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METAFORIX MAIL Volume 1, Issue 14 October 19, 2000 CONTENTS AT A GLANCE: ON MY MIND: Back
to the Future
ON MY MIND [From the Editor] Back to the Future To mark the anniversary of the book's publication, Business 2.0 interviewed Toffler and two dozen other notables from the worlds of media, business, science, technology, politics, culture, and "outer space" (both the Star Wars and the Altered States varieties). "What's next?" asked Business 2.0. The responses published in its September 26 issue ran the gamut from breathless speculations to technological prototypes to stepwise expositions of exactly how this brave new world will continue to unfold. Among the many provocative responses, the one I found most compelling came from Tara Lemmey, founder of Project LENS, a company engaged in predicting the impact of technology on the future. Lemmey asks important questions about how technology is changing our concepts of self and of human identity. How are our definitions of these terms changing? Are their meanings entirely in flux, or are they anchored in some immutable core? What are the social and cultural implications of the boundaries of the self, as we perceive them in physical, geographical, temporal, and historical terms? Lemmey suggests that information technology has pushed us to "the verge of an identity crisis writ large across the face of society," one that must be widely engaged "so that we don't run the risk of losing what is important to ourselves and society." In highlighting these important questions, Lemmey speaks to the heart of what it means to "reinvent yourself for the Information Age." How can individuals and organizations engage with the new technological tools and reference points of our culture -- the "reinvention" part of the equation -- while preserving the essence of "self"? Metaforix is in the business of grappling with those very issues. Lemmey's formulation provides us and our clients with nourishing food for thought. Cordially, Lois C. Ambash, Editor
IN THE MEDIA [a recent news article, feature, or opinion piece] "A District Says 'Enough!" Kate Zernike's article looks at how the new policy is playing out in this academically competitive suburb. Zernike also places the Board's decision in context of the current range of expert opinion and previous homework trends. To read the full article, go to INFORMATICON "Understanding that most competition is a display feeds into the argument for the ultimate triumph of altruism. Most people believe that animals do only what they must to survive: eat, sleep, ward off predators, and reproduce. But studying the peacock's tail, as Cronin has done, reveals how animals favor looking good themselves. Cronin invites a deeper consideration of the simple version of competition as a battle for survival: When the race goes to the fastest, then how do we explain peacocks' tails -- extravagant, over the top, grossly inefficient adaptations?" 'The peacock's tail is a wild extravaganza,' " says Cronin. 'It's a burden, unnecessarily bright and gaudy. The peacock could well be better off without it, in a way that you couldn't say the cheetah would be better off without its sprint or the wren without its camouflage. How do we explain this wild extravaganza that takes a lot of resources, doesn't produce anything, is heavy to tote around, and marks the bird as a target for predators?' Why has nature designed something so useless? As useless as being nice to the other guy? As useless as sharing information? As useless as committing your life to pursuing an idea whose outcome you can't possibly know? Reputation, says Cronin, is a key element in competition. 'Once you understand that sexual selection is displaying qualities like kindness or goodness, or is demonstrating that you can afford to give things away, then you understand the close connection between flamboyance and altruism. Altruism can be one of those evolved peacock feathers in our minds.' "
CYBERSPEAK [the vocabulary of the Internet age] CYBERSQUATTING is "the act of registering a popular Internet address -- usually a company name -- with the intent of selling it to its rightful owner." A variation on this tactic is to register common misspellings of a popular Web address, with the same financial intent in mind. Congress is considering anti-cybersquatting legislation and the World Intellectual Property Organization has endorsed anti-cybersquatting tactics. Even in the absence of legislation, most court decisions in this area have gone against cybersquatters. These suffixes have not always been used in a uniform manner, however. Additionally, in response to the rapid growth of the Internet and the growing demand for new domain names, new suffixes have been approved. Some examples are ".arts" for cultural organizations, ".store" for merchants, and ".non" for individuals. Reference consulted: Webopedia . SITE OF THE DAY [a nice place to visit] LISTS WE LIKE: Web Marketing Today
Perhaps you are thinking of building or upgrading your organization's Web presence Or maybe you just want a better understanding of how others are using the Web to market their products and services to you. Either way, this list is worth checking out. Subscribers to the costly print edition of the Polling Report have access to much more detailed and refined analyses. For the rest of us, the free PollingReport.com offers fascinating and useful snapshots of Americans' view of the world. To subscribe, go to: : Save The Children Help
Please note that the links contained in Metaforix Mail are current as of the time of publication. Some of them may no longer be operative at the time you access past issues. To
Volume 1, Issue 13
October 12, 2000
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