[governance] Re: 2009 Predictions Survey invitation

Wed Dec 16 13:30:00 EST 2009

As a co-author of the survey, I thank those who are participating, and I
want to point out that the reason behind the survey structure is to elicit
responses that reveal people¹s attitudes about the issues we must tackle
today in order to best serve the common good tomorrow. The ³tension pairs²
presented were constructed after a consultation with a group of leading
Internet researchers. People are encouraged to respond in any way they like
and we take delight in any well-structured answer, including those that poke
holes in the construction of the tension pairs, as long as they bring to
light informed opinion. We know some people will say both outcomes are
likely to certain degrees.

The point of the exercise is to elicit educated responses and initiate
important conversations. While you can remain anonymous, you are strongly
encouraged to take credit for one or more or all of your elaborations by
writing your name at the start of each statement you are willing to publicly
share. People who provide well-articulated answers that they take credit for
not only contribute to the dialogue on future policy and help write the
history of the Internet, they often also benefit personally after making
contributions because this raises their professional profile.

You can see some results from the first three (scenario-based) surveys here:
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/predictions/expertsurveys/default.xhtml. Expanded
results are published in the ³Future of the Internet² book series published
by Cambria Press; it is carried by most research libraries around the globe.

What are we asking? Will Google make us stupid? Are reading and writing
skills in decline? Are social relations really improved? What are the next
takeoff technologies? Those on the IGC list who haven¹t already done so are
invited to access our web-based survey, fielded by the independent firm
Princeton Survey Research Associates; you must use Firefox, Safari or
Internet Explorer as your browser.

You will find the survey at:
http://survey.confirmit.com/wix2/p1075078513.aspx

Please use the PIN 9000.

We see  this as an opportunity for people to share their hopes and fears for
the future and in exposing those hopes and fears they might help us all
achieve the best possible future.

Best,
Janna

On 12/16/09 1:13 PM, "Rebecca MacKinnon" <rebecca.mackinnon at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I found the binary and linear assumptions behind the questions to be
> frustrating and unrelated to reality. I ended up choosing neither in most
> cases.
> Best,
> Rebecca
> 
> On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 9:52 AM, Eric Dierker <cogitoergosum at sbcglobal.net>
> wrote:
>> I do not predict but I know.  Mass information at our fingertips is growing.
>> Ease of access and universality is becoming a reality. This we have seen for
>> a decade.  But what we cannot control and what is becoming a common truth is 
>> that we are learning to use this knowledge base.
>>  
>> As it takes a pianist time to master the keys, as it takes an athlete years
>> of training to reach a pinnacle, so it is also true with knowledge. As
>> individuals we are mastering our abilities and it is becoming common place to
>> not only access but to appropriately apply that knowledge.  As individuals
>> master and display and add to others quality of life, they, by example
>> attract others -- we see this in workplace, home and family, school and
>> entertainment.  This synergism is too powerful to control, too good to rein
>> in and invincible in the battlefield of social justice.
>>  
>> We will see in the coming decade a change in paradigm.  Governance will
>> change from the primary need to control those governing to a more enlightened
>> approach of empowering the governed.  Knowledge will begin to replace hype
>> and marketing and soundbites.  Reason with a foundation in truth will begin
>> to replace herd mentality.  The most unnoticeable yet most overwhelming force
>> will be a shift in language communication that will allow those now separated
>> by perceived lack of commonality to become inseparable by common
>> understanding.
>>  
>> There is and will be a major war like never before seen.  It will be the
>> institutionalized machinery of conflict whose main weapon is ignorance versus
>> the universal acceptance of rights and diversity whose main weapon is
>> knowledge and understanding. There is no doubt that in this conflagration
>> that finally reason will triumph.
>> 
>> --- On Wed, 12/16/09, Lee Rainie <lrainie at survey.psra.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> From: Lee Rainie <lrainie at survey.psra.com>
>>> Subject: 2009 Predictions Survey invitation
>>> To: cogitoergosum at sbcglobal.net
>>> Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 4:39 PM
>>> 
>>> A few weeks ago, you might have received an email from The Pew Research
>>> Center¹s Internet & American Life Project and Elon University inviting you
>>> to participate in our ongoing survey of stakeholders about the future of the
>>> internet. We are very interested in including your views in our research and
>>> hope you can find time between now and the end of the year to complete the
>>> questionnaire.
>>> This web-based survey about international concerns and the internet follows
>>> three previous surveys of thousands of internet stakeholders that measured
>>> the expected impact of the internet over the next decade (to see the
>>> results, please go to
>>> (www.elon.edu/e-web/predictions/expertsurveys/default.xhtml
>>> <http://www.elon.edu/e-web/predictions/expertsurveys/default.xhtml> ). This
>>> year, we are soliciting predictions from thoughtful analysts in regard to a
>>> number of additional issues tied to the future of information and
>>> communications technologies (ICTs).
>>> We hope you'll take 20 to 25 minutes to fill out our survey (to participate,
>>> you must use Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari as your browser). You will
>>> find the survey at:
>>> http://survey.confirmit.com/wix/p1075078513.aspx
>>> <http://survey.confirmit.com/wix/p1075078513.aspx>
>>> The survey asks you to choose between alternative outcomes of the impact of
>>> the internet and mobile connectivity and to contribute your own thoughts
>>> about what you believe should or will happen by the year 2020. This is a
>>> confidential survey. However, we encourage you to take credit for your
>>> thoughts. After each question, you are invited to explain or expand on your
>>> views. Each elaboration you provide will remain anonymous unless you put
>>> your name at the start of it.
>>> When you begin the survey, please use this personal identification number
>>> (PIN): YMCNF
>>> The Pew Internet Project will issue a report based on this survey in late
>>> winter 2010; we expect the results to be useful to policy makers, scholars
>>> and those in the information technology industry. Material from this survey
>>> will be added to the Elon University/Pew Internet site, Imagining the
>>> Internet (www.imaginingtheinternet.org
>>> <http://www.imaginingtheinternet.org/> ). We will not use your name or email
>>> address for any purpose other than this research project, and we will not
>>> share your information with outside solicitors.
>>> We are certain we have not identified all individuals whose views would be
>>> helpful to this research, so I invite you to send an invitation to
>>> participate in this survey to any friends or colleagues whose insights would
>>> be of value. Please ask them to use PIN 9000 when taking the survey. If you
>>> have any questions, please feel free to contact me at
>>> lrainie at pewinternet.org
>>> <http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lrainie@pewinternet.org&su
>>> bject=Predictions+questions>
>>> <http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lrainie@pewinternet.org&am
>>> p;subject=Predictions+questions>  .
>>> 
>>> Thank you,
>>> Lee Rainie
>>> Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project
>>> 1615 L Street NW
>>> Suite 700
>>> Washington, D.C. 20036
>>> 202.419-4500
>>> 
>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>      governance at lists.cpsr.org
>>> To be removed from the list, send any message to:
>>>      governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org
>>> 
>>> For all list information and functions, see:
>>>      http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Janna Quitney Anderson
>>> Director of Imagining the Internet
>>> www.imaginingtheinternet.org
>>> 
>>> Associate Professor of Communications
>>> Director of Internet Projects
>>> School of Communications
>>> Elon University
>>> andersj at elon.edu
>>> (336) 278-5733 (o)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 

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