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Debate on importance of digital divide
tom friedman the world is flat thesis
Debate on importance of digital divide
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Assessment of The World is Flat and A Whole New Mind
The widespread adoption of new technologies serves as the driver behind societal alteration. With few exceptions, changes in the framework of society from politics to the individual have been wrought by economic changes; that is, the onward march of societal progression can be traced to changes in the market. Thomas L. Friedman in The World is Flat argues that the recent “shrinking” of the world in terms of communications has weakened the traditional stronghold America has held over white-collar professions. A similar point (to a degree) is argued by Daniel H. Pink in A Whole New Mind, specifically that the weakening discussed by Friedman will give rise to a demand for a more creative, synergetic, whole-picture type of thought to which Americans are well capable of fulfilling. Ultimately, both works call for a shift of focus to a different set of skills and talent that Americans will need to not only survive, but thrive in the newly forming globalized or flat world.
Ultimately, The World is Flat describes the effects technology, specifically the newabundance of cheap global telecommunications and the rapidly expanding and diversifying ways individuals and companies can take advantage of this cheap commodity, will have on the world as it moves into the 21stcentury. This newly created ability to effectively communicate globally in a cheap and high quality manner, Friedman argues, arose from the ashes of the dot-com bubble, and it has monumental effects for China, India, and other developing nations, to the potential detriment of Europe, Japan, and the United States. Since the United States et al can no longer compete with India and China or the ever more sophisticated sof...
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...ld to a wide-range of differing groups of unique individuals; in a sense, I can grasp the bigger picture of these three skills. That being said, in order to take advantage of the flat-world platform, I will have to expand my knowledge of technology to make use of the ten flatteners.
Flat or Conceptual, either way, our new globalized world spells change for the white-collared worker of the millennium. Our interconnectivity and the availability of cheap labor provide a medium to which new skills must be learned and improved upon if success is to be found.
Works Cited
Friedman, Thomas L. The World is Flat. New York, New York.
Farrar, Straus, Giroux. 2006. National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide. 2005.
Pink, Daniel H. A Whole New Mind. New York, New York. Penguin Group USA. 2005.
He uses successful companies from the 80’s to today such as Microsoft, Apple, and Google. He explains that “they share a strategy that is becoming standard for success.” (Zakaria 462). Global business or taking business outside of the United States counts for a large sum of corporation’s revenue. Zakaria describes that technology itself is the reasoning behind why the U.S. economy has shifted. He elaborates on this shift, and says “Technology and globalization are working together at warp speed” (Zakaria 463) alluding to the futuristic television series “Star Trek”, which just so happens to parallel with him talking about the future of the economy. He brings other developing countries in to the mix saying “China and India have added literally hundreds of millions of new workers to the global labor pool, producing the same goods and services as Western workers at a fraction of the price.” (Zakaria 463). Zakaria switches his tone yet again to reflect optimism for America. Zakaria recognizes the large growth and now need for technology and globalization in America and let’s his readers know that this change and shift in our economy may have the economy down, but the shift isn’t a bad thing and it isn’t what is keeping people down. He encourages his audience to see that what has happened can’t be stopped. Then he asks a rhetorical question that is both simple and to the point. “So what is the solution?” (Zakaria
As Americans we have to start to comprehend that the world around us is changing technologically, politically, and economically. In “The Last Superpower” an excerpt from the book The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria published in 2008. Zakaria emphasizes on these changes. Thomas Friedman the author of “The World is Flat” a piece from the book The World is Flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century published in 2005 also emphasizes on the same changes currently happening in the world. Zakaria and Friedman define these changes as globalization. The obvious common ground shared by both authors is their representation of globalization and the effects that it has and will continue to have on modern life. In contrast to sharing the same main topic both authors take a drastically different approach on how the relay their information to the audience. The differences displayed are mainly due to their personal and educational backgrounds, definitions of globalization as well as the individual writing styles of each author.
... The. Creating a Mind. New York: Basic Books, 1993. Goodwin, Doris Kearns, “Eleanor Roosevelt.” Time.
Arguments supporting the "flat world theory" come mainly from Friedman. His argument rests on the assumption of ten flatteners and a triple convergence. Friedman says that the power of new information technology has helped bring the world closer together and has made it more interconnected and interdependent (Friedman, 2005). More people now have access to this technological platform for education, innovation and entrepreneurship (Friedman, 2005). However, Florida (2005, p.51) argues that this flat playing field mainly affects the advanced countries, which see not only manufacturing work but also higher-end jobs. Other developing or undeveloped countries simply do not have the luxury of this connection and are left out of this technological platform. Florida (2005, p.51) contends that “...there are more insidious tensions among the world’s growing peaks, sinking valleys, and shifting hills”. This inequality is growing across the world and within countries.
Veseth, Michael. "Chapter 9. The Future Of Globalization." Globaloney 2.0: The Crash Of 2008 And The Future Of Globalization. 2010. 183. Print.
Technology began skyrocketing, which lead to a drastic shift in citizen’s daily lives therefore causing a new American Dream to form. Before the Contemporary Period Americans did not have all the luxuries that are used today; such as Internet, cell phones, and televisions. With the use of this new form of communication news and ideas were spreading fast. Social norms and politics began to change dramatically. As shown on the technology timeline within the past fifty years America experienced a rapid growth of technology that has never been seen before, only 50 years ago on January 1, 1950 the first remote control was invented. This remote was not wireless, but as only 60 years had past Americans now have smart phones, smart TVs and wireless internet that is available almost anywhere (Science and Technology). Americans have had to adapt to th...
... be able to communicate your thoughts and ideas in your occupation. You may be under the impression that your employment is “carved in stone” and will never change, nevertheless, everything in your career, as well as life is constantly changing, and you must be able to go with the flow.
The Untouchable by Thomas L. Friedman speaks about the world being flat, which is “the stunning rise of middle classes all over the world (pg. 323).” He explains how the American society is becoming global. This globalization that is occurring in today’s society is leading children in America to have a competing mindset against cultures such as the Chinese. We have to begin to think wise and know what route we have to take in life in order to flourish or survive. There will plenty of jobs out there; however, they will only be open to those people with the right knowledge, self motivation, ideas and skill.
middle of paper ... ... Internet. The Internet. The Internet. 20 Nov. 2013.
Tapscott, D. (1998). Growing Up Digital: The rise of the net generation. New York, NY: Mc-Graw Hill Companies Inc. .
...in the new “flat world” individuals need to figure out how to become “untouchable.” He explains that “untouchables are people whose jobs cannot be outsourced, digitized, or automated” (184). He explains that in a “flat world” there is no longer a job based solely on geographic, but rather in most cases an available job “will go to the best, smartest, most productive or cheapest worker-wherever he or she resides” (183). He goes on to show that companies and individuals have to look at the global picture today in order to succeed (183).
Turkle, Sherry. "Digital Nation." Interview. PBS. PBS, 22 Sept. 2009. Web. 20 May 2014. .
In summary, the Digital Divide is real and has placed a severe gap between certain groups of people in the American culture. The Land of Opportunity is not necessarily made available to all. In her CNet article, Sonia Arrison (2002), provides a unique perspective as to the reason behind the gap. “The digital divide is not a crisis, and it is certainly not the civil liberties issue of the 21st century. The real issues are the sorry state of education and the push to raise the taxes that affect lower income families most” (Arrison, 2002). Arrison states that if the Government could improve the education in the American schools and stop luxury taxes on so many services, the Digital Divide could easily be narrowed. By narrowing the divide, more families could afford Internet if so desired, and students could have access to a better education.
Surveying the Digital Future: How the PC and Internet are changing the world. (1999, June). Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Center for Communication Policy.
The book, The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman draws attention to some very good points concerning globalization and the world economy today. Friedman emphasizes the status of America today in relation to the other countries of the world. As I looked at the things in which he warned about or highlighted, I realized the importance of this issue. He talks about a few aspects in which need to be kept competitive in order for America to retain their current standing in the world market.