Electronic and Mobile Commerce 2.0- Hamid's Blog

We Shape the Rules and the Rules Shape Us

2007-02-14T02:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I am imagining myself going back to past generation, when mobile phone and internet haven’t existed and thinking how miserable my life would be without those two things. But then, I reconsider my thought when I realize that actually, my life will be just OK, coz even for me, having my own mobile phone was only started when I was in high school. During that time, once a week is the most frequent period for me to use the internet and my life’s just fine.

Then I realize that something have changed in my standard of living. That mobile phone and internet have been a crucial part of my life where I just can’t live without it; people around me can’t live without it. It is amazed me to see that in the history of human civilization, there is a part where technology have an important role in shaping the society, structuring the way they communicate, and even forming the rules of human life.

Last week lecture gave me a complete point of view on how this phenomena really works and on how the technology have changed the rules of human life. Based on the lecture, rules are defined as normative codes or prescriptions that guide, control, or alter decision-based behavior. It consists of 5 aspects, they are natural laws; human capabilities; collective and individual norms; local, national, and international law; and technological capabilities and standards.

As it is not possible to change natural law, so technology can do nothing about it (i.e. we can’t vanished or reduce the earth gravitational force so that all of use can fly, can we?). For human capabilities, it is quite tricky because as we can see, with the help of technology, human have more capabilities to do more things than before. But, in my opinion, technology does not change it, it is still as it is, what it does is only explore it more. So I can consider that technology does not change human capabilities.

The next 3 factors, called standard, norm, and law, change over time with the advancement of technology. I have explained above on how technology has changed my standard of living, but actually, human standards of living also determine how technology is developed. As example, as multitasking is part of our standard, so we demand technology to provide a gadget which can be used for many kind of tasks. Other example is on how technologies R&D try to make smaller and smaller electronic device as human deal with limited availability of spaces.

Technology has changed our norm and law in the same way and it is very easy to find the example that I do not need to explain more here. My point is that, there are interactions between technology and rules, and it is not a one way interaction, but both ways. Technology changes the rules of the society and the rules determine on how the technology evolve.

But then in higher point of view, I realize that actually human creates the technology, which means human creates the rules. It is actually contradict the definition of rules as code to guide, control or even alter human behaviors. How could it controls human behavior if at the same time, human has the same power to change the rules? Again, it actually has the same conclusion that actually human and rules have a dynamic interactions where we can shape the rules, and the rules can shape us. Even though the whole ideas seem simple, but I found a very complex interaction here, which is expected in explaining social phenomena like this.

Suddenly, my mind recalls a very interesting dialogue taken from one of my most favorite movie, the second sequel of matrix trilogy films: Matrix Reloaded.

Councillor Harmann: Down here, sometimes I think about all those people still plugged into the Matrix and when I look at these machines I... I can't help thinking that in a way... we are plugged into them.
Neo: But we control these machines; they don't control us.
Councillor Harmann: Of course not. How could they? The idea is pure nonsense. But... it does make one wonder... just... what is control?
Neo: If we wanted, we could shut these machines down.
Councillor Harmann: [Of] course. That's it. You hit it. That's control, isn't it? If we wanted we could smash them to bits. Although, if we did, we'd have to consider what would happen to our lights, our heat, our air...
Neo: So we need machines and they need us, is that your point, Councilor?
Councillor Harmann: No. No point. Old men like me don't bother with making points. There's no point.
Neo: Is that why there are no young men on the council?
Councillor Harmann: Good point.

(source : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234215/quotes)

No offence for old men :D

Are the crowds wise enough?

2007-01-31T22:45:00.000-08:00

Attending the 3rd lecture last week about the wisdom of the crowd was somehow answering some questions that have been staying around my mind for sometime. Maybe it is not directly related to the topic that we discussed, but I found some point in this topic that related to this matter. What I am trying to say is about political issue in my country, Indonesia.

As you know, before the monetary crisis in 1997-1998, Indonesia was rules by Suharto for more than 30 years. We call that era as “orde baru” which means, new era after the old era under Sukarno. One main differences about Indonesia under Suharto and Indonesia at the present time is about the freedom of speech, where before was very limited. As example, it was very easy to ban the newspaper who criticizes the government on Suharto era.

But now, freedom of speech is something that Indonesian citizen can enjoy. News contain critics to the government is something that we can find in daily basis. Same things happen in the Parliament. Before it was like a choir sing a “yes” song every time they made a decision. But now, we can find the Member of Parliament argue to each other opinions.

As I believe that democracy, which contains the freedom of speech where every one can express their opinion freely, is the thing that will bring my country to a better situation. Because, when anyone can express their opinion, I believe that we can find the best solution for all. The most important improvement that I expect to happen was the significant decrement in corruption, as a leader can not easily do the corruption as people around him will watch him.

However, what I expect to happen is not really happen. We can find an improvement here and there but it is not really as what I was thinking what it would be. Somehow, Indonesia becomes a very crowded place. Newspaper is uncontrollable and sometime unethical, and the worst thing is, the corruption is still on its previous rate. All of these things make me reconsider what I believe before. Maybe, the democracy is not the answer. Maybe freedom of speech is not suitable in my country. And maybe, the crowd is not wise enough to find the solution on the very complicated problem in Indonesia.

But last week, I kind of find the answer that actually, the wisdom of the crowd is like the two sides of the coins. It can be something that makes the things worse, and at the same time it can be something that makes things better. There are at least three pre-condition needed to make the wisdom of the crowd becomes something constructive. It has to be diverse, independence and decentralize& aggregate.

Diversity is the first precondition. Diversity in this case is refers to diversity of opinion which will expand the number of possible solutions to problem and lead to higher possibility to find the best solution. It is useless to have lots of opinion which are not diverse, because it will not lead to the new ways of solving the problem. With high number of possible solution, group can also find the new way to solve the problem that never been thought before.

The second precondition is Independence. It is important to ensure that people’s opinion is not influenced by other’s people opinion. Because if they are not independence in making the decision, the firs problem arise is the opinion will not be diverse. Other than that, the problem that will lead groups in making wrong decision is that one person’s mistakes will be linked to the other group member’s mistakes as his decision is influenced by the person who makes mistakes. As result, the groups will most likely make a wrong decision.

Finally, the third precondition is that the opinions have to be decentralized and aggregated. As all members of the group need to make contribution, the way of collecting opinion have to be decentralized. It will guarantee that no one at the top is dictating the group’s answer. When it comes to a decision, there is must be a way to summarize all the opinion so that the decision made is an aggregate decision.

By having those three preconditions to facilitate a group to make a decision, constructive crowd intelligence will be achieved. However, of course, it is not easy to create an environment which meets all three preconditions. But actually, it is the reason why, internet technology with web 2.0 become a new revolution in the computer industry. Wikipedia, Google, Youtube or even Blog is an example on how powerful the wisdom of the crowd is when the entire precondition is achieved.

I think I don’t have to explain further how wikipedia so successful in replacing the old heavy and bulky traditional encyclopedia with so many reason. But the main reason is simply because wikipedia, where people from all around the world can contribute has wisdom of the crowd, crowd intelligence which is smarter that the smartest people in the world.

Back again to the problem in Indonesia, I assume that those precondition is not exist in Indonesia. That’s why even when people can freely speak out their opinion, the powerful wisdom of the crowd is not exist. However, I do realize that it is not the only reason. Even when all precondition have been achieved, not necessarily all problem will be fixed easily.

There is actually, at least one more thing to considerate, which is what kind of issue that we need to make a decision of. For some issue which is free of value, e.g. technical issue, the best solution maybe will be obtained easily. But for some issue where people’s value involved in it like political or religion issue, wisdom of the crowd will not straight away be achieved, even though all preconditions have been achieved.

Wisdom of the crowd is anyway, just a method to find the best solution of a problem. It maybe, for some cases is better than other methods, but it is still not perfect. Finally, I conclude that there is no perfect method that is created by human, unless if it comes from God. :)

And my choice goes to...

2007-01-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

After two weeks in the midst of confusion to choose the last subject to take from the list of business minor subject available this semester, finally I choose this subject to be taken in fulfilling the requirement of minor in business.

Well, actually this subject is not really fitting the criteria of the subject that I prefer to take, cause the first criteria that I set is that it should has less assignment as possible. Since I have started to do my final year project this semester, time is something that I have to care the most. Unfortunately, from the assignment list on the blackboard, I believe that it most likely will not meet the criteria.

So, why do I take it anyway? Well, to be very frank, the first reason is because my friends also take this subject, so at least, I will not be alone here. And the second reason is I kind of feel that this subject will be interesting. From the materials uploaded in the blackboard, I believe that I will learn a lot from this subject, and when I know that I also have to create a blog to review the entire lesson learned and make comment on it, I knew that I will enjoy this subject. I simply like to write, I already have my own blog, it rarely updated though, and I somehow have a problem with self-management. So, since it is compulsory to update this blog, I will have obligation to write and update it often :)

Well, that’s all for the first post. I missed the first two seminars, but hopefully I can catch up by reading the seminar slide and others blog. Again, hopefully this subject will be interesting and enriching... Cross Your Fingers.... :D