You Tube Powering Global Innovation... How Nice!

This video is a bit lengthy but covers so much material that we have covered in class.  It discusses innovation, positive effects, with a few negatives, collective action, Internet capabilities, reacting to change, and so much more.  I find this video, courtesy of Ted, interesting because You Tube is something that nearly if not all Internet users utilize.  It is safe to say that most of us do not view You Tube as a contributor to global innovation.  However, as we have read throughout Shirky's novel it can have these capabilities.  Facebook for instance has been used as a tool to create flashmobs, stay in touch quick and easily to allow groups to assemble. 

Chris Anderson explains what he calls "crowd accelerated innovation."  It is quite simple all you need is a crowd, a common interest or bond, a clear insight, and of course desire.  The impact is quite amazing.  For example this video is offered in 70 different languages, feedback is being offered steadily, while the TED brand is becoming more and more popular.  The signifcance is that groups are able to be formed because video is able to give out more information a lot faster than text can.  A fun fact from this video is that 80 million hours of You Tube everyday.  

The last thing I want to offer is what could this do with education.  Convienently, Anderson discusses how this could and should replace that top down cycle that we discussed in class.  Basically, web video allows the student or any person to be the teacher and removes us from this static learning environment.  It is true that web video is not always used for good, but it does have the potential to be great and some are using video for great things.  






Sara Lester