200-259 "The World Is Flat" Triple Convergence and Intellectual Freedom

1) What is the Triple Convergence and why is it important?

 Convergence 1: Is basically that the Internet has allowed us to connect to one another to share our work, ideas and knowledge, regardless of distance between one another.

Convergence 2: States that walls or ceilings no longer bind companies, employees can be utilized from all different locations across the globe based on the needs of the company.

Convergence 3: Describes the world as a global competition, anyone in the world can technically do each other’s job.  We are no longer bound to occupations or work that is in our geographic area.

This is an important idea because it gives connects the world in a multitude of ways.  It tells us that no longer where we are living we can work, and do what we want to do or connect to whomever because geography is becoming less of a restricted element.

 2) In the story about India and Indiana, who is the exploiter and who is the exploited party?

 The story between the two is definitely a cluster of conflicts.  On one hand you have Indiana who is looking to upgrade their technology and become more advanced and on the other hand you have India who is looking to make a profit and help advance the world.  When it comes to who is the exploiter and who is the exploited I find it kind of difficult but in the end it seems one slightly exceeds the other for each title.  In my opinion I believe that Indiana is the exploited party.  My conclusion is based on the fact that even though Indiana didn’t get their technology they still had to pay a hefty amount of money for work they didn’t really get.  I mean I believe they needed to pay for the work of those employees but not at the sum total they paid.  As for India, I think they are the exploiter because they were looking to make a profit and they undercut everyone else just to seal the deal and didn’t fully deliver and still expected a hefty payment for incomplete work.

 3) What is intellectual property and why is it important?

 Intellectual property is a series of “laws” that give credit to people for their knowledge and work but still allow it to be available for use by other individuals.  It protects those who were the creator and gives them the proper credit.  However, by giving credit where it is due, it also helps other people utilize the knowledge.  It’s important because the creators deserve the credit for the work that they do, but it’s also cool to be able to utilize the work and knowledge for other projects or work.