Worth a Look: GeoChat (SMS Plotted on Map)

Collective Intelligence, Communities of Practice, Geospatial, Mobile, Peace Intelligence, Policies, Real Time, Technologies, Threats, Tools, Worth A Look

GeoChat emerged from a simple concept – can I send an SMS message and see it on a map?

From there the concept has evolved, and geochat has become a project to build a collaboration platform from the lowest common denominator communication tools, considering as highest priorities the needs of workers of humanitarian aid, international health and disaster response.

The main drivers for the project are the feedback of the InSTEDD programs in South East Asia, exercises such as GoldenShadow, and a growing community of humanitarian and health workers who spend their days in technologically austere environments. We invite anyone from any line of work to use and contribute user experience, technical, and any other kind of feedback.

Phi Beta Iota: InSTEDD [Innovative Support to Emergencies Diseases Disasters] is blessed with the participation of Cdr Eric Rasmussen, USN, a co-founder of STRONG ANGEL which has been allowed to die for all the wrong reasons. He and Dr. Dr. Dave Warner are pioneers in M4IS2 [Multinational Multiagency Multidisciplinary Multidomain Information-Sharing and Sense-Making.] See also UNICEF's RapidSMS.

2010/01/272010/01/27

Event: 16-18 July 2010 NYC NY The Next Hope

Collective Intelligence, Communities of Practice, Computer/online security, Cultural Intelligence, Ethics, Geospatial, InfoOps (IO), Key Players, Methods & Process, Mobile, Policies, Real Time, Strategy, Technologies, Threats, Tools

HACKERS ON PLANET EARTH (HOPE)

The Next Hope (2010)

Pre-Registration Now Open

Call for Speakers

Links to Past HOPE Events

Phi Beta Iota: Hackers are like astronauts, pushing the bleeding edge of the envelope. If the US Government had listened to us in 1991-1994, cyberspace would be secure today, and we would not be spending $12 billion a year on the cyber-scam game–outsourcing to beltway bandits fighting for the 100 folks that actually know how to do this stuff and can qualify for clearances. Our solution for the regional networks is gong to be multinational and open everything. This event is specifically recommended for young teens who show signs of intelligence and curiosity, and for mid-career officers beginning to realize that 80% of what they do is without merit, seeking a better way. This is where we do the right things righter, not the wrong things righter.

Photo Gallery (Yahoo) Photo Gallery (Google)

2010/01/272010/01/27

Journal: Experimental Cultural Geography

Cultural Intelligence, Earth Intelligence, Geospatial, Geospatial, IO Mapping, Multinational Plus

Exhibition at Carnegie Mellon gives geography a new meaning

“Experimental Geography” is both the title of a mind-expanding exhibition and a term coined by contemporary artist/geographer/activist Trevor Paglen, who will speak tomorrow at Carnegie Mellon University.

If a geographer informs us about the land that we move within, or study from afar, an experimental geographer considers that land from the creative vantage point of an artist.

“In a manner that deploys aesthetics, ambiguity, poetry and a dash of empiricism,” the exhibition text explains.

“Mappa Mundi,” a digital print by New York artist Lize Mogel, is part of a series exploring public space and cultural geography.

2010/01/272010/09/02

Journal: Europe is Reading…

Collective Intelligence

NeoOpticon: the EU Security-Industrial Complex (Transnational Institute)

As the title communicates.

Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism Report Card (WMD Commission)

Failing grade in isolation from all the more pressing threats (poverty, disease, environment).

Al Qaeda Weapons of Mass Destruction Threat: Hype or Reality? (Harvard)

More focus on the symptom instead of the problem (US virtual invasion of Middile East)

Continue reading “Journal: Europe is Reading…”

2010/01/27

Journal: Cellphones, Your Brain, and Spectrum

Civil Society, Collective Intelligence, Commerce, Commercial Intelligence, Ethics, Government, Technologies, Tools

Warning: Your Cell Phone May Be Hazardous to Your Health (GQ)

Christopher Ketcham
Ever worry that that gadget you spend hours holding next to your head might be damaging your brain? Well, the evidence is starting to pour in, and it's not pretty. So why isn't anyone in America doing anything about it?

Phi Beta Iota: This is “old” news that is still news because neither the government nor the public actually pay attention. We've known since the 1980's that Soviet emission controls were ten times tougher than ours, and now in Afghanistan as we find UAVs and all other devices conflicting with each other across old “dumb” (assigned) spectrum, we are learning, AGAIN, why spectrum consciousness matters. Open Spectrum and smart devices are the way to go, along with public truth-telling about electromagnetic emissions as part of the “true cost” of all devices.

2010/01/262010/01/26

Journal: White House Nightmare, Insanity, or Ignorance?

Collaboration Zones, Communities of Practice, Ethics, Key Players, Methods & Process, Policies, Policy, Reform, Strategy, Threats

White House nightmare persists

At the end of Barack Obama’s worst week since taking power a year ago, the US president’s fortunes look set only to deteriorate over the coming days.

Phi Beta Iota: We find it quite remarkable that there is absolutely no “intelligence” in the sense of decision-support anywhere in this story. The last two Administrations (Bush-Cheney and now Obama-Biden) have been noteworthy for the completely absence of strategy, intelligence, Whole of Government management, balanced budget–just about everything a public has a right to expect from its elected and appointed and paid government.

Nightmare is the wrong word–this is self-imposed insanity based on willful ignorance and the absence of a national Open Source Agency (OSA) with a degree of independence equal to that of the Judiciary. In the Age of Information, information itself has become the Fourth Estate, and the Administration either needs to get a grip on reality and start governing with informed maturity, or watch as others pass them by–Brazil, China, India, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, for example.

Search: smart nation intelligence reform electoral reform national security reform

2010/01/262010/01/26

Journal: Chavez versus CIA–No Contest

07 Venezuela, Cultural Intelligence, Ethics, Government

Chavez Calls Sentence in CIA's Online Almanac “A Declaration of War” Against Venezuela

If you've ever been curious to know any country's GDP, literacy rate, languages, etc., at a glance, the CIA's online World Factbook is the place to start.

And evidently Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been Googling his own country lately, because he's taken serious issue with the sort of government-issue Wikipedia's summary description of the South American nation.

From the CIA World Factbook:

“…For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his “21st Century Socialism,” which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.”

The text above constitutes, according to Chavez this past week, “a declaration of war.”

Phi Beta Iota: Chavez is right, CIA is wrong. A World Factbook is not the place for subjective politicized “judgments,” and if one wishes to speak about the Open Veins of Latin America–Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, the CIA should cut its own throat first or to use another metaphor, not throw stones when it lives in a glass house. CIA is no longer the destructive monster it used to be, but perhaps worse, Clowns in Action or Contractors in Action, take your pick. CIA should remove the offending words and surprise Venezuela with a printed corrected copy of the book, and a letter of apology–and it can apologize for its last bungled coup attempt while its at it. Newsflash for CIA: imperial globalization bad, indigenous self-determination good. Duh.