The art of innovation
This time, it's the turn of quantum mechanics. Nevertheless, instead of trying to explain the advanced math behind it, which I don't even think I'm qualified to discuss, I will use the movie Groundhog Day to illustrate the superposition principle from quantum mechanics.
Our agency comes from our understanding of the world and the objects around us. We don't feel that we lose agency because we can't fly. We understand that we are bound to a set of physical rules that define the nature of our world. In the same way, we gain agency over machines when we understand what precise technology is doing and how is it doing it.
Although it is possible to compare the technical specifications of these two types of communication—such as data throughput, coverage or cost; the business logic behind these two technologies couldn't be more different. It would be like comparing a chain of supermarkets (5G), that offers a wide range and volume of products for a large population, with a new company looking to bring drinking water to underserved communities (Satellite).
From nano-satellites to communication, from transport to space tourism, from asteroid mining to the habitation of other worlds; space is positioning itself as the new frontier for business and humankind.
During the 50s and 60s, although certainly ill-conceived, there was a clear motivation behind winning the space race. Then, just before the dissolution of the USSR, space becomes the mean to symbolise unity and reconciliation. But now, in a world profoundly divided and with increasing existential threats to the environment and consequently to humans, it is vital to establish a new philosophy.
I have always been intrigued by space exploration, not only because of the fantastic photos that the Hubble telescope has produced, or the gigantic rockets used to accelerate humans into escape velocity (cool name) but mostly for the sheer notion of stepping into the unknown. In a way, that is the reason why I decided to do a PhD.
Technology is a tool, and it should be understood as such when dealing with any problem, yes. However, technology also has its nuances, and it is essential that users, designers or managers understand the benefits and costs that every technology brings to the table.
Sunday is fun day. So, I decided to take a brake from the serious topics and talk about a purely entertaining topic, time traveling. Of course, I will mostly focus on it's fictional depiction, since I can't find a readily available time traveling machine to proof my hypothesis.
The Hero's Journey is a literary archetype or template that encompasses the common stages that heroes go through during their adventures, hence the name. It also applies to many other mediums, hopefully academic writing is among them.
A plot is a conceptual tool, useful to understand the elements of a story, the mechanisms to manipulate those elements, and the logic behind. The structure of a plot helps us frame our message in a way that makes sense, which, in turn, keeps the reader engaged.
Carlos Carbajal 