Can we make the world flat?
Sumant Mandal - July 09, 2005
Technology seems to be leveling the playing field. Thomas Friedman sure thinks so -- read the first 3 chapters of his book, The World Is Flat. Intentblog is showing the power of two way (and many to many) communication and how the world can connect through the internet.
Lets think about this on a larger level. Microfinance and micropayments enabled through technology have proven that they work, and have great potential.
So, what stops the world of microfinance, enabled through the internet, help a host of small entrepreneurs, artists and artisans from creating a market for their work available to the rest of the world?
Is the concern that connecting interested buyers to interesting value creators still ineffecient or are people concerned about the cost of moving physical goods from one part of the world to another? (Got to tell you, virtual items - items that only exist online - are a multi hundred million market on Ebay - maybe artists of the future create a virtual painting that is transported over the internet and printed out at a local kinko's to be hung in a house?)
Does the creation of value matter or does brand matter on the internet?
I'd love to see a puppet maker in the middle of Rajasthan, or a musician in Durban give the Disney's and Sony's of the world some heartburn. Can this ever happen?
Lets try to put these thoughts out there and get people to start being appreciated (creating wealth is a part of that) - maybe some of the frustration that leads to violence in the world will get less.
Sumant Mandal
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Posted by Sumant Mandal at July 9, 2005 09:04 PM
Comments
"Technology seems to be leveling the playing field. Thomas Friedman sure thinks so -- read the first 3 chapters of his book, The World Is Flat."
I think Friedman and most futurist writers feel something similar when they gush about new technology: "gee, wow, whoa!" *Of course* the net is flatenning hierarchies, of course the car made distance shrink, etc. They pretend that the obvious consequences of these technologies (more business comes from far away) is a real revolution.
A real revolution would be if people didn't try to modernize India the normal way, in which a mad-race ensues to get the biggest piece of the pie for yourself, damn the consequences. A world "intended" to be fair from the beginning, is something worth fighting for.
Sumant
I love the idea of downloading a painting from a villager in India, printing it at Kinkos and hanging it my room.
Several issues arise:
The economic divide between the rich and the poor - ie the access to technology.
The power of the brand, as you mention. Isnt branding what creates the leveling in the playing field?
Keep your posts coming. Interesting stuff.
Mallika
Sumant,
I read the book after seeing your post. Thanks for sharing. It appears that the essence of book "is to be able change/adapt" in changing times by being alert and awake to what is going on around the world.
I like your idea of "creation of value" through internet. Certainly internet & technology can enable a puppet maker in the middle of Rajasthan to be part of the global trade
Venky
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Recent Comments
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Venky commented on Can we make the world flat?
Sumant,
I read the book after seeing yo
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Shalini commented on Can we make the world flat?
Sumant
I love the idea of downloading a p -
Hasan commented on Can we make the world flat?
"Technology seems to be leveling the playing fi
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Raju commented on Can we make the world flat?
Sumant:
I've read Friedman and am a fan
Sumant:
I've read Friedman and am a fan of his. And though I agree with his general thesis, I think yours is the next genesis of what he's discussing. Friedman seems to discuss predominantly service oriented industries, facilitating operational issues for companies and indeed, as we globalize, this sort of fluidity seems inevitable. You seem to be suggesting that the next stage of "flattening" can be creative. While I agree to some extent, the main question that remains elusive is timing. While preumably the consumer doesn't care who is providing service on their Dell computer or their citibank account provided that it is efficient and reliable, when it comes to entertainment the market/audience's demands are totally different. Despite everything we keep getting told, the gulf between Hollywood and Bollywood is tremendous and they are seemingly still going in widely different directions. So I guess my question is: do you really think the Friedman thesis extends beyond service oriented industries, technology oriented industries into entertainment and media? And when do you see it happening?