Hi! I’m Nick.

Freedom. This 7-letter word brings a long and bloody history. ‘Freedom’ is the consequence of ‘democracy’, and there is no other place on Earth that has a stronger declaration; than the United States of America. This is a main factor for America’s economic & cultural golden age during the 2 world wars. However, are Americans really exerting their much-envied rights today?

To be able to exert their rights, and articulate their thoughts in a critical manner – the Americans must be well-informed. Information, and the ability to reason are 2 main factors in a democratic governed country. Information however, means the advancement of mass media. And when these are used & controlled by interest groups; information can be transformed into propaganda.

During the mid-90’s, the radio was a fearsome tool of propaganda. With it came the many great speeches of our most powerful leaders. Unfortunately, many were corrupt and only obeyed one law: “The Law of, Me”. The radio reached millions of people anytime of the day, and spurred the people towards an agenda. Broadcast towers sprouted in civilian zones, and in the military front lines; blasting propaganda than can be played non-stop, 24 hours a day. However, the radio will eventually be outshined by something even more fearsome: the television.

There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations. – James Madison, Principle Author of the U.S. Constitution.

In the 2007 communications report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Americans once again tops the list on; “Average Daily Household TV Viewing” – a whopping 8 hours a day. Even with the spread of the Internet, TV viewings are still high. As a one-way media where viewers just sit back and watch, the American citizens are in it’s truest sense, ‘Coach Potatoes’. In this context, the definition of ‘Potatoes’ couldn’t be more clear. They are ’staple’; everyday conformist that accepts information but cannot return.

You see, the television is controlled by very wealthy corporations, and in turn; fund very politically powerful people. The television is the single most powerful tool in an American political campaign – and this is a fact. Also, in a non-political sense, as you are glued to the TV for lets say; 2 hours – the length of an average movie. That means for 2 hours, you are also an ‘obedient consumer’. This applies for gamers in Multiplayer Online Games as well. However, I’m not going to stress more on this; as I’m not going to talk about economics, and gaming in this post.

With one-way mass media, it gives the people little avenue to be involved. Even with community involved content like YouTube – where people can post videos and others can comment. It’s not that there aren’t any avenues, there always are – but people must make more effort in pursuing it. As you criticize more and more on a subject, the chances are high that your flame for it will dissolve over time (fed up of repeating?) – since young, you are told to forgive, you are told to not carry baggages, you are told to move on. So, if you are not a supporter or employee of ‘Amnesty International’ – chances are you only move into action when you are called for action ‘during that time’ that someone, somewhere is facing a human rights issue. This is something we are cultured to: instant gratification.

However, please do not regard this post as a negative rant. This is a real serious issue on democracy – the voice of reason by the people. Freedom always has a chance. And I have four words that I believe has the potential to convey for it…

IPTV.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection. – Dalai Lama, Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.

As human beings it is our very nature to connect, to be able to experience, to share, and to care. No one should ever feel like they are walking alone. I’d like to share with you a cause I am particularly very passionate about; before I go away for a week long holiday. I may not have a chance to blog but I’ll be twittering.

This would be the Foundation of a Better Life (FBL). The mission of FBL, through various media efforts, is to encourage adherence to a set of quality values through personal accountability and by raising the level of expectations of performance of all individuals regardless of religion or race.

Through these efforts, FBL reminds individuals that they are accountable and empowered with the ability to take responsibility for their lives and to promote a set of values that sees them through their failures and capitalizes on their successes. An individual who takes responsibility for his or her actions will take care of his or her family, job, community, and country.

FBL is also the sister foundation of The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which inspires people to practice kindness and to “pass it on” to others.

One of FBL’s videos (Hope):

You can find the unofficial Facebook group here, and iPod video downloads here (You’ll need to register, and the videos can also be played on the PC/Mac). You can also find out more, including widgets, TV/Radio/Billboard ads over at values.com

FBL is largely unknown outside of North & South America, however it is my agenda to one day make it as well known as possible in Malaysia, and Singapore. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the people at FBL HQ for supporting my efforts throughout the years, and for graciously sending me promotional materials.

An unofficial wallpaper of Master Chief (Halo) made by me. More here.

A Demo of PhotoSynth at TED2007 – A Significant Technology for Digital Imaging

Digital content is as important as the oil industry is to the economy. Not only does it fuel its own industry, but it inherently benefits many supplementary markets as well. Digital Content is essential to a strong Information and Communication Technology (ICT) economy. A strong ICT economy also inherently builds a strong democracy. However, big plans are only one part of the chain – afterwhich falls the big execution, and most importantly: it’s executed by passionate people, with integrity.

I would like to highlight 2 macro areas of the digital content industry. First, it’s the industry where corporations are developing high-end content. Second, it’s the industry fueled by user created content (UCC).

DRIVERS OF DIGITAL CONTENT

• Better Broadband Quality.
• Lower Internet Access Costs.
• Better Broadband Availability – Wireless coverage.
• Reduced prices & availability of consumer electronics – Mobile phones, PDAs, Digital cameras & camcorders, etc.
• Reduced prices & better availability of storage – Hard disks, Flash, Thumb drives, etc.
• Technologies to create, and share content – includes user-friendly software.
• The building of online community brands.
• Greater financial expenditure in content creation, distribution, and advertising.
• A public sector interested in catering to internet users of the 21st Century.

COMPANY CREATED CONTENT (CCC)
This is the staple building block of the digital economy. Where great ideas can effect people on a great scale. Reported by Toh Mei Ling, e-Content fund gets moving at last, TheEdge Malaysia, August 20, 2007: 13 companies have been given the green light on the RM150 million (US$43 million) government fund. The successful applicants are;

• Animasia
• Bill Adams
• Decimal Point
• EP Videolabs
• Friedchillies.com
• Les Copaque
• Mindstation
• MoonFX
• MyOutdoor
• Quark Energy Systems
• Saymohm
• Vision New Media
• Visual Xtreme

What I would like to know is; how many of these companies are building platforms, not content ? If none are: then where are the local platform builders? Some notable ones are lifelogger.com, and blinklist.com. Perhaps the terms & conditions of the fund wasn’t commercially viable to them, I do not know.

…, there is a small glimmer of hope that perhaps things may actually be getting better.
– Toh Mei Ling, e-Content fund gets moving at last, TheEdge Malaysia, August 20, 2007.

It is a digital economic lag where many companies are still working with the Web 1.0 mindset in strategy, brand, and design. Some enthusiastic planners try to make a ‘conservative jump’ to Web 2.0, thus the end result; ‘Web 1 1/2′ – more often than not: failing as websites, and not compelling as Web 2.0 requires – thus, failing that too.

USER CREATED CONTENT (UCC)
The internet today is facing a major paradigm shift into what is most commonly known as, Web 2.0. This shift isn’t an option, it is an evolution, and one you cannot stop. This means it is inherent that internet users are encouraged more than ever to: communicate and express themselves.

What does it mean to have a country with citizens that are very well connected in the digital age? This means a citizenry that is knowledge wealthy, and critical on issues. Critical in the sense of; scrutinizing every single bit of information thrown at them. This builds critical thinking abilities, and with it the ability to reason.

The outcome of a successful implementation and education of this process:

1. A government that is constantly scrutinized by its citizens. Meaning, leaders that are given federal power are based on performance, not nepotism.
2. A government system that is more transparent. This is a crucial factor for a working democracy.
3. A Private Sector that is slightly more transparent, and tighter in its corporate policies. In the face of citizen journalism: spurs the maturity rate of; intellectual property laws, the federal liberal legislation, and internal company policies of UCC platform usage (ie. Blogging).
4. A citizenship that is highly adaptive. Able to handle the many tasks the international world presents – important in the ever demanding corporate life. After all, it is law that those that adapt fast: survive, otherwise face extinction.
5. A connected citizenry. Infrastructure that fosters mobility which in-turn fosters citizen journalism. This makes people want to share their point-of-views, and this forces people to reassess everything in their rigid framework.

UCC however cannot grow in a society that is not conducive to the needs. Like a local government that has strict, conservative laws that are on the gray line when it comes to all things digital. This forces a majority of it’s citizenry to be drones, complacent in their lives, an introvert – and thus scared to divulge anything online. That’s a bad creative environment. One that is rigid, and cannot adapt to a globalized world.

“Amateurs Compete, Professionals Create“.