Module 1

Module 1:

The single most important idea or notion that I gathered from Module 1 of Thomas L. Friedman's “ The World is Flat,” is that communication technologies are key to a slew of different freedoms. Friedman's way of thinking has opened my mind to numerous possibilities that I have never imagined. Not only that, but he has changed my mind in how the movement of jobs cross seas can actually benefit not only the countries to whom the jobs are be supplied to, but to America as well. Friedman does an excellent job explaining how new information technologies ties into everything from politics, to economics, to terrorism, to the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Physical and Virtual liberation of not just societies, but individuals too.

To start, Friedman's ideas of Globalism are right on. I especially liked how he used software terminology to explain the different eras the earth has gone through. Globalization 1.0 was all about how different countries of the world were competing against each other. Its safe to say that the world was proven to be round during this era. Globalization 2.0 was how different mufti-national companies were competing with each other. But the biggest Globalization was 3.0.

Globalization 3.0 not only made it easier for individuals to connect with other individuals, but it leveled the playing field so that people in third world countries could connect globally. It was this flattening of the playing field that gave Friedman the analogy of “The World is Flat,” and now that the world was flat, possibilities never before possible are suddenly reality.

One of the most important advances of Globalization 3.0 was the ability to outsource a variety of duties and data. One of the most important ideas I have learned from Friedman's work is that outsourcing is not at all bad. Friedman cleared a lot of personal misconceptions concerning how exportation of jobs is helpful to America, but more importantly, Friedman opened my mind to the possibility that maybe I shouldn't think of myself as an American, maybe I should think of my self as an Earthling.

When one thinks of himself as an Earthing then it becomes clear why the Fall of the Berlin wall meant so much to Friedman and Globalization 3.0. It was the fall of the Wall the tipped the balance of power across the world toward those advocating democratic and free-market-oriented government. But even more then that, it was the first domino in a domino effect that eventually liberated all of the people of the old USSR. Thus making the world even flatter and bringing more people even closer.

Another important factor shaping globalization 3.0 would be the Netscape Company and the people behind it; more so then the web browser app itself. Sure the Netscape Browser made it easier for normal people with little or no computer knowledge to be able to surf the web, but it was what the company stood for is what Friedman is most fond of. Netscape knew the importance of creating standardized networks that could talk to other networks of the same standard. It was Netscape that lead the battle to keep standardized networking protocols open source. A battle mostly against the evil that is Microsoft. (I hate Microsoft, but I love Windows, a personal daily struggle of mine.) Being an Information Technology major, I personally give Netscape a lot of credit. Who knows how the world and Globalization 3.0 would have turned out had Microsoft been able to proprieterize even the most fundamental of networking protocols.

Modern Technology is a wonderful and precious gift. I thank Friedman to opening my eyes to see exactly how important it is. It is more then just a bunch of servers and clients that are talking to each other. Its more then e-commerce or e-mail. Technology is the vessel in which will united the Earth as a whole. It is what allows me to see my brothers in India as an Earthling and Human-Being rather then an Indian. It will allow us to use less of mother earths resources and help us focus on alternative to the same said resources, not as a company or department, but as the world as a whole. All of the aforementioned ideas are just skimming the surface of things. But to me, the best part of Globalization 3.0 is that is has just started!