Collecting Data Is Only The First Step To Wisdom, But Sharing Data Is The First Step To Community

Courtesy 21st Century Collaborative's article, 'Schooling for Tomorrow: Learning to Bridge the Digital Divide', caused me to revisit the video to the right - an IBM Linux commercial that some people may remember. It's a powerful commercial for Linux, but as the article points out - it applies to the digital divide as well:

...Sure-- this is a Linux commercial, but forget that. Rather look at the real message. The message of information and how this generation of digital learners are being given an advantage over those who do not have access...

I get that. But there's more than that in the commercial, much more - and maybe it's time for people to revisit part of the core of that commercial. Open Source, Open Content, now blatant marketing terms for everything from politics to radio, have a core of something much deeper. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. Community. Sharing information for the benefit of all. It's a theme which seems to have been lost in so many things through over-marketing; like good soil leeched bad the phrases have become impotent - but the core is still there, somewhere, under varying levels of indirection.

I just thought a few more people should be reminded. Call it what you will, the spirit isn't about marketing.

It's about the reality of continuance.