So I have been actively working with drupal for the past several months, trying to get it up and running for an NGO in India. The experience has been fairly smooth and I have even gotten the hang of developing and extending modules for the system. Just a couple of weeks ago following some self-assessment on working with drupal I began considering it as framework for developing a pattern based knowledge management system.
That was of course until two interesting conversations took place. The first conversation was with Yishay who pointed me to the Google Appengine project. He already knew I was a fan of python and django so he brought this up as an alternative to working with drupal.
In all honesty (as I have said in previous posts) I would rather develop with a language like python and framework such as django. Now with the added integration with Appengine it seemed as a an interesting direction to take.
Strangely, the next day at work I was given the green light to begin diving head first into this django/appengine phenomena. We have been actively using SharePoint for most of our projects. Whereas myself I have bucked the system from the get go, instead opting to use google apps and/or building my own as needed.
Well, it seems that my efforts did not go unrecognized and with the help of a few collegues it seems that the google route was partially embraced even if it was just from the standpoint of conducting an investigation of what we might be able to do.
Personally, I would love to develop solely with django and python at work, and well it looks like I get my wish. So for this summer I get to spend all of my time getting acquainted with appengine and see what it can do. Where does this leave me with drupal and my knowledge management system? Well, it leaves with wrapping up my current project for JESA and most likely focusing on using the django framework as the foundation for developing the components needed for my system.
I feel like I have been on a merry-go-round, but considering the options, this summer's work and fellow colleagues giving me the space to become relatively proficient with this system it seems like a given that I will try and use this framework to produce my software.
I'm actually pretty excited about the prospect, as it seems like I'm in a perfect position to take advantage of the django/appengine integration. I'm a huge python fan and it is the language I'm most proficient with. I know django, having built a couple of blog and wiki apps (one day I will move this blog to the one I built), and well appengine uses BigTable and that looks to be an interesting adventure. So taking that together with what I want to do with the application I'm building it seems like a great tool set.
So, thanks Yishay, thanks Gary and definitely thanks to Jamie and Theron for pushing a multi-paradigm software shop at CTLT.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Global Food Crisis: The Limits of Free Market Thinking?
I just hope everyone knows that there is a major upheaval of global proportions on the horizon. Here in the States public discussions and news reports regarding food riots in Bangladesh and elsewhere are scant at best. Despite the implications and emerging crisis, CNN has only done three reports thus far. One with Jeffery Sachs and another with about a 2 minute sound-bite.
Please take some time and look at these links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7331921.stm
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803311850.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89612926
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/14/world.food.crisis/index.html
Just do a search on food riots. This is real!
I just wonder if our economic model of global integration, structural adjustment policies that assert a one-size fits all approach to development, (perhaps more appropriately, the World-Capitalist System) coupled with the environmental/climate issues have finally backed us into corner.
Seriously, only in a world ruled by the abstract notion of value attributed to a piece of paper do we find such ridiculous realties. In this ridiculous world, floating currencies, financial speculations, massive capital investment into new market creation and so on rule the day, and apparently at the cost of billions of livelihoods. I'm sorry Mr. Thomas Friedman, but your Olive Branch is a sham and your damn Lexus is choking the world to a collective end.
I understand the needs for biofuels or at least some series of green-energy options to offset the decline in oil reserves and the rise in costs associated with a parallel energy demand. Yet, when market forces push production and futures speculation into the realm of food conversion to biofuel production at the present rate without opening doors for a series of complementary options (that could reasonably offset these problems) then we obviously have a serious problem on our hands.
A problem many people will not be able to escape from.
It is interesting to think about globalization in our modern world, where information, communication, finance, politics and culture are becoming integrated at various degrees, and yet we never considered the possibility that a global famine could occur. After the likes of Francis Fukiyama and others heralding the age of globalization (the End of History), the fall of the Soviet Union and the triumph of free-market capitalism, I find this emergent problem as a clear sign that the model we have been operating off of since the rise of the merchant classes in Europe several centuries back of has some fundamental flaws. Perhaps, even Karl Marx would have missed this, then maybe this is the type of catalyst he was thinking of when he envisioned a global uprising.
Regardless, the invisible hand of the market is choking the poor to death. The consequences of which are not just people starving, but global economic and political instability on a scale never before seen. If the crisis persists for longer than 6 months (yes Ray I do agree with you on this), then we could see a series of national and even a global political and economic meltdown.
I'm usually a pretty optimistic person when it comes to the ability of humanity to avert disaster and remake itself, but there is so much momentum that I have a hard time ignoring the freaking train-wreck hurdling before me.
Please take some time and look at these links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7331921.stm
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803311850.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89612926
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/14/world.food.crisis/index.html
Just do a search on food riots. This is real!
I just wonder if our economic model of global integration, structural adjustment policies that assert a one-size fits all approach to development, (perhaps more appropriately, the World-Capitalist System) coupled with the environmental/climate issues have finally backed us into corner.
Seriously, only in a world ruled by the abstract notion of value attributed to a piece of paper do we find such ridiculous realties. In this ridiculous world, floating currencies, financial speculations, massive capital investment into new market creation and so on rule the day, and apparently at the cost of billions of livelihoods. I'm sorry Mr. Thomas Friedman, but your Olive Branch is a sham and your damn Lexus is choking the world to a collective end.
I understand the needs for biofuels or at least some series of green-energy options to offset the decline in oil reserves and the rise in costs associated with a parallel energy demand. Yet, when market forces push production and futures speculation into the realm of food conversion to biofuel production at the present rate without opening doors for a series of complementary options (that could reasonably offset these problems) then we obviously have a serious problem on our hands.
A problem many people will not be able to escape from.
It is interesting to think about globalization in our modern world, where information, communication, finance, politics and culture are becoming integrated at various degrees, and yet we never considered the possibility that a global famine could occur. After the likes of Francis Fukiyama and others heralding the age of globalization (the End of History), the fall of the Soviet Union and the triumph of free-market capitalism, I find this emergent problem as a clear sign that the model we have been operating off of since the rise of the merchant classes in Europe several centuries back of has some fundamental flaws. Perhaps, even Karl Marx would have missed this, then maybe this is the type of catalyst he was thinking of when he envisioned a global uprising.
Regardless, the invisible hand of the market is choking the poor to death. The consequences of which are not just people starving, but global economic and political instability on a scale never before seen. If the crisis persists for longer than 6 months (yes Ray I do agree with you on this), then we could see a series of national and even a global political and economic meltdown.
I'm usually a pretty optimistic person when it comes to the ability of humanity to avert disaster and remake itself, but there is so much momentum that I have a hard time ignoring the freaking train-wreck hurdling before me.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
More Questions, Less Answers!
Theoretical Questions:
Can the integration of systems-thinking, pattern languages and process monitoring as iterative approaches to sustainability lead to more effective development planning, implementation and outcomes?
Evidence has shown that each approach can contribute to effective policy construction and useful outcomes aimed at supporting sustainability.
However, each approach is inherently complex, often times requiring and generating masses of information needed to properly understand socio-environmental issues and corresponding solutions. This data is often presented in the form of GIS, System Dynamics Models, Influence Diagrams, Case Study Reports, Patterns as "Best Practices" and Transcripts of Actor Interactions, just to name few.
Considering the complexity of these models and the reliance on iterative processes of problem definitions, solution construction, feedback and adaptation, the research seeks to answer a parallel question; can ICTs structured to incorporate these models effectively enable better practice, information retention, community memory and overall facilitate in the application of collaborative use of these models?
Rationale:
No explicit integration of these models has been attempted despite their relevance to each other. Similarly, little effort has been pursued to enable these practices within collaborative spaces online (except for perhaps process monitoring).
Can the integration of systems-thinking, pattern languages and process monitoring as iterative approaches to sustainability lead to more effective development planning, implementation and outcomes?
Evidence has shown that each approach can contribute to effective policy construction and useful outcomes aimed at supporting sustainability.
However, each approach is inherently complex, often times requiring and generating masses of information needed to properly understand socio-environmental issues and corresponding solutions. This data is often presented in the form of GIS, System Dynamics Models, Influence Diagrams, Case Study Reports, Patterns as "Best Practices" and Transcripts of Actor Interactions, just to name few.
Considering the complexity of these models and the reliance on iterative processes of problem definitions, solution construction, feedback and adaptation, the research seeks to answer a parallel question; can ICTs structured to incorporate these models effectively enable better practice, information retention, community memory and overall facilitate in the application of collaborative use of these models?
Rationale:
No explicit integration of these models has been attempted despite their relevance to each other. Similarly, little effort has been pursued to enable these practices within collaborative spaces online (except for perhaps process monitoring).
Friday, April 4, 2008
Personal Brainstorming Session
About two nights ago I got a wild hair and walked to the office late at night and began going at it on the white-board. During this process I clarified several things.
1.) Defined an assumption about ICT's need to reflect community praxis, rather than ICT redefining praxis in haphazard ways.
2.) Articulated the components that make up the theory and practice of the work I'm focusing on.
3.) Wrote out a preliminary model for the architecture of the system I'm working on to support this work.
The images below reflect the evening's work.
This summer, is going to be devoted to building the base application, along with coordinating with potential case-study participants. Busy times...
1.) Defined an assumption about ICT's need to reflect community praxis, rather than ICT redefining praxis in haphazard ways.
2.) Articulated the components that make up the theory and practice of the work I'm focusing on.
3.) Wrote out a preliminary model for the architecture of the system I'm working on to support this work.
The images below reflect the evening's work.
This summer, is going to be devoted to building the base application, along with coordinating with potential case-study participants. Busy times...
Drupal Module versus Standalone App
Ok, I have found some interesting resources within the Drupal community regarding SVG. In fact, there what appears to be a full feature SVG API for Drupal. Now, even though I'm working with Drupal to develop my prototype app for community natural resource management, I'm wondering if I should adopt the SVG API, or write a standalone app and create a list of functions so the app can interface with Drupal.
I think for the sake of ease it would be better to go the Drupal route, but thinking long-term, I want the app to work in any environment that supports PHP. Surely, I could build the Drupal module first and then begin to think about extending the app, but I'm one of those coders that HATES to repeat my work.
Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts on this it would be great.
If you are new to my blog check out this post to get an idea of what I'm doing with SVG: Need to build some software..., and The process of visualizing complex environments.
I think for the sake of ease it would be better to go the Drupal route, but thinking long-term, I want the app to work in any environment that supports PHP. Surely, I could build the Drupal module first and then begin to think about extending the app, but I'm one of those coders that HATES to repeat my work.
Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts on this it would be great.
If you are new to my blog check out this post to get an idea of what I'm doing with SVG: Need to build some software..., and The process of visualizing complex environments.
Ideal Case v2
In further refining the type of case I want, I would like to add problems of desertification and community level attempts to mitigate such phenomena.
Something else also needs to be included that was not mentioned in the previous post: this project is intended to focus on the use of ICT systems to support community monitoring of NRM based projects to support ecological sustainability, cultural integrity and economic development.
Along with the development of an application which integrates numerous elements from GIS, online deliberation and community modeling with patterns, this project would due well to incorporate some sort of parallel project aimed at building community information literacy.
This could make for a nice intersection for others interested in studying rural capacity building and info literacy.
Something else also needs to be included that was not mentioned in the previous post: this project is intended to focus on the use of ICT systems to support community monitoring of NRM based projects to support ecological sustainability, cultural integrity and economic development.
Along with the development of an application which integrates numerous elements from GIS, online deliberation and community modeling with patterns, this project would due well to incorporate some sort of parallel project aimed at building community information literacy.
This could make for a nice intersection for others interested in studying rural capacity building and info literacy.
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