What Matters Most, Men or Machines
Friday, 30 April 2010
Developments in computer technologies, in the past decades, have had their impact on human life in more than one way. But where this increasing interaction between human beings and computers is leading and how is it defining the focus of research in the field are some of the valid fields of study that are likely to make difference in human lives in future.
The emergence of information technology (IT), the availability of the web, and the user friendly designs are rapidly increasing the use of computers. Despite odds like literacy, availability (and reliability) of phone connection and affordability, the use of computers is significantly increasing in Pakistan as well. E-mail, real-time text correspondence and voice exchange are already popular asides from word processing and spread sheets. But in Pakistan, most of the new concepts are still untested, which makes any analysis inconclusive.
Labels: Information Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Friday, April 30, 2010,
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Technology and Culture
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Norbert R.O. Pintsch
What has technology to do with culture? a question asked by many professional technology fans. A more exact consideration will however reveal, that culture is the larger dimension and technology is just a part of it. In different eras, some areas have been more influencial and in others less. This way of considering things in itself testifies to a technical way of looking at things. Technical way of thinking is characterized by representation in a manner, the roots of which are to be found in mathematical calculations. There, where abstract thought cannot be explained due to missing power of imagination, we make use of drawings in order to achieve clarity in understanding. It probably never happens that a development process runs as a straight line, rather it is more like a chaotic structure in which now and then a certain regularity becomes visible, which is lost once again after a certain period of time to once again appear as a logical pattern at a later time (see illustration below).
Read more »Labels: Culture, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, April 28, 2010,
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Sheerni Regiment Wins Kabaddi Championship
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Going back to the unit you have belonged all your service (called as parent unit) is always a wonderful experience. Yesterday (April 23, 2010), my parent unit (35 Self Propelled Heavy Regiment Artillery) was here in Lahore to compete for Artillery Division Kabadi Championship - 2010 and I was there to see the finals. Meeting those who had joined as young soldier and grown professionally in front of one’s own eyes is a very fulfilling and enriching experience.
Read more »Labels: Men At Their Best, Sports
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, April 24, 2010,
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Celebrating the 35 Years of Association
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
It was on April 17, 1975 when young boys who have been selected to join the Pakistan Military Academy came to Kakul (Abbotabad). Thirty five years is a long time and a lot has happened during these years; most of us have retired. Members of 55 PMA get together to celebrate the association and comradeship and to relive their memories whenever they can. Annual Get Together has become one of the best kept traditions.
Read more »Labels: 55 PMA, Get Together, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Wednesday, April 21, 2010,
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Annual Get Together 55 PMA Long Course - 2010
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Annual Get Together 2010 is being held to mark the 33rd Commissioning Anniversary on April 18, 2010 (Sunday) at 1100 hrs at Rawal Dam Islamabad.
My heartiest congratulations to all the members of 55 PMA Long Course and their families.
Related: All about 55 PMA Long Course Men at Their Best
Labels: 55 PMA, Men At Their Best
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Saturday, April 17, 2010,
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In Lahore
Monday, 12 April 2010
Labels: Lahore Images
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 12, 2010,
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Living in Lahore
During my service, while I lived everywhere from Karachi to Chitral but I always dreamt to settle in Lahore. This way living in Lahore is dream come true in my case. Though, sometime I think this is not that Lahore I had been dreaming about. It has changed from city of gardens, schools and universities to a very congested habitat. At Light Within, I am planning to start a series of Lahore Images that will show what attracts my attention. May be this is one f the ways to pay back to this great city.
Labels: Lahore Images
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 12, 2010,
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Mobile Modes
Double click to enlarge - Images by Dr. Norbert Pintsch
Labels: Photography
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 12, 2010,
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Virtual Communities
Monday, 5 April 2010
Virtual world is seamlessly getting into real world. Social side of technologies is making the World Wide Web much more localized by bringing like-minded people together and in the process creating closely knit online communities.
Combination of features like worldwide accessibility and instantaneous communication has made it possible for backpackers, globetrotters and other curious from all over the world to join together at different online platforms to exchange information, experiences and plans in their favorite pursuit; travel.
Subscribers range from the professional travel writers to hardcore travelers and adventurers and commoners who are simply interested in reading online. Travel communities are accessible by millions of interested people all over the world.
Out of some major and hundreds of less noticeable travel forums on the Web, I have had the fortune to belong to a few and have been visiting some others for my travel information needs.
Exceptions apart, all virtual travel communities have some common features: Communities mostly provide a warm, trusting and supportive atmosphere. When members give information, they do it with great care and responsibility. They rely on each other more than they do on outdated travel guidebooks or on second hand and static information from conventional travel literature.
Visit any online community and one finds anything related to travel, along with flames and off topics, which are informative, sometimes funny or even annoying. The mutual exchange of information is not restricted only to destinations, affordable places to stay and dine in, security issues, maps, weather conditions there and where to have best bargains and how to find public restrooms or which Websites better describe any particular place. Or which dress a female anthropologist going to study Kalash clan up in northern district Chitral should wear during her extended stay there. It goes much beyond to helping in finding work, selling and promoting each others in local markets.
“Travel forums have become hunting grounds for meeting fellow travelers and making new friends. You really do not require any other reason to join a community or two,” says Atoorva Sinha who intends building up travelers’ community at Mindzwine.
Carla King is founder member of one virtual travel community called Wild Writing Women for female travelers. She emailed, “When we published Wild Writing Women -- Stories of World Travel (an anthology of women’s travel stories) -- we got a lot of publicity. People wanted to know how we traveled solo and weren’t afraid, and just how we went about it. We started giving workshops. We also started giving writing workshops and hosted a free monthly literary salon. People just gravitated, and we accepted them. We made a business of it and formed the online community. So it’s a profitable business for us to expand the community, and also, happily, it’s close to our hearts.”
Members are slow in response sometime. Chris Heidrich, the Director of a BootsnAll says, “One has to be patient in waiting for a response from members and insiders. It should be understood that it is a voluntary favor and some people do not come on board or check email as often.” Court who is always found on board in the same community adds, “Some time they may be away traveling to yet another location.”
The recipients of information have to keep in mind that what ever comes is based upon individuals’ personal experiences or empirical observations. One member may have had different experience than others. When I posted a query about Virtual Travel Communities (for this article) at BootsnAll community; the first reply referred me to Nick mediator at another community at Bali Blog who in turn advised me to email direct to all on his mailing list. The replies I am still receiving are varied showing so many perspectives. “There is nothing like variety,” says Nick.
The virtual world is composed of information rather than physical identities. Information spreads and diffuses. Those who belong to these impalpable spaces are also diffuse, free to take it or leave it.
Combination of features like worldwide accessibility and instantaneous communication has made it possible for backpackers, globetrotters and other curious from all over the world to join together at different online platforms to exchange information, experiences and plans in their favorite pursuit; travel.
Subscribers range from the professional travel writers to hardcore travelers and adventurers and commoners who are simply interested in reading online. Travel communities are accessible by millions of interested people all over the world.
Out of some major and hundreds of less noticeable travel forums on the Web, I have had the fortune to belong to a few and have been visiting some others for my travel information needs.
Exceptions apart, all virtual travel communities have some common features: Communities mostly provide a warm, trusting and supportive atmosphere. When members give information, they do it with great care and responsibility. They rely on each other more than they do on outdated travel guidebooks or on second hand and static information from conventional travel literature.
Visit any online community and one finds anything related to travel, along with flames and off topics, which are informative, sometimes funny or even annoying. The mutual exchange of information is not restricted only to destinations, affordable places to stay and dine in, security issues, maps, weather conditions there and where to have best bargains and how to find public restrooms or which Websites better describe any particular place. Or which dress a female anthropologist going to study Kalash clan up in northern district Chitral should wear during her extended stay there. It goes much beyond to helping in finding work, selling and promoting each others in local markets.
“Travel forums have become hunting grounds for meeting fellow travelers and making new friends. You really do not require any other reason to join a community or two,” says Atoorva Sinha who intends building up travelers’ community at Mindzwine.
Carla King is founder member of one virtual travel community called Wild Writing Women for female travelers. She emailed, “When we published Wild Writing Women -- Stories of World Travel (an anthology of women’s travel stories) -- we got a lot of publicity. People wanted to know how we traveled solo and weren’t afraid, and just how we went about it. We started giving workshops. We also started giving writing workshops and hosted a free monthly literary salon. People just gravitated, and we accepted them. We made a business of it and formed the online community. So it’s a profitable business for us to expand the community, and also, happily, it’s close to our hearts.”
Members are slow in response sometime. Chris Heidrich, the Director of a BootsnAll says, “One has to be patient in waiting for a response from members and insiders. It should be understood that it is a voluntary favor and some people do not come on board or check email as often.” Court who is always found on board in the same community adds, “Some time they may be away traveling to yet another location.”
The recipients of information have to keep in mind that what ever comes is based upon individuals’ personal experiences or empirical observations. One member may have had different experience than others. When I posted a query about Virtual Travel Communities (for this article) at BootsnAll community; the first reply referred me to Nick mediator at another community at Bali Blog who in turn advised me to email direct to all on his mailing list. The replies I am still receiving are varied showing so many perspectives. “There is nothing like variety,” says Nick.
The virtual world is composed of information rather than physical identities. Information spreads and diffuses. Those who belong to these impalpable spaces are also diffuse, free to take it or leave it.
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Monday, April 05, 2010,
, links to this post
