The human species is a diverse species. The human species is multicultural, multiracial, multireligious, multilingual, multinational, and so forth. Yet, contemporary technology is compressing time and space. Technology in conjunction with urbanization is bringing humans from all walks of life closer and closer together. Humans are being brought closer together by such things as rapid transporation (such as trains, cars, and airplanes) and mass communications (such as the telephone, television, and Internet). There even are some who envision a future of human teleportation. Such a future would be revolutionary beyond anything humans have phantomed, that is, if teleporation were to become a reality one day. Teleportation would shatter all existing human notions about time and space. Over the ages, the diversity of the human species often has been a source of conflict and misunderstanding (albeit other intangible things such as greed, money, egotism, and power also have played historical roles in fostering human conflict).
Credit for Data in Table: The World Bank - "Data Catalog | Data" See Also: World Map | NASA Open Data Portal
Amid this human diversity there also is a trend towards uniformity. For instance, humans have sought to foster a uniform system of measurement on Earth. Most would acknowledge that the metric system is the de facto international system of measurement. Humans have not yet found a way to speak as one, but there are some who contend that English slowly is becoming the de facto international language. Although the euro has gained in popularity at the dawn of the 21st century, generally speaking, many consider the USA dollar to be the de facto international currency. Despite advances towards higher degrees of human uniformity and understanding, many challenges remain. For instance, humans remain multilingual. Humans continue to transact business in many currencies with many valuations.
In computer parlance, one way in which this trend towards human uniformity manifests itself is through the use of standards. One of the hottest topics in the computer industry these days is referred to as data standardization. There is a movement to standardize all data on Earth. The goal is make all data easily convertible into useful information in a variety of formats simultaneously. The linchpin of this data standardization trend is known as SGML. Perhaps the most popular or recognizable offshoot of SGML is HTML. HTML is the principal language used to present websites over the World Wide Web (WWW). HTML, in turn, is buttressed by standards set forth by organizations such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Unicode Consortium.
After HTML, the next leap forward in data standardardization appears to be XML. Related to XML, and partly based on XML, another popular data standardization technology to emerge since the advent of HTML is known as RDF.
Through the use of data standards such as XML and RDF, the idea is to take one data source and make it consumable through multiple platforms and channels at once (that is, the one-to-many technique). To illustrate, take the publishing industry, for instance. The text of a book could be transmitted to publishers in the form of an XML file. Various publisers, in turn, would take that XML file and publish it in various native formats. For instance, one type of publisher would take that XML file and use it to publish a book in the paperback format. Another type of publisher would take that same xml file and use it publish a book in the eBook format to be used, say, on smartphones or eBook readers. The next publisher would take that same xml file and use it to publish a book in the audiobook format. Other types of publishers would take that same xml file and use it to publish a book, say, in the flipbook format or the XHTML (website) format. In much the same sense as money is the chief medium of exchange between the buyer and seller of a product, the idea behind XML is to make it the chief medium of exchange between producers and consumers of data. XML is a standard or uniform way for businesses, governments, organizations, and households to easily and quickly exchange information in a variety of ways.
Not only does XML excel at taking one data source and making it consumable through multiple platforms and channels at once but also XML excels at receiving data from disparate data sources and integrating these disparate sources of data into a single unified framework (that is, the many-to-one technique). An example of the many-to-one technique would be a travel website that receives data feeds (for example, hotel pricing and room availabilty data) from multiple sources and then integrates those different data feeds into a single database to offer users one-stop shopping comparisons (say, for hotel reservations). XML also excels as a many-to-many data dissemination technology.
The following videos and links provide some introductory insights into the emergence of HTML and XML:
The following video and link provide addtional insights into RDF technology:
It should be noted that the quest for data standardization is not without its share of growing pains. For instance, XML is not a standalone or all-in-one technology. XML is a series of technologies. In order for it to work efficiently and realize its full potential, XML must be augmented by ancillary technologies such as DTD, XSD, XSL, XQuery, XPath, XLink, XPointer, and so forth. Complete mastery of XML not only requires mastery of these ancillary technologies but also requires a minimum proficiency in at least one programming language such as Java or JavaScript. On the Water for All page of this website, I mentioned that the job market looks bright for those who choose to study some facet of making clean water available to all humans on Earth. Equally, the job market looks bright for those who choose to study XML and its ancillary technologies.
Web 1.0 was the original World Wide Web in all of its glory. Some view cloud computing as perhaps one of the most popular manifestations of Web 2.0. Some refer to the quest for linked data as the advent of Web 3.0. However, the quest for widespread linked data is more commonly referred to as the semantic web. Linked data derives its functionality from RDF and related technologies.
The following videos provide additional insights into the emerging semantic web:
The following links demonstrate some of the emerging ways to search the infantile semantic web:
Related to the quest for data standardization and linked data is another new trend in the computer industry. This additional trend is known as open data. The concept of open data is not new. Within the computer industry, the concept of open data can be traced to the advent of the World Wide Web. To repeat the snyposis provided on the Back Book Cover page of this website, following is a list of some milestone Internet-related dates in the computer industry.
The following videos offer insights into the emergence of the open data phenomenon:
As of 2012, new technologies have emerged to support and boost the concept of open data. The idea of open data is not to propel humanity into a state of information overload. Instead, the idea of open data is to broaden human knowledge. The idea of open data is to make useful information available to all humans. The benefit of open data lies with its potential for improving the quality of life on Earth. The impact of open data potentially would be felt from the neighborhood level all the way up the chain to the global level.
The following links offer additional insights into and examples of open data in action:
An excellent example of the potential for open data to enhance the quality of life of citizens can be found at the following link:
The chief motivating force behind the birth of SeeClickFix's website was to enable citizens to quickly document and report non-emergency quality-of-life types of issues to local government officials. These non-emergency issues included things such as graffiti, potholes in streets, inoperable vehicles abandoned on streets, inoperable traffic signal lights, inoperable street lamps, garbage and trash dumped in vacant lots, and so forth.
In the case of SeeClickFix, admittedly, local governments do not always have the resources to address all of these fix-it requests in a timely manner. Webites such as SeeClickFix, however, appear to be a good start in the right direction. It should be noted, moreover, that sometimes getting quality-of-life problems fixed is simply a matter of sending the appropriate officials a text message, email, or even placing a phone call:
What is the point of this discussion about data standardization, linked data, open data, and the emerging semantic web? The point in presenting this sometimes abstract and technical information is to inform. The point is to show you the existence of a trend, path, or pattern. The pattern is this: Despite a diverse human species, the emergence of the semantic web signifies that humans increasingly are becoming as one. Humans are finding new ways to make connections, to share the world's knowledge, to solve problems, to improve the human condition, and to achieve a higher quality of life on Earth for all. The ultimate goal of this data openess is for the species Homo sapiens sapiens (human beings) to become wiser, survive, prosper, and thrive.
Obviously, given the benefits of open data and the semantic web, there is a dark side that lurks just beneath the surface. Some possible adverse aspects of open data and the semantic web include the following:
Already a similar problem exists on the current World Wide Web. Unlike the good old days of, say, vinyl records, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, and compact discs where you went to the music store and purchased these items, with the advent of digital content, not many people seem to be willing to compensate the creators and owners of digital content. Many humans seem to want to receive their digital content for free. This no-pay attitude by some appears to have become contagious and seems to apply to all kinds of digital products such as songs, motion pictures, software applications, eBooks, and so forth. Granted there is a lot of legitimate digital content available on the World Wide Web for free, but vast numbers of these digital products are not being offered for free and are for sale. There are many stakeholders whose livelihoods depend on these digital products making a profit. There are many businesses that depend on these digital products making a profit in order to stay in business. Far too many humans seem to be engaged in the practice of obtaining one copy of the digital product, making multiple unauthorized copies of the product, and then giving the copies to friends and acquaintances or selling the pirated or bootlegged copies to others at a steep discount. The rightful owners of these digital products do not get compensated whenever and wherever piracy occurs. The rightful owners of these digital products are deprived of a livelihood in the process. In other words, the digital age has turned many otherwise honest citizens into thieves. Most citizens would not imagine themselves walking into a clothing store and stealing articles of clothing off the shelves and racks. Yet, many of these same citizens think very little of obtaining an unauthorized or bootlegged copy of digital content, say, an eBook, mp3 song, software application, or mpg motion picture.
The following PaySwarm video offers another perspective on the problem of digital piracy. One shortcoming of the PaySwarm commercial strategy is this: Most owners of digital content do not generate lots of visitors on the World Wide Web. Most owners of digital content would be fortunate to receive 1,000 visits to their websites each year let alone 100,000 or 1,000,000 visits. Based on the assumption that the visitor would be willing to pay one cent per visit to the website to peruse, try, or purchase the digital content being offered for sale, then 1,000 visits would equate to $10 per year; 100,000 visits would equate to $1,000 per year; and 1,000,000 visits would equate to $10,000 per year in revenue for the owner of the digital content. Despite this perceived shortcoming, the PaySwarm business model represents a good start in the right direction. Of course, web-based business strategies such as PaySwarm would be one of several avenues for owners of digital content to make money from their content. The World Wide Web is but one channel for owners of digital content to make money. Other channels or commercial venues do exist.
Another interesting and novel approach is called Flattr. Much like the PaySwarm paradigm, the Flattr website allows supporters and creators of digital content, respectively, to make microdonations to and receive micropayments from the other. This website subscribes to Flattr. The catch is that you have to take the time to establish and fund a Flattr account for it to work as intended.
The approaches of World Wide Web giants such as YouTube, Vevo, and Myspace also are commendable. In an effort to help compensate owners of digital content, web giants such as YouTube, Vevo, and Myspace conveniently place a buy-it-now link or button next to the featured music video or song.
Related to the problem of digital piracy, in their study of human behavior and without reference to divine intervention, psychologists such as Sigmund Freud, B. F. Skinner, Albert Bandura, Gordon Allport, and Abraham Maslow have struggled with and sought to answer the question of why do humans behave the way that they do. Why do humans do certain things in the first place? For instance, they wanted to know the answers to questions such as the following ones:
In his hierarchy-of-needs model of human behavior, Abraham Maslow posited that, if the basic necessities of survival are not being met by a society (that is, the human need for food, clothing, and shelter), then members of that society might be tempted to engage in dishonest, immoral, and unethical practices in their quest to obtain the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter simply to stay alive and survive (that is, when opportunities and options for survival are few or scarce in a society). Based on the hierarchy-of-needs model of human behavior, it can be surmised that when the basic necessities of survival, in fact, are being met in a society, then it becomes a matter of free will whether humans choose to engage in dishonest, immoral, and unethical practices. When the basic necessities of survival are being met, then things such as greed, money, power, jealousy, envy, prestige, and lack of education most likely are the predominant forces driving human behavior and compelling some humans to engage in dishonest, immoral, and unethical practices. What is the moral here? If Abraham Maslow is to be believed, then the moral of this story seems to be this: Without recourse to prejudice, civil society diligently ought to try to find ways to offer all of its members meaniful opportunities for survival and prosperity in life. Meaniful opportunities for survival likely would dissuade or discourage citizens from choosing to travel down the dishonest, immoral, and unethical path in life. Perhaps the most critical opportunity that a society could confer upon its citizenry is the opportunity for all members to obtain a good education beginning in early childhood. For, as I mention on the Education for All page of this website, education plays two crucial roles in the human life cycle:
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