The World Is Flat
In The World Is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman discusses events and technologies that are “flattening” the world and increasing globalization. Friedmanfeels the world is highly interconnected without regard to hierarchy, distance, organizational size, individual status, culture, or language. He describes ten "flatteners" that are reshaping the world.Flattener 1 – Fall of the Berlin Wall
The end of the Cold War broke down barriers between people. To catch your attention he identifies this flattener with 9/11. November 9, 1989 is when theBerlin Wall fell. He contrasts it with 9/11 which is journalistically neat but not terribly pertinent.
But Friedman doesn't stop with a political-historical event. About the same time (the 1980s), Appleand Microsoft were making personal computers available to the world. Not only did the Berlin wall fall but Microsoft Windows opened [cute]. Part of flattener #1 is the personal computer, the abilityof individuals to put their thoughts in digital form.
Flattener 2 – The Internet
On August 9, 1995 Netscape went public with first internet browser available to the public at large. Now peoplecould access information from all over the world.
Flattener 3 - Workflow software
Many software developments, standards, and protocols enable computers and other digital devices to interact overthe internet so that work and other projects can be done by people any where in the world.
Friedman notes that with the first three flatteners a collaboration platform is emerging for people toshare digital content inexpensively all over the world. In the mid to late 1990s the world changed. The remaining flatteners expand on this opportunity for collaboration, "steadily flattening the worldeven more."
Flattener 4 - Uploading
Uploading is Friedman's word for people creating content and contributing to the Internet. This document is an example. Perhaps the most significant is the...
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