roundtable: Re: NII Concepts for development

roundtable: Re: NII Concepts for development

Re: NII Concepts for development

Vigdor Schreibman - FINS (fins@access.digex.net)
Mon, 21 Mar 1994 13:28:21 -0500 (EST) 

Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 13:28:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: NII Concepts for development
To: roundtable@cni.org
In-Reply-To: <9403202249.AA00802@sgi81.ctc.com>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.89.9403211355.A29293-0100000@access3.digex.net>

Michael,

A focus on the issues you raise here will certainly be of benefit.  
Free and informed exploration of the alternative models of "freedom" 
that includes individuals standing alone against the world and 
individuals who are part of caring communities, can help to inform 
our choices for the NII. 

A document of importance on this subject includes: Benjamine Barber, 
Strong Democracy (1984).

Vigdor Schreibman
<fins@access.digex.net>


On Mon, 21 Mar 1994, Michael G. Koopman wrote:
> 
> I am interested in finding relevant documentation on the development
> of the NII which might support the following "speech."  I feel well
> formulated objectives focussed on improvements of such ideas are
> necessary to, "... promote the general Welfare, and secure the
> Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, ..."  If you do
> not know the source of that quote it seems unlikely that you truly
> care about these issues.  I feel strongly, and believe every U.S.
> citizen should, also, feel strongly that the objectives of the NII
> are, and need to be, founded in the rudiments of our free nation.
> 
> NII "Speech"
> 
> The National Information Infrastructure (NII) can greatly benefit
> health and education, especially mental health and ethos, of
> individuals interacting through these networks.  These health and
> education benefits may result in improvements in a multiplicity of
> conditions stemming from problems in health and informed reasoning.
> An attack on ignorance is an attack on many community ills, including
> crime and homelessness.  This may seem a significant reach; believing
> the status elite, college academic, "toy"net model can impact social
> issues which all too rarely enter the "raised" consciousness of the
> student, professional and academic participants with the privilege of
> access to these technologies.  The root of the reason for which I
> believe benefits can be achieved at the national level stems from a
> belief in the individual as the foundation of our communities.  Like
> "word of mouth" advertising, I believe that the inspiration of
> individuals empowers the greatness of nations.
> 
> Although powers of perception are greatly hindered when comparing
> computer media to personal contact, and literacy is currently a
> requirement for using the least expensive means, geographical (and
> social) bounds are already greatly reduced by the improving power of
> the communications technologies.  While emphasizing the shame that we,
> as a nation, should feel for allowing illiteracy to plague us, the
> technologies will soon allow the illiterate a greater place in
> electronic networks through audio-visual advances.  This is not to
> deny the benefits of the current literate technologies; improvements
> in mobilization and access to the finest expertise available in a
> variety of fields is an unquestionable remedy for many societal ills.
> Furthering the benefit through the availability of expert systems for
> referals and recommendations is not only good, professional practice,
> but should be mandated in many cases.  This should be especially true
> in the endeavours of public defense (and prosecution); a lynchpin in
> the foundation of our free society.  I, for one, will not stand for
> the bashing of public defense as a tool for the criminal.  If our
> justice system allows public defense to be used wrongly, it is the
> courts and the defenders who must be corrected; not the presumption of
> innocence, nor the right to counsel guaranteed by our Constitution.
> Public defense, let us recall, is provided to protect the innocent.
> Innocence is the presumption that must be made before a conviction is
> returned by a jury of one's peers.
> 
> Technologies of the NII can help to shed light on "shawdows of doubt."
> Shedding light on ignorance through health and education and on
> justice through equality and fairness.  I believe these are principles
> which our Founding Fathers intended for our nation.
> 
> Thank You,
> 
> Michael Koopman (mike)    Associate Computer Systems Specialist
> Concurrent Technologies Corporation   internet: koopman@ctc.com
> 1450 Scalp Avenue                        phone: +1-814-269-2637
> Johnstown, PA  15904-3321  USA         telefax: +1-814-269-2402

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