others, even if they create an account, cannot even participate in the discussion. Unless i am missing something, I think it takes away from the wikiness of the platform.
“Right to Information law passed in Bangladesh” - which is encouraging news, particularly in light of some figures published here: “UK: Freedom of Information Act generates 1,000 stories in two years”
“Mutiny Blog Now Published as a Print Magazine” - this one probably deserves a more elaborate post, but for now it is just the link. This post from “Digital Inspiration” tells a story of a collaborative blog that became a journal. It is really interesting how, even in these days, printed publication is considered to be a more respectable venue compared to an electronic one. Very thought provoking.
“MSN Cashback successfully attracting visitors” - I don’t know if you heard, but MSN is trying new strategies to make people using its search (paying for that) and this post list some information that suggests this strategy is actually working.
A couple of interesting tools. One is probably more for fun: “Block Certain Words From Appearing On Web Sites with FoxReplace” and i think the title of the post speaks for itself. The other one can be even useful: “Make Screencast Videos In Firefox with Capture Fox“. Both are coming from “Digital Inspiration” blog.
I better stop with recent links as this post becomes really long. Here is what i stumbled upon earlier.
Early batch
“Instant-Messagers Really Are About Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon” - An interesting article from Washington Post about using MSN data to test the famous theory - thank you Erik for sharing. It made me wonder about the research possibilities opening up with all the data collected about people’s online behavior. It facinates and scares me at the same time.
“Role of Wireless Technologies in ICT4D” - An interesting post with some data from Sri-Lanka. I think it speaks nicely to Ken Banks’s article i mentioned in the previous digest.
“72% of parents spy on their kids online” - Summary of a UK-based survey about youths’ behavior on social networking websites and the strategies their parents employ to deal with it. The highlights are: 23% of youngsters aged between 8 and 12 are accessing social networks even though they are not eligible and, as the title suggests, 72% of parents snoop on their kids’ online endeavors (I wonder what that means for the user statistics of social networking websites).
“Google provides peek into McCain’s, Obama’s RSS feed reads” - An announcement of a new initiative of Google in cooperation with the presidential campaigns in the US, which will allow people a pick into the RSS feeds of the candidates. I am slightly puzzled here, particularly in light of widely publicized technical “challangeness” of one of the candidates. Interesting, but probably just a marketing move.
On a related note you may want to read about recently announced McCain’s technology plan and an interesting response from Lessig. I have posted a short reaction to Lessig’s criticism if you are interested in this.
