reflections on the technium

For this installment of Brown Bag at the Movies we will be viewing (abstract below):

• Google container data center tour  6:37
  
• Which Way Next? with Guest Peter Diamandis, Abundance author  53:56

05-08-2012  +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

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CEP COMMENT:  Abundance or Scarcity? Half empty or half full? Which camp are you in?

Which Way Next? with Guest Peter Diamandis, Abundance author
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aEAPArFtuAQ#!>
53:56
ABSTRACT

“April 11, Singularity University’s Live Webcast series, Which Way Next?, featured Dr. Peter H Diamandis, co-founder and chairman of Singularity U, in discussion with Salim Ismail about his new best-selling book, Abundance — The Future Is Better Than you Think.

“Diamandis presented the case that the world is getting better at an accelerating rate through the convergence of four powerful forces: the exponential advancement of technology, DIY (Do It Yourself) innovators, Techno-philanthropists, and the Rising Billion, which, acting together, will create abundance in the areas of clean water, nutritious food, affordable housing, personalized education, top-tier global health care, and ubiquitous energy — helping to solve humanity’s biggest challenges.

“Diamandis co-authored Abundance with award-winning technology writer Steven Kotler, bringing together decades of data and extensive interviews with hundreds of innovators and entrepreneurs, including Larry Page, Steven Hawking, Dean Kamen, Daniel Kahneman, Elon Musk, Bill Joy, Stewart Brand, Jeff Skoll, Ray Kurzweil, Ratan Tata, and Craig Venter.

“The Wall Street Journal called Abundance “a manifesto for the future that is grounded in practical solutions.” The Economist Magazine said it was “a godsend for those who suffer from Armageddon fatigue!” – Sir Richard Branson said: “Abundance provides proof that the proper combination of technology, people and capital can meet any grand challenge.”

“Peter Diamandis co-founded Singularity University with Ray Kurzweil in 2008, and currently serves as its Chairman and a member of the Faculty. He is also Founder and Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and launching large incentive prizes to drive radical breakthroughs in the areas of exploration, energy and environment, education, global development and life sciences. Diamandis is a leading speaker on innovation, counseling senior business leaders how to utilize exponential technologies and incentivized innovation to dramatically accelerate their business and career objectives. Dr. Diamandis earned a BS in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from MIT, and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He is also known for “Peter’s Laws,” including “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself!”

Book:  Abundance

“Singularity University’s Which Way Next? webcast series is produced live on the campus of Singularity University and sponsored by VentureBeat, a media company covering amazing technology and why it matters in our lives.

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OTHER NEWS:  Modular data center being built <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BysVEvTJRMc&feature=player_embedded>
All Hands Active in Ann Arbor is a Makerspace for both Adults and Kids <http://tv.slashdot.org/video/?embed=xtNHFnNDpfpGWA7Eu7YKMe7IrY0INIHF>

FUTURE CANDIDATES  /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

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CEP COMMENT:  

Peter Diamandis – The best way to predict the future
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KxckI8Ttpw&feature=related>
1:46:10
ABSTRACT

“Peter Diamandis, Chairman and Co-Founder of Singularity University, discusses the best way to predict the future, and shares his personal philosophies on innovation and the commercial space industry. Flimed at Singularity University’s Executive Program, March 2010.

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CEP COMMENT:  

TEDxImperialCollege – John Graham-Cumming – The Greatest Machine That Never Was
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzAL5YwFow&feature=player_embedded>
12:36
ABSTRACT

“The computer was invented in the 30s: not the 1930s, but the 1830s. British mathematician Charles Babbage designed and prototyped a fully functional mechanical computer he called the Analytical Engine, but it was never completed. Now a team in Britain plans to build the machine for display at London’s Science Museum before the 2030s come around.

John Graham-Cumming,  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Graham-Cumming>

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CEP COMMENT:  

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? (part 1)
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&feature=relmfu>
20:04
ABSTRACT

“Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

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CEP COMMENT:  

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! (part 2)
<http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html>
17:58
ABSTRACT

“In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning — creating conditions where kids’ natural talents can flourish.

“Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’re educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence.

BIO

Ken Robinson: Author/educator <http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Robinson_%28British_author%29>
“Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’re educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence.

“Why you should listen to him:

“Why don’t we get the best out of people? Sir Ken Robinson argues that it’s because we’ve been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers.  Students with restless minds and bodies — far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity — are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences. “We are educating people out of their creativity,” Robinson says. It’s a message with deep resonance. Robinson’s TEDTalk has been distributed widely around the Web since its release in June 2006. The most popular words framing blog posts on his talk? “Everyone should watch this.”

“A visionary cultural leader, Sir Ken led the British government’s 1998 advisory committee on creative and cultural education, a massive inquiry into the significance of creativity in the educational system and the economy, and was knighted in 2003 for his achievements. His latest book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, a deep look at human creativity and education, was published in January 2009.

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CEP COMMENT:  

Peter Diamandis: Abundance is our future
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BltRufe5kkI&list=PL8BA23D3B75817839&index=28&feature=plpp_video>
16:15
ABSTRACT

“Onstage at TED2012, Peter Diamandis makes a case for optimism — that we’ll invent, innovate and create ways to solve the challenges that loom over us. “I’m not saying we don’t have our set of problems; we surely do. But ultimately, we knock them down.”

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CEP COMMENT:  

TEDxImperialCollege – Joanis Holzigel – e.quinox: The Power to Impact
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL7l6xayvb8&feature=relmfu>
9:44
ABSTRACT

“Joanis takes you to Kavure, a village located in southern rural Rwanda near the border to Burundi. Here he will show you how he and his fellow students from e.quinox <http://e.quinox.org/> managed to install an electrification project in this village together with the UN-habitat, and what lessons they learned from this experience.

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