The Global Village

Peter writes...

Though separated by two centuries, there is much in this BBC report on Bangalore that will resonate with students of Manchester's rise through the industrial revolution. I suppose, one can even make a very loose historical comparison between the so-called "Microsoft Riot" and Peterloo.

Maybe.

Anyway, my main point in writing is to flag the BBC Technology site itself. It is a great resource, usually leading with the latest technology innovations but then also including pieces written on a larger canvas: Questions like what does it all mean. How are we coping?

Fancifully put, but, is the BBC the church-bell and main square of the global village? Is it the cryer and news-stand? Will it remain so?

Meanwhile, on Bangalore, I am looking for someone to invite me .... !

Gates, Hurley and Zennstroem in Davos

Peter writes...

Bill Gates, Chad Hurley and others have been talking about Web 2.0 at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Tim Weber, the Business Editor for the BBC News website is there to listen and report. Here is his blog on the conversations. Meanwhile, we mentioned earlier the Google idea that "innovation not litigation" would sort out copyright problems. The said innovation is already happening.

Back again in Davos, Niklas Zennstroem still "striking fear into the hearts of telecom firms around the world", is also talking about the end of "big, bulky networks" in television.