[The future of the digital ecosystem]
In Digital Media class yesterday we were discussing the contents of a World Economic Forum. And what I realised was that the fundamental baseline was profits in which conglomerates could make. Well, how could I not understand that? It was not a World Economic Forum for nothing.

The report titled Digital Ecosystem : Convergence between IT, Telecoms, Media and Entertainment, had summed up three scenarios for the future of the digital world.

And I had moved over from my earlier thoughts of censorship. I used to have individualist ideas about censorship. I still do but I do not know why I made the switch.

In essence, the diagram below illustrates the three possibilities that the system can evolve to - Safe Havens (red), Middle Kingdoms (blue) and Youniverse (yellow). Well if you have studied plural perspectives of political systems, this would be familiar.

Safe Havens are hierarchical where citizens rely on Governments and experts for the way to move. Middle Kingdoms are more egalitarian where support is dependent on each other. And lastly the Youniverse is what you want and is tailored to your needs - individualist.


Source: Screen grab from Digital Ecosystem Community, Envisioning the future of the Digital Ecosystem

If you look at it from an economics view, the left wing would be Safe Havens where there would be a lot of state intervention and control, the Middle Kingdoms are left-of-centre or right-of-centre and lastly, the Youniverse is a free market economy there is little or not control.

Another interesting part of the report was about "netroots". It is not your mere grassroots on the ground but if you may call it, a grassroots organisation in cyberspace.

"... there was the frighteningly strong showing from Congressman Dean Dennis, an anti-corporate ideologue, in the Democratic party presidential primaries. All of his support came from the so-called “netroots”", according to the report.

"Netroots" in Singapore are springing up haphazardly and there is no central strategy nor basis for coordination yet. Maybe we should look at developing some coordination between different "netroot" communities. But until the benefits of doing so hits us (as we are pragmatic people) would it be translated into action.