Smart, dumb, candybar, flip, and brick: a visual history of mobile phones
For most of their history, mobile phones have been shrinking. Small meant portable; it even, in the not too distant past, was a sort of status symbol. Remember Motorola’s runaway hit, the ultra-thin Razr? But something funny happened on the smartphone’s way to success. Years ago, your colleagues might have laughed at you if you couldn’t fit your phone in your pocket. If screen sizes continue to grow, you might want to invest in bigger pockets, a bulkier handbag, a man purse, or even a whole new way to carry your phone. Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the Razr was Nokia’s runaway hit.
Arizona's ban on ethnic studies classes
Tucson High School Magnet student Evon Moreira protests with fellow students… (James S. Wood ) It's more than a little ironic that the same Arizona Legislature that spearheaded a ruthless, racially charged campaign against illegal immigrants also banned K-12 ethnic studies classes on the grounds that they promote hatred and division. Last month, after a court fight against the ban, the governing board of the Tucson Unified School District pulled the plug on its Mexican American studies program, which teachers say was designed to help middle school and high school students navigate in a complex, multiethnic world. I've never been much of a fan of ethnic studies, mostly because I think the politicized curriculum often lacks rigor and tends to be crammed with early 1970s "victim rhetoric" that can narrow students' sense of possibilities rather than broaden them. Both the ban's author, state Atty. The banishment of Tucson's Mexican American studies program suggests otherwise.
Feeling Anxious? Soon There Will Be an App for That
“I did not notice any positive effect,” one woman with social anxiety who participated in the Harvard study said in an e-mail. “It seemed similar to when I played Scramble or other games on my phone.” In a review of studies of bias modification, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania concluded last year that the technique had a small effect that “significantly modified anxiety but not depression.” The authors noted that there was evidence of what scientists call a “file drawer” problem — in which studies finding no effect are filed away or ignored, while encouraging ones are published. It is perhaps fitting that the largest study to date — by Phil Enock, a graduate student at Harvard; Stefan Hofmann, of Boston University; and Dr. In March 2011, they were flooded, after an article in the Economist magazine about cognitive bias modification mentioned the project. “We’re not exactly excited about that finding; we have no idea what it means,” said Mr.
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Wisconsin Union Battle
The proposal by Mr. Walker, a Republican who was elected in November after pledging that he would get public workers’ compensation “into line” with everyone else’s, is expected to receive support next week in the State Legislature, where Republicans also won control of both chambers in the fall. The prospect left union leaders, state and local employees and some Democrats stunned over the plan’s scope and what it might signal for public-sector unions in the state. Union leaders began planning rallies in Madison and contacting lawmakers, pressing them to reject the idea. Mr. “I’m just trying to balance my budget,” Mr. State leaders across the country have talked about solving budget woes with actions that in other climates might have been politically impossible: cutting the salaries and pensions of government workers and limiting the power of labor unions. Among key provisions of Mr. Mr. But Mr. Wisconsin officials say Mr.
Culture: Leading Scientists Explore Societies, Art, Power, and Technology
by Maria Popova What 14th-century cathedrals have to do with Google, Darwin and the purpose of art’s existence. Yesterday, we devoured The Mind — the first in a series of anthologies by Edge.org editor John Brockman, curating 15 years’ worth of the most provocative thinking on major facets of science, culture, and intellectual life. On its heels comes Culture: Leading Scientists Explore Societies, Art, Power, and Technology — a treasure chest of insight true to the promise of its title, featuring essays and interviews by and with (alas, all-male) icons such as Brian Eno, George Dyson and Douglas Rushkoff, as well as Brain Pickings favorites like Denis Dutton, Stewart Brand, Clay Shirky and Dan Dennett. From the origin and social purpose of art to how technology shapes civilization to the Internet as a force of democracy and despotism, the 17 pieces exude the kind of intellectual inquiry and cultural curiosity that give progress its wings. Images via Flickr Commons Share on Tumblr
The connected company
Many thanks to Thomas Vander Wal for the many conversations that inspired this post. The average life expectancy of a human being in the 21st century is about 67 years. Do you know what the average life expectancy for a company is? Surprisingly short, it turns out. In a recent talk, John Hagel pointed out that the average life expectancy of a company in the S&P 500 has dropped precipitously, from 75 years (in 1937) to 15 years in a more recent study. Why is the life expectancy of a company so low? I believe that many of these companies are collapsing under their own weight. The statistics back up this assumption. This “3/2 law” of employee productivity, along with the death rate for large companies, is pretty scary stuff. I believe we can. Historically, we have thought of companies as machines, and we have designed them like we design machines. 1. A car is a perfect example of machine design. It’s time to think about what companies really are, and to design with that in mind. 1.
