Session 5: Digital Life/ World: Empowering Society
Oct 30 2015
Conference News, Conference Presentations No Comments
In light of the recently ratified UN Sustainable Development Goals, the moderator Julia Glidden (Moderator), Managing Director 21c Consultancy, United Kingdom, announced that during this session with such a broad topic in its title, the panellists will be talking about the relationship between the sharing economy, IT and sustainable development, because the notion of sharing that IT facilitates puts a whole new challenge to the consumptive/ capitalist focus on acquisition of goods and constantly buying and selling and replacing things. Ms. Glidden finds the concept of circular economy very inspirational – not constantly buying and throwing away and buying and throwing away again, but borrowing and sharing in a manner that brings people together. The panel will have some very high level discussions as well as very interesting practitioners’ discussions of practical components of IT and the sharing economy, like security, ID cards etc.
Steffen Nerdal, Chief Strategy Office, Ascella AS, Norway, started his presentation by showcasing the company he works for, SmartDok which is the Nordic leader in digitization in the building and construction industry. He addressed the main challenges that the company had to overcome since its founding toward full use of digital systems: working in a conservative industry; reliance on traditional documenting (with pen and paper), and little ICT knowledge in the industry. The solution to the industry’s main barriers of growth was through digitization. The company started developing solutions together with and for their customers (having customer’s needs in mind) and ensuring that the right technology is used and providing knowledge about various markets.
Ascella has made some good impacts on the Norwegian and Swedish market by increasing quality, cost efficiency, developing effective processes for companies and customers, making sure that there are fewer errors and becoming more environmental friendly. Basically, the company is shaping the future by empowering the society and helping the development of smart buildings.
According to Nitya Karmakar, Professor MQC Macquarie University Australia, Australians have been at the forefront of inventing various tools. One of the most famous innovations from Australia include: the electronic pacemaker, Google Maps, polymer bank notes, cochlear implant, electric drill etc. They are not behind in improving of digital life. The innovation through science, technology and knowledge is growing and there are new catalysts for new way of innovations. Innovation and economic development are in place but they are challenges that need to be overcome still. Therefore the following aspects:
Innovation +creativity =commercialization
Innovation + proximity = commercialization
Tim Kelly, Lead ICT Policy Specialist, World Bank Group, started his presentation talking about the upcoming World Development Report which is focusing on the Internet and development, and how digital life impacts the sharing economy. World Bank’s approach is economical, based on transaction costs and how reduced transaction costs in the digital economy help create: processes of inclusion, processes of innovation, and processes of efficiency – the three mechanisms that drive the sharing economy.
The sharing economy/ the digital economy comes in direct conflict with the analogue economy, especially in the areas of regulation, professional services, universities, bricks and mortar stores, building and construction.
Ali Kone, Chief Operating Officer/Co-founder of Coders4Africa Inc, USA: The drivers of sharing economy – connectivity and knowledge are important aspects of digitalization. Being connected means that information will be shared. Sharing information has become so important such that people regardless of their status and regions are now coming into the digital life to share information. There are also more people who would want to share information but they are unable due to the lack of infrastructure in some areas. It is important to change the mind sets through simplicity, transparency and traceability. In regard to digitalization, developing countries are still lagging behind due factors such as: security and the infrastructure are serious issues that are poor and not there in some cases which is affecting the digitalization.
Eikazu Niwano, Producer and director of Produce Group, R & D, talked about the new e-ID cards in Japan that will come into effect in January 2016. Social activities are being expanded into the cyberspace in addition to the real space. Card holder will be able to select the spaces they want to use according to their convenience. The idea or aim is to have social activities be accessed and used digitally.
Therefore, the card number will support both digital signature and personal authentication services and may be used for medical insurance, as a credit card and cable TV. Credit card and paper certificate could be recongized as attributes of the card holder. Cyberspace passport selection of the private services will also be up to the card holder.
Alfredo Ronchi, Secretary General, EC Medici framework Italy, elaborated on important issues such as citizens in the global age and ICT safety and security, safety, health working practices transportation built environment infrastructure free time etc. Security for humans encompasses several areas such as: security, assets, food, drugs, ideas etc. All these important things will need to be protected one way or the other. Therefore, safety and security are an integral part of human rights; we must strive to provide all the efforts in order to guarantee such rights as stated.
Paul Wormeli, Executive director Emeritus, IJIS – Integrated Justice Information systems institute; innovation strategist Wormeli consulting LLP, USA, talked about opportunities and challenges at the intersection of the ICT between sharing information in government and private sector – looking at crimes that are committed in the cyberspace. Information safeguarding in the sharing environment is very vital and important digital life. Information must be safeguarded so it does not end up in the wrong hands or end up being used for unintended purposes.
The following are the fundamental truths about ICT in the sharing economy:
- The sharing economy is dependent on the information technology and including social media
- Information is a valuable assets and requires a lot of safeguarding
- Growth of the sharing economy is depends on establishing trust which requires safeguarding information asses and building a sense security
- Our inability to prevent cyber crime
- Cost on society cybercrime about 1.trillion dollars
There are various trends going on in the cybersecurity and the following trends have been noted,
- technology is getting better defense in depth
- Insider beings are careless or intentional are still largest threat
- Threats are migrating – more organized crime nation state new targets
- Data continues to experiential growth
Comment from the audience: What is the role of the government in all this? The govt seems to be missing especially that our govt are not paying much attention to the digital borders. Physical borders are being protected by different means while digital borders are largely ignored or less attention is shown.