Introduction to the Digital Age
Martin Hilbert (Dr., PhD)
Introduction to the Digital Age
Source: The Economist, Hilbert (2011); https://youtu.be/iIKPjOuwqHo
Martin Hilbert (Dr., PhD)
1876
Aristotle
(~350 B.C.)
Abraham Lincoln
(1860)
Image source: Wikipedia commons.
1
Aristotle
(~350 B.C.)
Abraham Lincoln
(1860)
Image source: Wikipedia commons.
Paul Butler (2010), Facebook.com
Paul Butler (2010), Facebook.com; The Economist, Hilbert (2011); https://youtu.be/iIKPjOuwqHo
avg. min. 2013:
 350,000 tweets
 400,000 photos Flickr, Shapchat, Instagram, Facebook
 700,000 Facebook posts
 2,000,000 Google searches
 11 hours of audio SoundCloud
 100 hours of video YouTube
8am
9am
10am
Source:
Paul Butler (2010), Facebook.com;
Wikipedia Commons
TED-Ed. (2013). Visualizing the
world’s Twitter data - Jer Thorp.
http://www.youtube.com
2
Global information storage capacity in optimally compressed MB
2002:
the beginning
of the digital age
50%
% digital:
1%
3%
25 %
94 %
Source: Washington Post, based on Hilbert and Lopez, 2011
What is Information
and Communication
Technology (ICT)?
Digital convergence on the bit
Communication
Smoke &
Trumpet,
Fire Signals, horns
Drums, etc. 100 B.C.
News
paper
1502
Electro
Chappe
magnetic
Telegraph Telegraph
1794
1837
Radio
Tele- broadphone casting
1876
1918
TV
transmission
1927
Cellular
1973
3
Digital convergence on the bit
Communication
Smoke &
Trumpet,
Fire Signals, horns
Drums, etc. 100 B.C.
News
paper
1502
Electro
Chappe
magnetic
Telegraph Telegraph
1794
1837
Radio
Tele- broadphone casting
1876
1918
TV
transmission
1927
Cellular
1973
Digital convergence on the bit
Communication
Smoke &
Trumpet,
Fire Signals, horns
Drums, etc. 100 B.C.
News
paper
1502
Electro
Chappe
magnetic
Telegraph Telegraph
1794
1837
Radio
Tele- broadphone casting
1876
1918
TV
transmission
1927
Cellular
1973
Digital convergence on the bit
Communication
Smoke &
Trumpet,
Fire Signals, horns
Drums, etc. 100 B.C.
News
paper
1502
Electro
Chappe
magnetic
Telegraph Telegraph
1794
1837
Claude Shannon
(1948)
Radio
Tele- broadphone casting
1876
1918
TV
transmission
1927
Cellular
1973
4
What is the role of ICT
for social change?
ICT are always there…
Source: Center for the Digital Future. (2014). 2014 Digital Future Project: Surveying the Digital Future, Year Twelve. USC,
Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcenter.org
…ICT are everywhere…
100
Mobile‐cellular telephone subscriptions
90
Per 100 inhabitants
95.5
Individuals using the Internet
80
Source: ITU, 2014; Center for the Digital Future. (2014). 2014 Digital Future Project: Surveying
the Digital Future, Year Twelve. USC, Annenberg Digital Future. http://www.digitalcenter.org
Fixed‐telephone subscriptions
70
Active mobile‐broadband subscriptions
60
Fixed (wired)‐broadband subscriptions
50
40.4
40
32.0
30
15.8
20
10
9.8
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 2014*
5
…but is it the most important thing out there?
What is more important than ICT?
Make a list!
Source: Wikipedia Commons, Flickr Commons, Pixabay Commons; frikipix; ThisOneSite.com
So what’s the fuzz about the digital revolution ?
"You however, students of this world, never forget
that behind every technology is somebody who is using
it and this somebody is a society... And that technology
is a weapon, and whoever feels that the world is not as
perfect as it should be, should fight, so that the weapon
of technology is used to the benefit of society... so
that we can build the society of the future, no matter
what name it may be given”
ERNESTO (Che) GUEVARA DE LA SERNA
29 August, 1963
Closing address to the International Meeting of Architect Students 1963.
…as a means to the more important ends!
What is more important than ICT?
Make a list!
Source: Wikipedia Commons, Flickr Commons, Pixabay Commons; frikipix; ThisOneSite.com
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Technological determinism vs.
Social construction of technology
outcome
tech
outcome
GOOD
BAD
“Technology is neither good nor
outcome
nor is it neutral” (!)
…just like any other tool…
think about the hammer:
We shape our tools and our tools shape us!
Source: Kranzberg, M. (1986). Technology and History: “Kranzberg’s Laws.” Technology and Culture, 27(3), 544. http://mashable.com/2013/03/09/twitter-revolution/
McLuhan, M., & Lapham, L. H. (1994). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press.
How can we think about the
interplay among technology,
society and policy?
Infrastructure
e-education
e-health
e-business
e-government
Generic services
Capabilities, skills,
culture
Source: Hilbert, Martin, ECLAC, 2002;
Hilbert, M. (2012). Towards a Conceptual Framework for ICT for Development: Lessons Learned from the Latin American “Cube Framework.” ITID, 8(4), 243–259.
7
e-health
e-business
Policy
instruments
e-government
Generic services
Capabilities, skills,
culture
Development
of ICT
e-education
Infrastructure
ICT for
Development
Source: Hilbert, Martin, ECLAC, 2002;
Hilbert, M. (2012). Towards a Conceptual Framework for ICT for Development: Lessons Learned from the Latin American “Cube Framework.” ITID, 8(4), 243–259.
Infrastructure
e-education
e-health
e-business
e-government
Generic services
Capabilities, skills,
culture
Source: Hilbert, Martin, ECLAC, 2002;
Hilbert, M. (2012). Towards a Conceptual Framework for ICT for Development: Lessons Learned from the Latin American “Cube Framework.” ITID, 8(4), 243–259.
Infrastructure
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Infrastructure
e-government
Generic services
Capabilities, skills,
culture
for ICT infrastructure
Incentives
&
financing
in e-government
Infrastructure
Generic Services
Regulation
&
legislation
Generic Services
affects all
e-sectors
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Infrastructure
e-education
e-health
e-business
e-government
Generic services
Capabilities, skills,
culture
Source: Hilbert, Martin, ECLAC, 2002;
Hilbert, M. (2012). Towards a Conceptual Framework for ICT for Development: Lessons Learned from the Latin American “Cube Framework.” ITID, 8(4), 243–259.
What aspects will we cover in
this course?
Global Digital Development
week 2
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Global Digital Development
week 2
e-Readiness Indices
1. ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI)
Source: Minges, 2005, ECLAC United Nations, http://www.eclac.org/SocInfo/
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e-Readiness Indices
1. ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI)
2. Digital Access Index (DAI)
3. Digital Opportunity Index (DOI)
4. Index of Knowledge Societies (IKS)
5. Knowledge Economy Index (KEI)
6. Network Readiness Index (NRI)
7. Technology Achievement Index (TAI)
8. UNCTAD Index of ICT Diffusion
9. UN PAN E-Readiness Index
10. World Bank ICT Index.
11. Orbicom Digital Divide Index
12. Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) e-readiness
13. Composite index of technological capabilities (ArCo)
Source: Minges, 2005, ECLAC United Nations, http://www.eclac.org/SocInfo/
Technological Change
week 3
Sources: Xerox Palo Alto Research Center; Lord Karnage. (2009). Classic Game Room HD - PONG for Nintendo DS / GBA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrezFjGF-Kg
12
13
Source: destinygame. (2014). Official Destiny Live Action Trailer – Become
Legend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZyQK6kUdWQ
Rockstar Games. (2013). Grand Theft Auto V: Official Gameplay Video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-xHcvug3WI
Social Evolution
week 4
Our […] age:
• “Digital Age” (Negroponete, 1995)
• “Post-industrial society”
• “Fifth Kondratiev”
• “Information Society”
• “Network Society”
(Bell, 1973)
(Perez, 1983)
(Webster, 1995)
(Castells, 1996)
• “Age of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)”
(Freeman and Louça, 2001)
Long waves through General Purpose Technologies
Stone-age:
2.000.000 – 3.300 B.C.
= 1.996.700 years
Bronze-age:
3.300 – 1.200 B.C.
= 2.100 years
Iron-age:
1.200 – 586 B.C.
= 614 years
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Information and
Communication
Technologies (ICT)
How does society evolve?
Progress
Automobile,
aircraft
J.A. Schumpeter
(1883-1950)
Electrical
engineering
Steam-engines
Water wheels
Stone
tools
Bronze
tools
Iron
tools
2,000,000bc 3,300bc 1,200bc 1780 1848 1895 1940 1973 20??
TIME
Source: Hilbert and Cairo, 2008; Cristopher Freeman et al. As time goes by, 2001. Schumpeter, (1939). Business Cycles: A Theoretical, Hist., & Stat. Analysis of the Capitalist Process. Digitalization and its Effects
weeks
5&6
Digitalization
Digital Footprint
Timeless Time
Death of Distance
Poly-directionality
Netw ork Structure
Netw ork Externalities
Economies of Scale
Media Richness Selection
Exposure Selection
Algorithmification: A.I.
etc.
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Day of a digital life of a college student: http://www.meograph.com/aeleong/155547/characteristics‐of‐digitization
Digitalization & Amazon: http://www.meograph.com/rthatcher/154368/digital‐
technologymaking‐the‐world‐smaller
Big Data & e‐Science
week 7
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqjKTW3wJZ8 ; De Montjoye, et al. (2013). Unique in the Crowd. Scientific Reports, 3. Frias‐Martinez & Virseda (2013). Cell Phone Analytics: Scaling Human Behavior Studies into the Millions. ITID, 9(2), pp. 35–50.
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Sources: Bohemia Interactive Simulations, http://youtu.be/G9P9bUTCdpA ; TRANSIMS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7kq0ITAys ; Epstein, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZZJCIGtVkw
Computational Social Science
week 8
Globalization &
Human Development
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Unfinished globalization
global flow of capital, without global mobility or social systems, with partial global governance Digital Divide
week 9
Diffusion on networks
Wilensky, U. (1999). NetLogo. The Center for Connected Learning (CCL) and
Computer-Based Modeling. Retrieved from https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/
18
Telecommunication capacity of countries
Telecom: OECD vrs. the rest of world (fixed and mobile Internet and telephony CAPACITY per capita)
100101
000101
100001
50 kbps
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
5 kbps
700 kbps
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
50 kbps
= 10
1001011010101010
1010000011010111
1011010100101011
1010110100101010
1010100111111000
1010111000110101
0100000111000111
= 14
100101
000101
100001
1001
0011
2001
2006
Source: Hilbert, M. (2013), Technological information inequality as an incessantly moving target: The redistribution of info. and communication capacities between 1986 and 2010. Journal of the Assoc. for Info. Science and Technology. http://www.martinhilbert.net/TechInfoInequality.pdf
Public Policies & Private Strategies
week 10
Digital Strategy Building
2005
2010
2007
Guiding Principles World Summit
Short term Action Plan
Río de Janeiro 2005
Long term goals World Summit
Short term Action Plan
San Salvador 2008
Benchmarking
and evaluation
El Salvador
2007
2015
Short term Action Plan
Lima 2010
Benchmarking
and evaluation
Peru 2010
Benchmarking
and evaluation
Mexico 2015
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…and now something completely different: Study orientation,
learning recommendations,
and course philosophy
What this course is about and what not: It is NOT about:
 Testing how “smart” you are
 Teaching you methods or math It IS about:
•
Preparing you to work more effectively and efficiently in a professional setting: What’s the difference between a junior and a senior professional?
 Filling up the “hard disk” = work = hours (sorry: no shortcut available…)
 Developing an information filter in an information overloaded world
 Knowledge application:



Making sure the content is correct
Making sure the content is meaningful to you
Making sure that the content is actively available
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…just a friendly reminder: input 1 = money
How much does it cost you / your sponsor to take this class?
…just a friendly reminder: input 1 = money
http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/cost/
http://catalog.ucdavis.edu/ugraded/lsreqt.html
180 / 4 years = 45 credits per year
$ 35,000 per year / 45 credits per year ≈ $ 775 per credit
 $775 * 4 credits = $ 3,100 per 4 credit course!
 more than $ 300 per week!
…just a friendly reminder: input 1 = money
http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/cost/
http://catalog.ucdavis.edu/ugraded/lsreqt.html
180 / 4 years = 45 credits per year
$ 35,000 per year / 45 credits per year ≈ $ 775 per credit
 $775 * 4 credits = $ 3,100 per 4 credit course!
 more than $ 300 per week!
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…just a friendly reminder: input 2 = time
How much time do you spend per week on a
4 credit class?
…just a friendly reminder: input 2 = time
http://academicsenate.ucdavis.edu/committees/committee-list/coci/policies-and-procedures.cfm
Suggestions: how to get most out of your time & money!
Lectures: optimize your time investment into lectures
 Concentrate and listen fully!
 Actively take notes and already check for understanding
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Suggestions: how to get most out of your time & money!
Lectures: optimize your time investment into lectures
 Concentrate and listen fully!
 Actively take notes and already check for understanding
Studying: learning means reviewing
 Review your notes immediately after finishing
www.flickr.com/photos/birthintobeing/11841180046/
www.docstoc.com/docs/136443989/Hebbs-Rule
Suggestions: how to get most out of your time & money!
Lectures: optimize your time investment into lectures
 Concentrate and listen fully!
 Actively take notes and already check for understanding
Studying: learning means reviewing
 Review your notes immediately after class
 Study groups
 Ask questions on the Q&A platform
Assignments: excellence is not a skill or trait, it’s a habit
 Take them seriously
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Rating
Characteristics
Full Points
The author responds to all aspects of the assigned question in a consistently forceful manner that
is not only thoughtful, but also thought‐provoking. The post is focused and coherently integrates
innovative examples with formal concepts. The author does not leave any doubt on how the
judiciously‐chosen examples relate to the concepts treated by the question. The post
demonstrates that the author understands the concepts and is able to negotiate their
complexities in a provocative, controlled and insightful manner. The author considers multiple
perspectives when appropriate. The entry reflects in‐depth engagement with the topic. The
comment is written eloquently, does not contain grammatical errors or typos, and is written in an
engaging way that opens up new substantial discussions and collective conversation.
Points discounted

The author does not display maturity in sentence variety, grammar, spelling, and usage.
Surface errors are common, which distracts the reader from following the argument.

The post is not reasonably focused and does not respond fully to all aspects of the question.

The author mentions examples, but does not explain how they relate to the concepts treated
by the question. Connections between ideas are suggested rather than explained in an
illustrative manner. Though examples and new insights are offered, they are not fully
developed.

The post simply rehashes previous comments or comments made elsewhere, and displays no
evidence of active and creative engagement with the topic.
Learn how to read efficiently!
Normal book page
= 250 words per page
Fine-print essay
= 450 words per page
 450 * 40 pages
= 18,000 words per week
www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2012/06/04/do-you-read-fast-enough-to-be-successful/
Meaningful tests? How can a multiple choice test prepare you for the real world?
What questions will NOT appear on the exam:
Even so you do not really know what it means, which one of the following concepts have
you vaguely heard being mentioned in class or saw in one of the readings. Don't stop and
think about it, simply put a check-mark on the concept you remember and move on quickly.
a) Pink elephants
b) Asymptotic equipartition property
c) Technological Determinism
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Suggestions: how to get most out of your time & money!
Lectures: optimize your time investment into lectures
 Concentrate and listen fully!
 Actively take notes and already check for understanding
Studying: learning means reviewing
 Review your notes immediately after class
 Study groups
 Ask questions on the Q&A platform
Assignments: excellence is not a skill or trait, it’s a habit
 Take them seriously
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