Cyberspace VOICE Conference Outcome

See London Cyberspace Conference Outcomes out lines the immediate things the governments around the world need to begin to address to allow safe, secure and freedom of speech, for all people.  In terms of ensuring access for all people, enabling every individual to participate in a globalises economy, immediate action from governments world wide to address many infrastructure needs. I believe the UN also has a role to play in assisting developing nations in this area. If my 10 year old niece can access the internet and my 14 year old nephew his iphone, then education levels are no longer a challenge software companies need to overcome. In terms of cyber crime and internet & mobile technology security, while international law agency, governments and software designers all have a role to play, we as individual users need to take personal responsible to protect our devices, privacy and intellectual property. I look forward to sharing more on the issues raised here and among other participants in the coming weeks.   

Messages gleaned from day one

There has been some debate over the ability of this conference to provide solutions to the challengers our digital age presents. But was this ever the mission of this conference? As I understood it the conference was to open discussion and debate. Surely before questions can be answer and solutions found, we must beware of the complexities of the challengers before us.

I feel we would also be prepared to concede not all challengers will be meet. We have already wittiness debate our safety and security online. Put simply my opinion is crocks are crocks. If a individual seeks to engage in criminal activities and activities the harm others such as making viruses that attack our computers and mobile devices then, no matter how suffocated we design on security there will always be individuals seeking to out smart the online security teams.

Also one day one, concerns over freedom of speech and censorship were expressed. The Internet with a platform of such open avenues for the expressions of ideas, thoughts, feelings and beliefs come dangers. Knowledge in the wrong hands can be dangerous. Censorship has been around in one from or another since the ability to publish emerged. Although it is easy to highlight the tendency of some countries governments to censor what residences and citizens have access to in terms or social media, we much we remember that censorship is part of the every media we read, listen to, watch and are exposed to via the Internet and the many social networks we access.

In many was these challenges being discussed are not exclusively cyberspace challengers. Rather they are the globalization of threats within main stream society which continues to be corrupt by greed, power and lust. The challenge before us is twofold. One we must continue to address these issues on the human front in mainstream society, secondly these to address at policy-making  level 

Nowhere in the globalise economy are the difference in social-economics and developments in local infrastructure more obvious than in cyberspace.  The haves and have-nots may not have faces but the ability to participate, engage and earn a living in a cyberspace economy is worlds apart.  A system that has the greatest potential to unite us divides us like never before. 

The real challenge before us and once I believe can be and must be address is technological infrastructure, both in rural areas in the western world, socio-economical  challenged urban area, indigenous cultures and developing countries. I believe only when everybody at least has affordable and reliable access to the Internet and mobile technology can we truly claim to live in a globalise economy.

Developing my online VOICE

Earlier the month I posted on the negative impact that living in this digital age can have on our health. As a participant in Australia’s National Health Awareness Month, I have naturally been monitoring my health more closely. Strangely, after identifying such large negative impact living in a digital age with technology and thus our work lives on tap 24/7; I have been noticing so pretty powerful positive changes in my health and well being due to the birth of the internet and mobile technology.     

As a person with multiple disabilities the introduction of computers, mobile phones and other technological devices I believe has lead to a greater quality of life and increased my ability to participate in the life of the community and most certainly given me a voice. Something the recent death of Steve Jobs the co-founder of Apple, gave me case to reflect upon.

Certainly without my bulkily Apple II e completing my degree would of taking me many more years. Today as a writer the internet gives much more powerful voice to my work. One of the challenges I face as a write with a disability is the distribution and marketing of my work. Via the internet in particular social media I am developing an international network with other writers, publishers and bloggers. Without the internet networking on an international level was much more difficult.

Being a fairly new convert to the pool of social media, I am still very much in the process of establishing my online profile, which is why I am very excited about the Internet conference taking place this week. It a great opportunity to read what others are doing, and interact with internet users around the world to assist me in my development of my online voice.  Which of course was the major reason behind me developing this particular blog, I currently manage 6 six blogs and two Facebook pages, besides my personal page.

Facebook which until beginning of last year, I was determine to never join, is now my link to the world. I receive regular updates (or status posts as there known as on facebook) from almost every  organisation I interact with on a professional basis on my Facebook page. OK so I get annoyed at spending 1hr each morning reading my newsfeeds, but I don’t spend hours reading email newsletters and checking individual websites for updates any more. On my Facebook wall each morning is the readers digest of what happening in my professional network system. I even have an events page which has all my internet commitments and I can invite others to personal and professional events and my RSVP and notification and managed from one central point.

Back in the dinosaur world of paperwork, I endure the endless trials of keeping two diaries for personal use and one work so I can submit my work hrs. The number of work things I fail to record in my personal diary and then double book.  Oh the joys of being self-employed and flexible work hours.  Well facebook has elevated some double booking.

Like everything technology and the Internet has the potential to be abused and misused. This potential for negative impacts on our health and increase social isolation did not develop with the introduction of the internet and mobile devices. Only the way we chose to misuse, abuse and damaged our mental well being has changed.

I think we forget we control technology and the need to be alert to the dangers of letting it control our lives is a constant threat. As wonderful as the devices are there is one human task that can’t be undertaken by a computerised object and that is time management. If you are pulling all-nighters, suffering from lack of sleep or become glued to a keyboard, mobile phone and ipad, believe me it is not the fault of the device you’re using. I believe responsible use of technology has great potential benefits in a number of areas of our lives.

I begun my post by reflecting on the positive impact I had notice my internet and mobile technology has had during Australia’s National Health Awareness Month. Due to social networking sites I have actually increased my social interaction. Which is surprising as one of my main objections to joining Facebook was “I have a real life”, as opposed to ‘Facebook’ friends.  At the time many of my friends were caught up in the “Farmville” crazy. All there crops have died and now I am the Facebook fanatic.

The other benefit is I am achieving my writing goals and when I am writing my overall sense of scarification in life and sense of wellbeing have increased. My involvement in BAD #11 was a direct result of my time on Facebook and a link being posted on my wall by an charity I support. I am seeking to find a focus and outlet for my writing so any post of my wall that allows me to explore opportunities I take time read, research and explore.

I know many of my ‘Facebook friends’, don’t follow or subscribe to my blogs so I always put a link to my blog posts in the hope that they are bored and will read my post or share the post with others.  At the head of my blog is a poem called Online it pretty much describes my online lifestyle.

There probably one more benefit to developing an online voice as a result of one of my disabilities I have a speech impairment, in my daily life creates a barrier to some people. In a time poor society people lack the time to listen to my ‘real’ voice. So I am often prejudged as having and intellectual disability which is the case in some people with Cerebral Palsy, but not in mine. Currently in cyberspace and the texting world my speech impairment is non existence. Well at least to we change to skyping and video chat.     

Enjoy using the Internet and your mobile devices just don’t let them use you.