Newshour: Nintendo Saves The Video Game Industry (1988)

 

The 1983 video game crash was devasting to electronic entertainment. Nintendo in order to survive decided to produce home consoles. The Famicom was released in Japan in 1983 and the Nintendo Entertainment System came to North America in 1985. The video game industry remained intact due to Nintendo's new business strategy. The Famicom and NES was marketed as a toy. According to the report from Newshour in 1988 sales hit an estimate of $1.8 billion. Nintendo at the time had two major competitors. This included Sega and Atari. Going into the 1990s, competition would become known as the console wars. The technology was also becoming more advanced. The 8-bit era was considered high tech, but that would not compare to what would come later. Nintendo's rise demonstrates how globalization changed the world economy and culture. A Japanese corporation was seeing success internationally. When new forms of media are introduced, detractors tend to attack it. Some parents were concerned about the time children spent playing video games. Others objected to the focus on boys being the major demographic for sales. Some women complained that female characters were all damsels in distress in Nintendo's games. The 1988 news report criticizes a video game for girls that involved aerobics. Child psychologist Laura Kastner voices this complaint. Kastner did not understand video games are for everyone. Metroid  has female protagonist Samus , Kastner would rather have a game about a woman being promoted in a corporation. Regardless of detractors, Nintendo was able to function in the US. The biggest challenge is not from parents, competitors, or the false notion video games are a horrible influence.  US imposed multiple tariffs in 2025. The following year Nintendo sued the US government. The tariffs caused the increase in prices of Nintendo products. 

Tim Cook Is Retiring As CEO of Apple

 

Tim Cook is retiring from the position of CEO of Apple. Cook will be going to a new position in the company as executive chairmen. Tim Cook became CEO in 2011, after the death of Steve Jobs. Concerns were raised in the 2010s about Apple's condition with its one of its important founders gone. The corporation has seen major successes with the iPhone, Macs, and Apple Watch. Under Tim Cooks there was the emergence Apple News, Apple TV, and Apple Pay. Apple was shifting from just a focus on hardware and software to other services. Concerns about artificial intelligence and its role are new developments that Apple will have to confront. Then the question of worker exploitation in China has drawn criticism. During Tim Cook's leadership, Apple became more reliant on China for the manufacture of its products. Workers in China are paid less for labor and workers in the US are subject to globalization. Inflation and tariffs are increasing the prices of Apple products. If those prices keep rising, the consumers might seek less expensive alternatives. Apple was able to become dominant through innovation of its technology. Unless smartphones can do more, Apple's success is not secure. John Ternus is set to become the next CEO, when Cook retires from the position in September. There could be a shift back to focusing on hardware products. Tim Cook's leadership of Apple can be described as a period of business  diversification.     

Tesla's Shift To Robotics And AI

 

Tesla is making a transformation of its business model. The company is moving away from the production of electric vehicles to AI and robotics. The tech industry has seen a major concentration in the application of AI. The motivation could relate to Tesla's fall in revenue. The fall in sales has a direct link to the political activities of Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla worked for the Trump administration in the Department of Government Efficiency. The purchase of Twitter and then its rebrand to X.com generated controversy. Seeing as Musk damaged the public image of the company, sales of Tesla vehicles declined. The manufacturing plants are being converted into Optimus robot production centers. The new AI venture has been revealed to be called xAI. The motivation to do the shift is to replace workers with robots. The Optimus is not advanced enough to do certain tasks. The technology at this stage is more so an amusing product of entertainment. Over the next few decades, the Optimus robots could be able to perform more functions. Jobs in manufacturing, tech, and the service sector could vanish due to the Optimus robot. Tesla is using X.com as a testing ground for AI. The rise of AI seems similar to the .com bubble of the late 1990s to early 2000s. Limited regulation and unpredictable technology could have dire consequences. Tesla faces competition from other companies, that focus on AI solely. Tesla transformation from car production to robotics and AI will take a number of years.  

The Status of Power and Electricity Access In Africa

 

The African continent has a problem with access to power and electricity. Nigeria has suffered from power outages. North Africa based on collected data has more access to power compared to Sub-Saharan Africa. The countries that lack the most electricity are The African Central Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad,  and South Sudan. These three countries have a history of civil wars and armed groups fighting the government. The M23 rebels and Seleka rebels have fought in the DRC and the Central African Republic. South Africa has the highest access to electricity in its region. The need for better infrastructure and better power grids should be part of every African country's objective. Power and electricity are needed for modern nations. Electricity can be an indicator of development. Considering Africa's vast mineral and fossil fuel resources the economic possibilities are endless. Data  related to progress on electrification According to the IAEA , the number of people without electricity access expanded. The two major factor related to reversal  was the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis related to events in Europe. The 2019 map shows the status before those two events. The African continent has more access to electricity compared to past. The challenge is keeping the process mobilized. The African Union must develop programs to bring electricity to all of the continent. The World Bank has created a plan known as mission 300. The goal is to get electrification to 300 million in sub-Sharan Africa. Although  the African Development Bank has collaborated with the World Bank on the program, fears of further long term debt arise. Mission 300 wants to have most of the region with electricity by 2030. The time frame is too short for such an ambitious project. The African Union should be leading efforts to provide electricity. Doing so would encourage immense  cooperation between all regions of Africa.  

Global IT Outage

 

A global IT outage has effected various businesses and facilities. This is probably one of the biggest IT malfunctions on a large scale. CrowdStrike claims that the outage was a result of a bug. What it revealed was the vulnerability of information technology networks. Cybersecurity should not just focus on viruses or hackers. It should examine malfunctions and vulnerabilities in technology. The world is very dependent on IT. Many individuals and companies are also dependent on Microsoft. What becomes even more precarious is personal data security. An IT outage could also put personal data at risk. Banking, healthcare, and various payment systems were impacted by the IT outage. When it comes to airline travel it caused much disorder. Flights had to be cancelled, because IT handles scheduling. Although CrowdStrike says it is fixing the issue, concerns remain. It could be time for Microsoft to reconsider using third party companies for IT protection. Companies are going to have to hire more IT and cybersecurity professionals. Updates to software should not result in technical difficulties. IT is too important to be managed in an undisciplined way. Shipping and payment transactions are done more with IT. The IT global outage effected up to 8.5 million Windows devices. This was based on Microsoft's findings. The incident proves that more companies need to be active, rather than have reliance on CrowdStrike. 

The Development of The Tungsten Encased Nuclear Reactor

 

A new fusion record has been set by the tungsten tokamak WEST. The development of tungsten encased nuclear fusion reactors could become a more efficient method of energy generation. The device located at the Princeton Physics Plasma Laboratory was able to hold hot fusion  plasma at 50 million degrees Celsius for six minutes. In order to generate power for a grid, the plasma has to be hot and dense. If the research continues, there might be fusion reactors that will be commercially available. The efforts of the Coordination on International on Long Duration Operation have produced favorable results.  Prior to this experiments did utilized graphite titles. The device that used that material was the Tore Supra. Tungsten is favorable because it retains less fuel. However, the limitation is that it cane make the plasma cool. Keeping a certain amount of heat is needed for energy generation. Technological barriers and physics challenges do prevent fusion reactors from being used for power. Tokamak WEST will require more adjustments to be able to be connected to a large power grid. The tungsten walls are going to be the most important development in nuclear technology. As fusion reactors advance further, considerations for tungsten mining should be made. China, the United Kingdom, Rwanda , Vietnam, and Russia are going to have to increase tungsten mining. These countries are the major producers of the element. Production would have to increase dramatically if fusion reactors are going into regular use. At the moment the machinery requires more advancement. The news demonstrates that fusion reactors are not theoretical. The devices have reached a phase of applied science.  

The Attempts To Ban Tik Tok

 

Governments are attempting to ban Tik Tok . The popular social media platform has been accused of disinformation and being a national security risk. These claims are being made based on anti-China sentiment. A number of countries are attempting to ban the application based on a xenophobic nationalism. The European Union has made a ban on Tik Tok to apply to staff devices. This applies to the European Parliament, European Commission, and and EU Council. The measure is unnecessary considering the only application that should be used in offices are for work , not entertainment. France, Canada, Belgium, Pakistan, Nepal, and Australia have adopted similar policies. The US motivation for the ban is because it does not want Chinese competition in the technology sector and wants censorship. Video sharing applications expose concerns that are not discussed by the mainstream media or government. While it is used mostly for frivolous purposes, videos show abuses. Israel's human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza have been exposed on various platforms. The Tik Tok ban is a test to introduce censorship on multiple platforms. The public would never accept this, so false justifications are made. Disinformation, preventing public disturbance, and national security are the common arguments. Intelligence agencies and law enforcement have a good amount of resources to deal with matters of espionage. This is not about protect, rather undermining press and free speech. Afghanistan also imposed a ban on Tik Tok on the basis it was protecting the youth. Governments both authoritarian and democratic want to prevent the public from having independent thought. More social media platforms and video sharing sites could be a target of censorship.     

J. Robert Oppenheimer Discusses The Use Of Nuclear Weapons (1965)

 

J. Robert Oppenheimer did have regrets about the creation of nuclear weapons. At the time, it was thought it was the fastest way to end World War II. The ethics of killing Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to be debated amongst historians. Large investments were made in building the atomic bomb, so at some point was going to be used. It was an estimated 2 billion dollars.  Using such a weapon was also a means of threatening the Soviet Union. Oppenheimer does not hide the fact that all scientists had different opinions about the project and nuclear weapons. Some hoped that the war would be over before the atomic bomb was completed. The hope it was not going to used in a war. J. Robert Oppenheimer understood the world would not be the same and that the use of  atomic energy posed risks. His efforts at regulation of atomic energy was met with resistance. He was a victim of the anti-communist witch hunts in the early 1950s. As a result he lost his security clearance and was no longer allowed to work in US government. Nine countries have nuclear weapons in the world today. The technology will spread and it makes J. Robert Oppenheimer's arguments about atomic energy regulation more relevant.   

The Rise of ChatGPT

 

ChatGPT  was introduced in 2022 and has made the world more aware of the application of artificial intelligence. ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI. It has been used to write papers and articles. The bot may be able to write papers or engage with users, but it is not fully conscious. ChatGPT is based on large language models . It does not have the ability to learn or thinking like a human. It takes certain computing techniques and  data then extracts words. Large language model tools do not function like a human brain. The concern about the new technology has resulted in calls for artificial intelligence to be regulated. Educators are concerned it will be used by students to write their papers. Writers and journalists fear in the distant future they could be replaced. Information technology will change world economics and the nature of employment. Possible job loss is part of technological advancement. All sectors of the economy can be effected. ChatGPT is not sophisticated enough to replace workers. To do so would require AI not based on large language tools. While certain applications, programs, and chatbots become fads, others will expand. Google and Meta are developing AI chatbots. ChatGPT is still a new AI chatbot. Whether it survives depends on how internet users respond to it. Overtime, ChatGPT could be replaced. OpenAI might develop chatbots more advanced than ChatGPT. The OpenAI product could be some of the public's introduction artificial intelligence. ChatGPT does not pose a risk, depending how it is used. Technology over the next few decades is going to dramatically change culture, society, and commerce. 

Kenya Will Launch The Taifa-1 Satellite

 

Kenya has taken interest in space exploration and its commercial possibilities. Kenya's first satellite is called the Taifa-1. Kenya is not the only country launching satellites. A total of 13 African countries have produced up to 48 satellites. The space program has highlighted the ability of Kenyan engineers. This observation satellite will provide valuable information related agriculture and monitoring food security. Kenya has recently struggled with drought and is looking for new methods to combat its effects. Observation satellites can show where drought and desertification is causing the most damage. Using that data can help allocate resources to various regions. Taifa-1 is not just technology for solving problems. It represents Africa's technological rise. The year 2018 was another milestone related to Kenya's space program. Kenya launched a nanosatellite from the International Space Station. Other African countries have been active in satellite production. Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan, and Angola have space programs. Over the next few decades Africa could be seeing more observation satellites launched.  

Tech Companies Continue Layoffs

 

Tech companies are continuing to layoff workers. This comes at a time when inflation and rising food prices remain an economic challenge. Twitter, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft have been laying off workers between the months of October to November. The massive amount of job loss demonstrates that the concept of job security is non-existent . Job loss can effect both skilled and unskilled workers. Education was thought to be a  gateway to better career opportunities. Coders and software engineers find themselves vulnerable in a neoliberal capitalist system, even though they have useful skills. It has been cited that the layoffs are  the result of changes in buying behavior of customers. The pandemic might not be over, but there has been some control established. Tech companies claim that it was a hiring spree done during the pandemic and it can no longer afford to keep every worker. The claim lacks cogency considering these companies generate immense profits. Microsoft's programs are used in numerous offices, schools, and for personal computers. The layoffs could be a preemptive measure for large tech companies that suspect a recession is coming. This has not been confirmed by economists, but still could be a possibility. The CEOs of the major tech giants did this for a more obvious reason. Increasing their pay is more important to them than having employees. To counter the effects of thousands of layoffs, the remaining employees will do more work. The change does not ensure an increase in wages or salaries. Promotions are not guaranteed either for extra labor. While motives of are not clear, one assertion can be made with certainty. The global economy is in a poor condition. Other sectors could see mass layoffs in the coming months. 

The First Hoverbike Shown To The Public

 

The world's first hoverbike has been invented. The technology was the product of Aerwins. The capabilities are somewhat limited. The total speed the hoverbike can reach is 62 miles per hour. This can only remain in flight for 40 minutes. The hoverbike will not be replacing the motorcycle at the moment . Then the price makes it out of range for most of the public. The hoverbike by Aerwins costs up to $ 777,000. The name of this hoverbike is called Xturismo. The goal is to make a smaller model and an electric version. The schedule for release is set for 2025. Japan has simultaneously been building hoverbikes. Aerwins plans to produce 200 more Xturismo hoverbikes. While their application can go beyond just mere transportation, there are some concerns. Law enforcement could easily abuse this technology. The hoverbike could be designed for military use. That should not be the intent of the technology. Using them for a racing sport or search and rescue operations would be preferable. A hoverbike might be a better option than a car. The challenge would be related to regulating traffic. Certain companies want to invest in an air taxi service. Airlines have interest in the development of an air taxi service. The hoverbike is in an earl development stage. It takes time to develop technology and perfect engineering. 

Namibia's Hydrogen Power Plant

 

Africa is about to open the first hydrogen power plant on the continent. The plant is expected to start producing electricity in 2024. This allows Namibia not to be too reliant on South Africa for 40% of its power. Namibia wants to expand its sector in solar and wind energy. The nation has an advantage related to its environment. The economic potential is vast, but might not materialize rapidly. The technology is still developing in the field of renewable energy. How hydrogen plants work is through a network of solar panels. Their role is to power electrolyzers to produce hydrogen to be stored. This allows a country to move away from carbon based methods. Large amounts of carbon emissions contribute to rising global temperatures. Hydrogen plants are an engineering solution to a dire environmental problem. Concerns about EU involvement and some European companies have been made. These roles in hydrogen power plants might be a means to stir African countries away from Russian energy. The best method for Namibia would be to have access to as many markets as possible. Namibia  has diamonds, uranium,  gold, copper, zinc, and suspected  oil reserves. Namibia has reached the status of upper middle income country. However, poverty remains a persistent economic concern. The construction of hydrogen plants, exporting goods to the world market, and job training are policies that ensure Namibia's survival. Hydrogen power plants also protect Namibia's environment and diverse wildlife. 

Twitter Has New Ownership

 

Elon Musk the CEO of  Tesla is set to purchase Twitter. This will be one of his many business ventures. Musk has also stated that he wants to change the popular social media platform. One promise was the relaxing of content restrictions. Musk claims he wants to promote free speech on Twitter and  wants to include an edit button for posts. There also has been discussion about having an open source algorithm. Elon Musk also wants to target cryptocurrency scams on the platform. While it appears that Musk has some ideological motivation for buying Twitter, the real reason is business. Buying Twitter makes it easier for Musk to promote his other companies. The business elite do not support free speech or free expression when it interferers with profit. Twitter was bought by Elon Musk for a total of  $43 billion. An investment of that type is not done for political reasons. Twitter still has a large amount of users and it could be expanded in various ways. The growing concern is the rise of the giant tech monopolies. New competitors can rise, but are at a disadvantage compared to Twitter and Facebook. Having a small business elite control social media platforms is a threat to press freedom and free speech. Large tech monopolies also reduce competition in a free market. This can cause economic complications, which reduce consumer choice . Another concern is related to employment. If the tech giants collapse the job loss will be immense. Elon Musk will certainly add more wealth to his net worth. 

Facebook Will Rebrand As Meta

 

Facebook will be calling itself Meta. The world's most popular social media platform is undergoing a rebranding process. The company seeks to also do more with virtual reality. The circumstances surrounding this are not entirely about expanding the company. Facebook has come under criticism from the public and government for sharing user data with other corporations . The controversy of disinformation on its platform, content moderation issues,  and censorship have damaged Facebook's image. Privacy is not protected and what is classified as disinformation has a political bias. Claims that the platform contributes to worsening mental health can be disputed. Individuals would most likely have self-esteem or depression issues even if the social media giant did not exist.   The fact checking system need vast improvement. Facebook has been described as a monopoly, but there exist other social media platforms. MeWe, VK Media, and Myspace are other social media platforms. These companies have not attained the same amount of users. There will come a time in which Facebook will have formidable competition. Creating a metaverse which combines virtual and augmented reality. Corporations do change their names as a form of public relations offensive after scandals. The sudden rebranding is evidence of this. The other objective is to keep Facebook as dominant in the tech industry .   

Kenya's Olkaria Geothermal Project

 

Kenya is becoming a leader in geothermal energy. The Olkaria Geothermal Project seeks to add another power plant. This will be called the Olkaria IV. Geothermal energy is a billion dollar industry providing power to various countries in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. Next to solar, this energy source is the most abundant. The problem is much of the geothermal energy has not been tapped into. The countries that take the opportunity to do so will be in a better economic condition. At some point there will be a rush to get access to geothermal drill sites. Deep inside Earth, there is massive amounts of heat. The heat from the core of the Earth can reach the surface. It must go through the mantle and crust. Due to the shifting of the Earth's plates the heat can escape and be used for power stations. The Great Rift Valley is an area where plates are breaking up. That makes it a perfect spot for geothermal technology development. Kenya still struggles to get electricity to every household. The Olkaria Geothermal Project has the potential to reverse this. However, expansion should not come at the cost of farmers who have gotten displaced by the project. Energy and agriculture are important to Kenya's long term economic health. 

The Microchip Shortage

 

There is a growing microchip shortage, which is impacting other economic sectors. The shortage is not effecting one nation, but the entire global economy. The auto industry in particular has seen production reduced due to the shortage. The majority of microchip production has shifted to consumer electronics. Seeing as the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced travel this is another blow to the automobile production. If lockdowns continue and the pandemic is not ended, consumer electronic consumption will rapidly increase in demand. Phones, televisions, and video game consoles are reliant semiconductor manufacturers. If the shortage becomes so dire production of electronics worldwide may suffer. Although this may seem like negative news, it could be a new opportunity for emerging companies to help with demand. If new corporations related to semiconductor production rise then it will help with employment and reducing the effects low numbers of microchips. Toyota, Ford, and Volkswagen have reported that their production has been effected by the shortage. A functioning auto industry must be maintained for the sake of economy recovery. The only solution is to encourage the growth of more semiconductor manufacturing companies, government subsidies to protect the auto industry, and monitoring consumer trends.   

The Importance of Internet Freedom

The creation of the internet enable more communication between people globally than one could ever think was possible. Ideas, information, and various movements can spread rapidly. Internet Freedom has given rise to digital media, e-commerce, and an evolving form of technology based activism. There have been calculated means to stop the progress of this new freedom by the ruling elite of the world. Net neutrality has been under attack by various governments and corporations who realize the power of the medium. Internet freedom offers a diverse alternative media, enables a new form of commerce, and allows for a forum of open discussion on various topics or issues. The major reason why internet freedom is so essential is that it provides a vast amount of knowledge  easily available to people who have access. Once the digital divide is closed, more people have access to information. There are still places in the world that do not have reliable internet access. It is only a matter of time before this changes. It will become more difficult for information to be suppressed or hidden from public view. The internet's creation did have negative consequences. Hacking, the spread of extremist ideology, and cybercrime have become common problems with widespread internet use. Prohibition of certain internet platforms would be counterproductive. Such suggestions are designed to either hinder the flow of information or end internet freedom completely. Arguments from suppressing internet freedom range from public safety, stopping online piracy, or crime prevention. The real motive behind this is for far-right and authoritarian elements to silence the voices of dissent. If social and political movements can be started by either websites, social media, or other digital platforms networks of oppression may not have a means to counter such speed. Internet freedom could be a means for radical change of the economic, political, and social structure.
        Internet freedom can ensure preservation of a functional free press. Many nations do not have this privilege. Nations with press protection face another problem of corporate domination of news. The presentation of the truth is not the objective for a business. The major media corporations are more concerned about profit rather than high quality reporting or journalism. The authoritarian regimes seek to stifle internet access to prevent exposure to new ideas or information reaching the wider world. Exposure to new ideas or ideology can disrupt the status quo in a repressive state. The internet has become a place in which information and news is limitless. Video sharing and original content for various individuals has exposed billions of people to different perspectives. Alternative media has emerged  as a challenger to mainstream news, which presents a simplistic or biased narrative. Although major cable news networks both local and international have an online presence, they still present the same message. The critical or serious analytical element is missing, yet is replaced with opinion presented as fact. Out of frustration, consumers have turned to alternative media. Fox News, CNN, CCtv, BBC, Africa News, Euronews,  France 24, and Russia Today either have a national  or political based biased that can be seen in their reporting. The internet allows users to seek out various websites and compare information. The challenge for the user is distinguishing between fact and erroneous claims.

      
There has been an increase in what has been called fake news. Websites and social media platforms have been spreading information that is not true or checked for accuracy. Fake news is not a new phenomenon seeing as there were cases in which false statements or accusations were made in newspapers and television. Jayson Blair a former New York Times  journalist fabricated stories in 2003 regarding the Iraq War. Articles were discovered to false by the staff and Blair was forced to resign. Incidents such as that have gradually cause a more suspicion  of the media by the public. The press has come under threat from the corporate model of news, censorship, and government hostility. The internet has for the most part avoided large scale censorship that television and radio has been faced with. The issues surrounding privacy and   technology companies using personal data has gained the attention of numerous political figures. The government's concern is not the theft of personal data or the violation of privacy, but a means of either having control or more strict regulation of the internet. If net neutrality is eradicated, press freedom could lose a valuable resource. Internet service providers could easily just reduce speeds to certain websites or worse by taking them off of search engine listings. With print media disappearing, it is critical that the consumers of news have access to multiple sources of information. Media literacy become more essential in a world that is driven by information.
        Electronic commerce has become a major economic development. It has revolutionized the way people purchase products. The driving force in the contemporary consumer culture is e-commerce. None of this would have been possible without internet freedom. People have the power to buy many products at any time of day. Amazon or E-Bay has a multitude of items ranging from clothing, books, electronics, clothes, and furniture. The difference is that a consumer can also engage in selling items. The option for the individual can be to set a certain price with the hope it get s the attention of a potential buyer.  E-commerce also contributes to the survival of small businesses. Compared to large and long running corporations, smaller businesses have difficulty competing in the market. The disadvantage is obvious in terms of advertisement. A corporation can have more resources devoted to buying air time, erecting billboards, or developing public relations campaigns. A small business or start-up does that have the finance for such ambitious projects. However, social media and websites can provide spaces for advertisement at minimal cost. This creates an equal atmosphere of market competition between small business and corporations.

    
Large corporations have the benefit of  having a lower federal  income tax  rate compared to smaller businesses. Having wider internet freedom encourages an expansion of small business, which will keep the economy diversified. There is a legitimate fear that monopolies could reemerge as corporations move to more amalgamation. This is occurring more so with media and entertainment.  Entertainment and other forms of media can benefit from internet freedom. Video streaming and sharing has change the way people watch movies and TV shows. It allows for a greater variety for the viewer to choose from. As time progresses, the internet will become a large section of the entertainment industry.  Internet freedom allows commerce to happen even without a physical store or market. Staring a business or company becomes much easier with the tools of the internet. Some believe that e-commerce has been causing the decline of traditional retail stores. What is not realized is that many stores are establishing websites and online shopping options. This allows more exposure of a company's brand to the wider public. The rise of e-commerce will continue and it will become more a part of  consumers lives. The amazing phenomenon is that the divide between consumer and producer may gradually disappear.
       Internet freedom has given the average person more knowledge than previous generations. Prior to the internet, the library, school, or a book was what people referred to. Now, a person can merely type on their laptop or phone and get answers to their questions. The internet has become a large encyclopedia of a vast assortment of human experience. Video streaming as also enabled an immense archive of prominent individuals and years gone by. Knowledge has become an even greater power and commodity in the modern world. The more a person knows, the more advantages they will have. Even though many would see the internet as nothing more than senseless entertainment or a frivolous waste of time, it can be used for learning. Public schools and universities realize that a contemporary workforce needs at least some basic computer literacy skills. Schools now offer coding and computer science courses to students. Living in a technological society requires a solid knowledge base. Just having knowledge stored is not enough; people must be taught how to decipher and interpret it.

Prior to technological advancements, it was difficult for the average person to gain access to knowledge. Information was either transmitted through oral traditions in many societies. The rise of writing and language made it so a person did not have to be reliant on their memory only. The printing press gave way to the increase in literacy and the rapid transfer of information. Books became  more available and libraries became open to the public. Newspapers could print faster with a printing press. Speed of information became more important as the centuries progressed. The 20th century brought into existence two influential  forms of technology which were radio and television. People could listen or look at what was happening around the world. The establishment of the World Wide Web in 1989 would amplify how fast and the total amount of information  the public could receive. The people of the world can witness events without even leaving their own country. Information on individuals, academic subjects, or entertainment can be accessed at anytime. Research and archiving has experienced  in a sense a renaissance. The internet can have a positive effect on education and the wider knowledge base of human civilization.  The internet can contribute the spreading of ideas and the preservation of the vast body of  knowledge.
        Internet freedom also ensures that activism can continue and get large portions of people involved in a cause. There is a negative consequence to this. Hate groups, terrorist organizations, organized crime, and cyber criminals can also use internet freedom to their advantage. The only way to counter extremism to confront it with activism and facts. Organizing has become much easier with social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook. Gathering people for a demonstration could be more complicated in the past. Making contact or attracting others to a cause would take considerable time and effort. The absence of internet freedom would mean movements such as Black Lives Matter or # Me Too may not have become as large or rapidly growing. Their is a limitation to the new wave of digital activism. Short attention spans and long term plans for change seem absent. There is the greater possibility of co-option at a faster rate. Leaders of social justice movements must be aware of this and learn to use the internet to their advantage. The term hacker has been given a negative connotation. Yet, some use their skill to expose or leak information that is deliberately hidden from the public. The exposure of government abuse and surveillance has caused many leaders  to seek more restriction to hide possible crimes.

The establishment of Wikileaks has made world leaders more nervous about possible leaks to the press. Julian Assange is not being charged because he committed a heinous act, rather he exposed  US war crimes in Iraq. The release of diplomatic cables cannot be considered classified information, yet the argument has been made it compromised national security. If Assange faces prison or possible execution then it will be a major loss for press and internet freedom. Eric Snowden who was a subcontractor for the CIA exposed the US government's expansive surveillance network of its own citizens. Both Assange and Snowden have been demonized by both government and mainstream media. Being a whistleblower  in an age of internet freedom has become easier, which puts political figures in a state of fear. No longer can acts of  corrupt  foreign  or domestic policy be denied when physical  evidence exists. The Panama Papers were leaked by an anonymous source, which revealed that world leaders and the business elite were using firms for tax evasion, fraud, or circumventing international sanctions. The documents were leaked from the former corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca. When more corruption is discovered, the greater the amount of public discord grows. Controlling the narrative seeks to keep people passive and accepting of violations or government abuse of power. Some who were active and fought to keep internet freedom alive were not so fortunate. Aron Swartz was a computer programmer and activist for internet freedom. Swartz was the founder of Demand Progress, an organization dedicated to human rights, an open internet, and transparency. Aron Swartz was also involved in the development of RSS, Creative Commons, one of the founders of Reddit, and the Markdown web publishing format. Swartz had the belief that knowledge should be free and available to everyone. Aron Swartz connected a computer to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  network gaining access to academic journals. He was charged with under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Instead of facing a life sentence he chose suicide. Swartz's story is a tragic one, but makes it even more important to be aware about net neutrality and technology related issues. The new era of movements is going to have online activism being a part of their organizing strategies. 

          Internet freedom can protect free speech and expression to a greater extent than previously imagined. Discussions are more open in an online setting. The problem is that  can get more vitriolic and tribal. People have a tendency to associate both online and in real life with others who share their own views. So, a internet  user may not be getting more exposure to different ideas or belief systems. Inevitably they will seeing as the internet is an enormous entity of information. The way in which  a person articulates themselves online differs compared to seeing someone face to face. Online discussion can be more candid, at times more offensive, or too truthful for people to handle. There is a habit for some to impose self-censorship when debating sensitive issues. Certain topics are either ignored or not talked about at all. Racism, sexism, homophobia, police brutality, poverty, or corruption are topics that are avoided in common conversation. The internet through video displays the worst aspects of human cruelty and hatred. Without video sharing  websites, the public would not know the severe extent of police brutality. Generating conversation is the first step to initiating effective change. No topic or subject is off limits in digital space. Content can be violent, extreme, or artistic. The exchange of ideas and art can provide a creative outlet that no other medium can offer. Free speech can also be unlimited as well as expression. While a huge amount of  freedom can be a benefit, it comes with responsibility. Internet users mush be conscious of what they post or share both personally and professionally. Comments or pictures could instigate controversy and condemnation. Words do have power and it is proven with writing. New mediums always have a challenge or establishing appropriate conduct, but this is not a justification for censorship. Free speech and expression cannot exist under a society than wants everyone to adhere to a single mode of thought. The ability to share large amounts of data and information can ensure that free speech and expression has a future. 

       Net neutrality has been under attack and its effects could be devastating. Numerous global challenges do dominate including climate change, war, and poverty. It would seem that internet freedom should be a low priority. However, the only weapon that the oppressed or the struggling have is a platform to expose injustice. The mainstream media has failed in many regards in relation to reporting truth. Alternative media provides a more critical technique to global affairs. The corporate model focuses on establishing on narrative or  presents information based around a politically partisan spectrum. This distorts the view of the world, which is more complex than presented on television. Internet freedom allows a person to get access to different sources. The only way to foster media literacy is to see news from other countries and websites. Consumers must learn to see various media and compare. While some condemn or scapegoat the internet for particular troubles in society, the rise of technology should not be seen as a curse. Outcomes depend on how technology is used. E-commerce, online activism, and the spread of human knowledge is what the internet should be used for. A government controlled internet would be nothing more than a branch of a large propaganda arm. Regulations and laws are required to keep private data safe, stop online piracy,  and prevent cybercrime. However, laws should not be made to reduce a user's access  to information. Copyright should not be used as a means of corporations to hinder fair use. The internet was meant to be free and for everyone. The information age has enabled  the world to become a smaller place. An event that occurs on one part of the globe will effect the rest. More people will know about it and share information. Information technology has ushered in a possible fourth industrial revolution in which computers and artificial intelligence will be a part of our daily  lives.  Internet freedom is a human right, but at the moment few recognize it as such.        

     

Apple Has Become A Trillion Dollar Company

The company that was started by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak has become a trillion dollar company. Apple may have more wealth than the US government in the future. While this is an example of stunning business, it causes complications. The possibility that Apple could use its influence on politics or consumer advocacy would be cause for alarm. If other companies cannot remain competitive, Apple may end up being a monopoly in which consumers have little choice. Microsoft continues to be Apple's main rival  in the field of information technology. However, it does not have the same level of enticement with consumers compared to Apple. Some have criticized the company of creating a technology cult and exploiting customers. There was a void that was left after the death of Steve Jobs. He was an innovator who thought of technology that one would imagine in a science fiction film. This did not harm the profitable company seeing as it reached a milestone in terms of net worth. If  the company has reached a trillion dollar mark, this means there is no legitimate excuse not to increase employee wages or salaries. As long as the principle of supply and demand operate in an economic system there should relative stability. Apple's biggest challenge is to continue to be innovative and produce new technology. If it does not a gradual decline will occur. There comes a time in which companies may fail or deteriorate due to various factors. Apple may face this same fate if it does not continue to explore new hardware, software, or new computing technologies. Simply making iphones with minor variations every few years may not be enough to placate long time customers. Another issue with such immense power of a trillion dollar company is the protection of consumer data. What has occurred with Facebook could be happening with other tech companies . Apple has a responsibility to consumers to protect user data and make terms of service policies clear. Without such regulation,  the right to privacy may be at risk. Apple should also be willing to pay its proper share of taxes. Regardless of popular belief, tax breaks to not encourage growth or more employment. There will be other companies attempting to reach a trillion dollar net worth and this may cause certain social and political problems. The disparity in wealth, a distorted federal income tax,  and the possible stifling of competition and creativity could generate discord in public spaces and the market place.        

Uganda Building Africa's First Solar Powered Bus

Uganda even though it is an oil exporting nation, realizes fossil fuel will not last forever. Engineering students began to design a solar powered bus and this could be the future of transportation. The bus has batteries in the body and solar panels on the roof.  The state owned automobile company known as Kiira Motors Corporation is taking the lead in developing this new type of bus. This is more than just a business venture, it can show that African nations can be technological innovators. It also demonstrates that state owned companies are not less innovative. There seems to be a bias in favor of the private sector when in comes to economic development. This bus will not only reduce pollution, but reduce unpleasant noise made by buses that are powered by the traditional fossil fuels. The bus has the ability to go 80 kilometers before requiring recharge. This also means that Uganda will not be dependent on getting buses imported, when they can produce their own. Gasoline will soon be a fuel of the past and Uganda wants to be ahead when the transition happens. This will in the long term be less expensive compared to the current business model.