Social Encryption: An Introduction

Human beings are far more complex than computers.

As social-organisms, making use of our real-world environment alongside other senses; we are very different to the things we’ve made, even though we’re now using them to make us ‘better’. 

ICT systems are already ‘smarter’ than us in a number of ways.  They’re able to process information in a way that no group of humans could ever achieve in a competitive timeframe.  

ICT networks and sensors continue to make attempts to mimic an array of behaviours humans learn, that humans have, yet humans generally develop these skills over long periods of time and computers that do many new things are still new.

Amongst the most rudimentary of core assumptions humans make is that we are able to rely upon our capacity to form a shared comprehension of things we consider to be constituents of our ‘reality’.

ICT is being used to both enhance and augment these capacities.

With sufficient evidence that any forum could be considered to share a level of consensus between those involved, Social Graph enabled ICT systems can be used to target specific groups and influence these outcomes. 

The practice of doing so, becomes much easier where there is only one ‘system’; however, the ramifications of ‘data quality’ suffers greatly as a consequence.

The means through which humans are ‘programmed’, is different to the way online systems are developed – to mimic and support the needs and ‘best interests’ of their operators.

This is influenced by the socioeconomic frameworks to which Institutions are bound by law to maintain; critical characteristics, that are different to what it means for all of us to be human.  

For example; computers can care less for children, other than as may be computed that they be provided additional stimulus; to warrant more ‘economic attention’.

By decentralising the web, the means to build social-encryption is considered to be amongst the most important underlying pillars required for socioeconomic growth.  The consequence of decentralising data-custodianship, access and discovery for federated queries enabling rendered outputs by dynamic agents; is considered, to be able to dramatically improve data-quality.

The concept of ‘social encryption’ is about making use of a multitude of networked, yet independently managed, computer systems in a manner that involves a large number of human beings.  

Q: How can we Verifiable the Claim that Tim Berners Lee appear at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony A: There are tens of thousands of people who were there, tens of millions watching live and now millions of links online, across the web, to improve the means available to verify whether or not this is true. The reality of these facts can only be changed by going through and causing every one of these agents to be made irrelevant, without being noticed for doing so.

The more people involved, who are using different, but linked systems; the more device/targets involved, making some forms of attack more difficult.

A common-property of all participants is time. Our computer systems don’t work very well unless tracking activity in relation to time.  By forming the means to produce records that are distributed across a multitude of systems, with a multitude of participants contributing towards a unified informatics environment, it becomes possible to make use of humans to produce ‘social encryption’.  

The impact of doing so is to improve the means to address threats otherwise posed by cryptography applied to singular systems, alongside issues posed by AI technologies; and the means to build a self-preserving, robust information management system that is more difficult to technologically attack.

Perhaps the most important consideration is how ICT can be used to protect against economic attacks.  The problem is not about whether the data exists or not; more often than not, the means to use data to evaluate any situation does indeed exist somewhere.  The problem is how we make use of data based on the standardised practices through which we may build infrastructure that performs the function of information management upon an idea of economic merit; build on old technology which now has other options.

The technology and tools required to make a change already power the largest organisations operating many of the worlds most important ICT systems today.

Events

Well,  You might think – what does events have to do with anything – but have a good think about it…

When you get your first customer group all put together, wouldn’t it be nice to put on a nice event for them.  If you can’t produce one – perhaps send them to one, or participate in an existing one – like a tradeshow or something…

Events is part of professional representation – of the business.  Have you had a think about how you could do this?

An event done well, can be the best form of advertising for your business.  An event done poorly, can be worse than receiving nails for your businesses coffin, voluntarily provided from your patrons.

The “secret” to events; is about good preparation, pre-production and management.  I was recently challenged to consider how many events i had done.

As i never considered myself an “event manager”, i never really thought about before.  It almost seemed like a distractions.  Yet, in the face of volunteering to a community event – with so many contributors – but some massive problems due to the leadership of the event (an inexperience) i had to think about it.  Perhaps a hundred, perhaps many more.  It’s not really what i think about overall….

Organising an event, is kinda like setting-up a dinner party or a teenagers house party; or even, a company meeting…  Within each of these events, people take different roles.  It’s important to identify what you do have experience in doing, and what you do not.  People, with events, are generally rather helpful.  If their not helpful, don’t bother (well, in my experience anyhow).

People who know events, know both that events hardly ever run without a problem of somekind.  this is not to suggest they are all at risk of falling over, but rather – even events professionally planned – will have some sort of “hiccup” once it’s started.  The difference really is; what doesn’t go wrong, because it was planned properly.

As always, templates is always a good-place to start when your thinking about how to set-up an event.  It could be a digital event, it could be a wedding, it could be just about anything – if it’s too complicated to remember in your head, and have it sorted – a list, a template, can help.

Beyond the bigger problem of attempting to manage the delivery of the event – the next part, which is somewhat more professional in nature – is return on investment.

This is where the art of being an event manager comes into play.

Stock Content

What a day it was, when i found out about stock content…

Stock Content doesn’t appear to be on wikipedia…  In simple-terms, it is the name given to pre-produced content (image, motion image, sound, etc.) and owned by production library and licensed to customers for use in their own productions, on a range of licensing terms; rather than, the production of content for exclusive use within a specifically produced product, services or greater work.

The purpose of Stock Content – is to acquire content, more cheaply than producing it yourself.

Wikipedia has a few entries on the subject, providing listings of providers of stock content – such as “Stock Footage“, “production music” and “stock photography“.

In some instances; a user can download the images with existing watermarks, and use them to figure out what their going to do with the item their trying to produce – prior to making purchases.

There is a world of content out there.  Sometimes, it’s just wiser to acknowledge someone else’s good-work, rather than trying to do too much yourself.

That said – i think we’ve all seen some of those images that are completely over-used.  I guess, try to find something a little unique and contextual…  just a suggestion…

Creating a Presence – Online

Creating an online presence may sound easy – but in reality – it’s time-consuming.

There are some basics that you’ll need – like a website.  Honestly, if your setting-up a business nowadays – it’s better to try to manage some of these things yourself, whilst getting someone to help you, do it.

The internet has evolved, it’s a simple fact.  In user-terms, the biggest growth market is likely to be the elderly; as most kids already use the internet – as natives – and adults increasingly grew-up with it.  Yet, the elderly, our elders – are slowely becoming more and more isolated as their telephone and fax machine (if they’ve got one) continues to become as outdated as their love of writing letters, and sitting down with their family – to look at family photo’s, printed at the local chemist.

There’s a moral to that story; the tools available to set-up and manage websites, is becoming easier, and easier to use, modify and promote.

A good technical person, acting with honesty, should be able to point you in the right direction – and help you set-up your site.    The reality is, WordPress and other related tools – many of which i’ve discussed on this site; do most of the work for you.  It’s most often, almost as difficult as using microsoft word – probably easier than word-perfect (for those who remember those days) and certainly much easier than putting some tape into a machine, to start a computer – or two floppy disks, for that matter…

The difference really is; that although it’s easier, more strait-forward – you still need a helping hand to get onto the right path to begin with – as well as, someone to hold your hand when you get into trouble.

So; assuming you’ve decided that you’ll set-up your own presence.  The first place to start, is probably with a mindmap.  Once you figure out what kinda thing you want to say, and what headings / subheadings you want to use (otherwise known as “information architecture“) then your ready to think about making some pages on a website.

Websites nowadays link into all of these (still emerging) social-web portals.  These portals, described here. all want different information, in-order to maximise your potential in those environments.  There are different philosophies around different sites, and how they should be used.  Generally, start with whatever your most comfortable with, make a plan, and go step-by-step.

One of the most important things really, is content.

Years ago, i / we (can’t remember) coined a term or rule – “the three c’s” – Content, Cash and Customers.

If you’ve got enough to get two of these, then it’s often viable to obtain the other.  With only one, then you have to think about how to get the second – and if you have none – then well, Good Luck!!!

Content, in essence – is intellectual input, formatted into some-sort of “digital” presence; which can be presented to customers.

Cash, is financial resource – the ability to present to a customer.

Customers – people who want to pay for your services.  They’ll pay cash, if the content is right.  If you don’t have the right Content, but you have cash – then you can always use that cash, to develop the right content – and secure the customers.

Creating an online presence, is more than just a presence explaining what the business does.  People like to explore, and a presence is a type of portal in itself, moulding all these different forms of threads, in all there different areas – into a coherent “space” or “network” that can attract customers, attract engagement and help generate more cash, more content, and more customers.