Technology continues to evolve and the hardware architectural devices, techno-gadgets,  and toys continue to multiply.  After all, we are living in the 21^st Century.  The technology is smart and we are enjoying the benefits that the applications technology delivers.  In a sense, we and technology are growing up together and learning each and everyday the implications and the effects of these new technologies that are created, mass produced, and distributed to society.

The world has had a glimpse of technology working at its best especially in the wake of disaster.  After the devastation of the Haiti earthquake, for instance, we witnessed the sorrow and pain of a country already suffering from poverty and seeing this reality and strength of the people there touched the world.  And thanks to the technological developments of mobile phones and the Internet, people’s lives were saved and love ones were re-connected.  It was amazing and miraculous to see the role technology played in the midst of this disaster.  There were so many trapped people who were able to calm the fears of their loved ones through cell phones, text messages on social networking sites.  While television provided an inside look at the impact of the earthquake, social networking sites were utilized to post messages and photos of missing love ones.  People were able to communicate they were still alive.  Yes, smart technology can be a shining star in the wake of disaster.

Since that time, technology continues its evolution.  The iPad was recently released with all of its bell and whistles.  The iPhone, blackberry, and net books are smarter, faster, and provide many benefits with their applications.  People are engaging in social networking on a global scale and its impact is still being examined.  Last year, I posted a blog on Women that Network entitled “Social Networking: A Garden of Eden.”  Today, the Garden of Eden theory is holding true as we experience the good and the bad side of technology, or as some may say, the “ying and the yang.”  For all the good technology is bringing into our lives, it has brought significant challenges.  Facebook, MySpace, texting etc. are wonderful tools of communication; however, they leave a trail of information.  They are great tools for surveillance.  As one law enforcement officer stated, “Technology has become a great tool for law enforcement.”  There are many crimes and schemes conducted through the internet including sexual predators, pornography, and recruitment for terrorism, to name a few.  And not to mention elementary and middle school children “sexting” (sending nude photos) through their cell phones.  People’s houses are also being robbed as a result of their “tweets” letting criminals know they’re not at home; some are being denied jobs and fired due to their posting graphic content on social networking sites; others are being killed due to texting while driving.

Just because we have all of these smart technologies at our disposal, we have to apply “common sense” and understand the concept of “people trails.”  Yes, technology will continue to evolve and bring added value, but it can also subtract things from our lives if we do not become smart in our actions.  Nonetheless, we can be assured that technology will continue to be center stage in our lives.  It is the way of the world.  And while there are many challenges associated with the use and applications of technology for good or for bad, it is here to stay.  Be aware, “We the People are providing the content; We the People are compromising our privacy; and We the People need to become smart.  Don’t let technology control your senses.

Tags: Dame Dhyana Ziegler, Ph.D.

March is Women’s History Month in the USA. On a broader scale, March 8 is International Women’s Day, with over 573 events around the world. The Day is a major one of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Instead of one global theme each year, it is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select. To check out your country’s events and the various themes, go to internationalwomensday.com. Join in the celebration, even if from your computer! There is a vast amount of information on this website including jobs, health, business and finance and more. Most importantly, give yourself a pat on the back this month for all that you have achieved!

A friend of mine once told me about a quotation made by the author, Stephen King, in his book, On Writing, in which he states “…to write is human, to edit is divine.” I found this quotation most fascinating and quite honestly, I was more than a little surprised to think that anyone would consider editing as being divine. After thinking about this quotation for some time, I realized that there are many who write—they put their thoughts on paper, communicate with others and some writers may not be concerned with how to spell, punctuate or to use grammar properly. They can be more interested in getting their thoughts communicated—to be creative in whatever they are writing—to cause the reader to visualize a scene or story in their mind’s eye. However, editors can focus too entirely on the rules and can end up sanitizing writing to the point where the writer’s voice may disappear. Perhaps this is what Stephen King meant when he said “…to edit is divine.” As the editor-in-chief for the American Biographical Institute, I make every effort to keep the writer’s voice intact and to make minimal changes to an entry or text while adhering to the rules of grammar.

Recently, while watching a reality show on television about fashion design, I heard the designers’ mentor say to them regarding the designs they were creating “…remember designers, edit, edit, edit.” I thought this was a fascinating way to tell them that their designs should be looked at many times and possibly edited or revised to make them more precise and more accurate for the project. I had never thought of editing being applicable to the world of fashion design but there it was mentioned over and over again by a very popular designer/mentor. This proved to me that editing not only applies to the written word but can also apply to other aspects of our lives. There is a need to review and edit whatever we are undertaking to make sure it is accurate or more precise, while still allowing for creativity to shine through.

At A.B.I., I oversee the creation of a person’s biography for inclusion in our directories. It is important to provide each person with a biography that reflects the important aspects of their lives and their achievements. I take my editing role quite seriously and make every effort to incorporate not only proper grammar, spelling and punctuation, but also creativity and an accurate reflection of the author’s life.

There are so many ways to express holiday greetings.  I want to personally extend my best wishes to all of you. I hope that whatever holiday you are celebrating throughout the year, you will have happiness and that Peace will come to you. May next year be one of your best ever! I have received numerous holiday emails and try to respond to them all. It is especially exciting to receive e-cards from different countries. I am blessed to have so many friends and colleagues. Just one of the many blessings I can count!

Today I received an email from a dear friend who wished me “Happy Girlfriends and Sisters Week.” I did not realize there was such a celebration. I am thankful to her for reminding me that relationships between women are very special, particularly between close friends and family. Those who are confidants, shopping companions, lunch dates, business colleagues, and acquaintances who may have touched our lives briefly, but profoundly. Take a moment to contact or call your girlfriends and sisters and let them know how much you care about them. It takes only a few words to make someone smile and feel appreciated.  By the way, the email I received was from WTN participant, Sharron Stroud, Spiritual Leader and Dean of the Institute of Successful Living in Palm Springs, California. She has just received the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Terra Award acknowledging the contributions of women in the public service sector. Congratulations friend and thank you!

Over seventeen years ago, the Pyramid Technique of Technological Forecasting theory was introduced in a book written by Dr. Molefi Asante, Temple University, and Dr. Dhyana Ziegler entitled Thunder and Silence: The Mass Media in Africa that was published by Africa World Press in 1992.  The Pyramid Technique theory was developed by me and was based on a video letter exchange program between women in Knoxville, Tennessee (USA) and women in Ngodiba Village in Senegal, Africa, where women produced their own video letters to exchange ideas and engage in cross-cultural communication.  The program was funded and sponsored by OEF International and the Delta Research and Educational Foundation which were both located in Washington, D.C. at the time.  The lessons learned through the video letter exchange project created the foundation of the theory which still applies today. 

The Pyramid Technique of Technological Forecasting is based on “declarations” where many people are asked to declare what they see as their needs.  While the entities that funded the project had specific ideas about the technological needs of the people in that village, it was discovered that the people in Ngodiba had basic needs that were different from the funders of the project who had made assessments or assumptions from their ideas of what Ngodiba needed.  That would be considered a top down approach of technological forecasting.   Video was something new to the people when it was introduced to this village; therefore, technology hardware and software had no meaning.  But the people in Ngodiba village knew they needed a millet grinder fixed or technology that would assist a health center.  In applying the theory in this case, the message of their voices assessed their basic needs from the base of the pyramid and not the top.

The Pyramid Technique of Technological Forecasting would begin at the base of the pyramid with an assessment as opposed to the top down approach where many businesses and I would venture to say some governments make assessments and decisions from the top down and waste time and money because they have not conducted a proper assessment that meet their technological needs or applications.  This happens over and over again.  Executive, mid, and/or lower level staff could serve as a major asset in assessing your business or government technological needs.  Their voices are needed.  After all, the people who will have to interact with or use the technologies should have a say so and make their “declarations” based on experiences.   Otherwise, one can find him or herself investing capital in useless hardware and software that don’t apply to the needs of the business or society at large.

On an international level, I discovered that some countries are finding telephony as an answer to their technology need for training and communication purposes with their constituents, especially in remote areas that may not have electricity.  So it would not make sense to have wired and wireless computers where there is no infrastructure.  So assessments also have to be made on the infrastructure that is in place before investing in technology. 

Remember, technology is only effective when it can be used.  Technology should not be applied from the top down of the pyramid but from the bottom up.  In some cases, it may be necessary for some businesses to make decisions from the top for fiscal purposes but it would be wise for administration to seek input.  In the long run, staff and colleagues may have ideas or “declarations” that will be a cost-saving mechanism but more importantly, they will be invaluable in assessing your technology needs.

For anyone who has held a particular job for many years, it is very important to have a positive attitude and fresh outlook, always keeping in mind the best way to contribute to the success of your company. A routine assessment of your job skills is very important and an occasional tune-up can prove to be the key to success.

If your company is willing to provide on-the-job training for various positions that may become available, show them that you are willing to take on more responsibilities which could prove not only invaluable for your company, but for you as well. The new training can help you gain more knowledge about your company and the best ways to help it stay successful and possibly perform better. Continue Reading »

Information gathering these days is in real time as opposed to the old days of waiting for information to flow through a gatekeeper such as a reporter, editor, producer, public relations practitioner, or a supervisor, etc. who decides how that message will be packaged for human consumption. In fact, society no longer has to wait for information. It can be consumed at the blink of an eye and it’s available right at your fingertips on the internet. People can connect and engage in interconnectivity in ways that were never imagined a short while ago. Technology has certainly taken its place at the center of our daily engagement. Continue Reading »

Sunday, May 10th, was not only Mother’s Day, but also the kick-off of National Women’s Health Week, which lasts until May 16th. The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health coordinates the event. The purpose is to remind women that their health should be a priority issue. Oftentimes as “caretakers” women ignore their own health while assisting others. Today, May 11th, is National Women’s Check-Up Day in the USA. While going to a physician or dentist is never what I would refer to as fun, it is imperative that as active women we maintain regular appointments with a health care provider. It can also save your life if there are problems you cannot detect on your own. Continue Reading »

There are many women I admire, both living and deceased. Some are well known by name only and others worked quietly in the background to advance women’s rights and places in society. In America, there were many women who set about to change things, beginning with the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848 led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She used the Declaration of Independence as a guideline to present her Declaration of Principles to show women’s subordinate status. Her recommendations for change included the right to vote, a cause that carried forward during the Civil War and afterwards. Stanton established the American Equal Rights Association in 1866 to further the fight for women’s rights. In 1872, Susan B. Anthony was arrested for trying to vote for Uylsses S. Grant in the presidential election. Some years later additional groups were established such as the National Council of Jewish Women and the National Association of Colored Women, among others. Finally, in 1920, the US Amendment was ratified giving citizens of the US the right to vote without regard to sex.

The League of Women Voters proposed the Equal Rights Amendment to Congress in 1923. This effort to eliminate discrimination on the basis of gender did not pass. Almost 50 years later Congress passed the ERA in 1972.

The ERA is simple:
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Here is the shock: The ERA has never been ratified, in other words, it is still not a part of the US Constitution. Go to http://www.equalrightsamendment.org to learn more.

Some of the women I admire, like the extraordinary women I have already mentioned? Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, US Astronaut Sally Ride, Jane Austen, Anne Frank, Indira Gandhi, and so many more. Thank you for being brave, curious, creative and committed to the rights of all citizens.