Archive for November 2008

Sustainable Living in Second Life

http://learnonline.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/sustainability-considerations-relating-to-the-use-of-second-life-for-education/
by Leigh Blackall at http://learnonline.wordpress.com
This blog post reviews issues of sustainability in virtual worlds, specifically in Second Life.  She discusses the energy and resource implications of supporting Second Life — the materials and energy used by individual actors as well as the infrastructure required to support the network.  She further discusses behaviors and practices of [...]

Company: Better Place

http://www.betterplace.com/
Better Place, a company in the emerging alternative fuels industry, has an innovative idea.  They will be the fueling network for a new line of electric cars manufactured by Nissan.  Better Place will supply batteries, charging locations, battery switching stations, and the necessary software components.
The business model has similarities to the mobile phone industry model. [...]

Photo: Exactitudes

http://www.exactitudes.com
Extensive project shot over 14 years portraying people’s identities as a function of their fashion.
Images from the exactitudes project: 59. Mininas – Praia 2004

Description from the website:
Rotterdam-based photographer Ari Versluis and profiler Ellie Uyttenbroek have worked together since October 1994. Inspired by a shared interest in the striking dress codes of various social groups, they have [...]

Lib O’Congress on flickr

“Yes. We really are THE Library of Congress” says the flickr profile page.
http://www.flickr.com/people/library_of_congress/
The LOC is uploading images to flickr and inviting viewers to add tags. The goal is to share images, to experiment with socially constructed taxonomies, and to start wading among the people of the tubes.
The LOC is following these general guidelines with respect [...]

Company: Benetech

http://www.benetech.org/
Our goal is simple: to create new technology solutions that serve humanity and empower people to improve their lives. Day by day, we’re helping build a better, safer world. -from the company website
This company has an inspirational mission and projects.  The work Benetech has done includes tools for improving literacy, and aiding human rights campaigns [...]

Company: Ushahidi

http://www.ushahidi.com/
Welcome to Ushahidi, which means “testimony” in Swahili, where we are building a platform that crowdsources crisis information. Allowing anyone to submit crisis information through text messaging using a mobile phone, email or web form. -from company website
Another company with an inspirational goal.  Ushahidi develops software that allows people to report human rights abuses using [...]

DRCA: Aravind Eye Clinic

Sonesh Surana spoke about working in rural eye clinics and the challenges and constraints of these environments.  He mentioned problems with infrastructure and solutions.
We’ve heard from many different people about a variety of projects and most have mentioned unforeseen constraints and challenges.  This makes me wonder about what things we can generalize about and prepare [...]