The royalties’ law: an opportunity to finance ICT projects
“What´s the button I have to press to enter Google?”
“How many megapixels does this picture have?”
“Those who want to use the “enternet” please open the program called “Godzilla”
“Let’s innovate: let’s make education a bet on ourselves”
The debate that has been promoted by the student movement around the government´s project to reform higher education is an example of how societies adapt to globalizations competitive environments, while seeking to safeguard their identity, culture and an equitable promotion of opportunities. In reality, achieving such goals will force us all to be innovative in how we do so.
In addition to specialized web sites that offer employment search services, there are several ways for a resume to get noticed by companies and headhunters. The key is to put in the right words and not to over do it in terms of the amount of information you present.
Internet for education: the challenge of our new local leaders
Next January 1st recently elected local leaders will be assuming office in our country. Among the many things they should aim to do during the next four years, is the improvement of the quality of education for all sectors, as well as the reduction of the digital divide, especially in some of the so-called intermediate cities and the vast majority of Colombian municipalities.
To carry out this task they have the support of the “Total Connection” program promoted by the Ministry of Education. This program seeks to provide the student population of the country's public educational centers with high quality Internet access, in order to improve pedagogical and educational processes through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT´s).
Is it art? The question of digital photography
The discussion about the artistic nature of photography is intrinsic to its own existence, and it has become more relevant now due to the effect that new technologies have had on making devices more popular and promoting image production in an overwhelming manner.
The history of photography began with the development of photosensitive plates that recorded reality as it was seen through the lens. Cities were as gray as the little light that reached the diaphragm; people looked as rigid as the exposure time demanded of them. The world was portrayed as the camera recorded it. The contribution of the photographer was in the framing, composition and operation of the equipment. From that perspective, and according to critics from that time, the "artistic” part of photography was limited to what the machine could do.
Although innovation has been traditionally associated with patents and products destined to high-end segments, it is a fact that during the last decade innovation has focused on larger niches traditionally excluded from it: we are talking about businesses on the base of the pyramid. This new vision of businesses and the new era of innovation, championed by Harvard professor C.K. Prahalad, have led the way that entrepreneurs and multinational companies in all latitudes are traveling today, and have simultaneously created blue oceans (untapped market spaces), improving the living conditions of millions of people.
Embedded in our culture is the identity and memory of our nation. Defending it has been the bastion of various civil society groups and the government, who have promoted initiatives to safeguard our cultural heritage through the Internet. However, some believe that allowing the filtration of the contemporary world, including ICT´s, into a native culture, threatens it and puts it in danger of getting lost.
The e-government strategy that began to be implemented in 2008 has allowed Colombian citizens to improve their relationship and communication with official agencies and to save time and money in their search for information and their transactions. The challenge now is to continue promoting services and their use.
Tell me how many friends you have and I´ll tell you how smart you are
I´m connected to this social network and I only use it for necessary things like keeping in touch with my friends, especially those that live abroad. However, recent events that have involved Facebook as a mean to gather masses and to replace world leaders, have led me to think that this network is about more than just being popular, gossiping or keeping in touch with friends.
