Barbara Dieu

Another fun read. In the New Yorker this time:
Social Animal

Neither am I, Inge :-)

However, much as I think learning analytics can help in a number of different situations, most people in their daily life are not fond of complexity and tend not to question data analysis or what is behind all these apps, just accept them as they are.

The excessive belief we will boost efficiency by measurement and optimization practices (technology recording and timing every movement to improve performance) without taking into account the human/social/affective/emergent that is present in learning and life will lead to the rigidity, conformism and mechanical view of the world we are trying to overcome.

"In the past the man has been first, in the future the system must be first"
(Frederick W. Taylor, The Principles of Scientific Management, 1911)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1911taylor.html

Off topic but a good read :-)
The Machine Stops - E.M. Forster (1909)

One could imagine a not very far dystopian scenario, in which all objects, buildings and people are tagged with the QR codes and interact with you, other objects and send the industry data (how many/how often/where they were bought on a certain date, for example).

The eggs in the fridge could send you an SMS message saying it's time to eat them or else they will rot, just like your handbag could talk to your scarf. http://alumni.media.mit.edu/~nanda/design/electronics/byob/byob.html

In the same way, one could imagine everyone having QR codes tattoed ,or some kind of chip inserted, on their wrists from birth , which would be a convenient way of carrying your ID card on you all the time, even when deep diving.

Learners could then be followed to the second with the Moral Compass http://neuromin.de/rct/moral_compass.html

and societal-scale ubiquitous camera networks allied to wearable sensing would identify and facilitate social interaction:
http://www.media.mit.edu/resenv/spinner/introduction.html

Same thing in Brazil, Viplav.

I got an invitation in my inbox from an acquaintance. The email also showed me other people I knew. When I followed the link, I was obliged to choose between either my Twitter account, Facebook or Gmail login.

I chose Twitter because I have fewer people there and I know these programs get hold of your mailing list and start inviting them without your knowing.

Bingo!This is what happened. Two days after I had confirmed my address and entered the site, I noticed it had already befriended an x number of people (without my doing anything - so I suppose they must have received an automatic mail telling them I had invited them) and was being followed by so many others. I was also inserted in a number of groups/topics I have no interest in.

I must confess I disliked the experience profoundly.

PS - I have also noticed that I cannot just delete my account. Just deactivate it (like in Facebook) - so although I am not active, the information is all kept there. Sounds like the lyrics of The Eagles Hotel California:

Thank you, Atul. This gives me an update on what I have done - numbers have not changed drastically for most, except maybe for the English-speaking countries, which sport even more participants.