Thursday, January 26, 2012

Friedman's Ten Flatteners


During Thomas Friedman’s explanation of his book The World is Flat, he spoke on the second chapter of his book. In this chapter he outlined what he calls the ten flattening moments that brought the globe together. Most of the flattening moments came around the year 2000, and was the dawn of the modern technology age. I think that two of Friedman’s flatteners that were significant to me where one being when Netscape goes public on August 9, 1995 and the other flattener being when work-flow software became available. I feel that Netscape is one because it brought the world the browser and made the Internet easy to use and sharable as Friedman says, “it brought the internet alive.” The other flattener that I thought was significant was the development of work-flow software because it goes hand and hand with Netscape. This is because Netscape brought the Internet together and work-flow software brought people together on their computers. This flattener made it so that no matter what computer you were on, you could be connected with other people that were on different computers.

Looking back only ten years ago I can remember using a computer and those two components not even being an issue; and so I found it interesting that I am grow up right in the middle of all these new and upcoming technologies that I never knew life without. But now that technology is taking it to the next level with computers that you can interact with on different websites such as Skype and Instagram along with many more. Also at some new restaurants that have the new Coke machines that have the touch screen soda dispensers. These machines allow you to have other one hundred different variations of soda. I just found it cool that those two flatteners that Friedman said helped bring the world together, I got the grow up in it and couldn’t really imagine ever living without. 

2 comments:

  1. Tim, first off nice job on your blog. I really like what you said about growing up in the middle of the technological era. I also believe that we have grown up technologically advanced. I like how you remembered that ten years ago you were using a computer I think that really speaks volumes considering I don’t remember what I did last week let alone ten years ago! I liked how you brought up the new soda machines they are installing in the burger kings and McDonalds, I have used one of those and they are really cool and I like all the options they have. McDonalds has recently come up with a new drive through that is apparently revolutionizing the way as drive through works. I haven’t had the opportunity to use one but I hear they are pretty cool. I love how this world is shifting into technology so well. I believe it is a great skill we will all need in the future.

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  2. Hey Tim, I can’t agree with you more that Netscape was a revolutionary search tool for millions of people around the world. Imagine going through high school or even college with only knowledge given to you by your high school and from your college. It would be extremely boring and unfortunate if we never had a working international internet. I also noticed that you are intrigued by all of the programs available such as Skype which has been a tool for managers to hire employees. I have seen firsthand on Skype, an interviewee being interviewed by a panel of businessmen for a new position in their firm. It’s amazing how innovative our generation has been and it’s crazy to think what else we could produce. I haven’t seen those soda dispensers that you are speaking of but if they are like you explained then that is pretty nifty and I hope to see various fast food restaurants around in the near future.

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