CHAPTER 11
Esther Dyson
Release 2.0:  A Design for Living in the Digital Age
(New York: Broadway Books, 1997).

"A Design For Living"
by: Carolyn Agmata
Psy 409a, G11





Instructions to this report

Table of Contents:
Summary
Questions and Answers
Reactions
Suggestions

SUMMARY

    "A Design For Living" is Dyson's last chapter in her book.  She talks about how it's our turn to reflect and act on the issues she've mentioned beforehand in the context of our own lives.  She adds however, that we can't just hope to design our lives on the Net based on her book.  But, she hopes that she at the most have shown us a "new world more intelligible and its structure visible."  (p.277)
    The Net has many opportunities such as having greater choice in work, education, and personal life; shaping the organizations and people with whom we deal with; setting our own rules of engagement; being a consumer as well as a creator; and setting our own standards for content, privacy, anonymity, and security.

Why You?
    The choices you make on the Net affects others because this new world depends on its citizens.  Your actions really do have an impact for the people around you.

Realistic Idealism
    Dyson states that this book is not of description, but of prescription for "it's what you can do."  (p.279)  The Net is a tool for "some" purpose.  Its biggest opportunity is that it allows you to go beyond choosing and start creating.  Set your own priorities and achieve the goals that you set!

Design Rules for Living
    Dyson says we each should contribute our own ways for the benefit of our own online communities.  She developed the following 12 underlying principles which fosters involvement, disclosure, clarity, honesty, and respect for yourself and others.
    -Use your own judgment
        The net gives you a "choice" to "find a situation you like or abandon one you don't.
    -Disclose yourself
        "Let people know who you are and what you stand for...clarity is helpful."
    -Trust but verify
        Trust the people with whom you are dealing with and also be honest with them when
        they ask to know more about you.
    -Contribute to the communities you love or build your own
        Be active in the communities you join and you if can't be successful in a particular
        community, design your own!
    -Assert your own rights and respect those of others
        Don't let people boss you around.  "Do unto other as you would have them do unto you."
    -Don't get into silly fights
        As they say in real life situations, "walk away" from stupid conflicts.  Flame wars are a
        waste of time.
    -Ask questions
        Don't be afraid of asking questions-it's surely a way to learn, especially by listening to the
        answers.
    -Be a producer
        In addition to having the choice of all the things that are offered, you too have the
        choice to  make and offer your own.
    -Be generous
        Do important favors...give your time and attention.
    -Have a sense of  humor
        It doesn't hurt to have a little fun.  Don't take life too seriously!
    -Always make new mistakes
        It's no shame at all to make new mistakes as long as you can acknowledge and benefit
        from them.
    -NOW DESIGN YOUR OWN
      Enough said!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: What do you think will be the biggest problem in the future of the net?    - Corey Egami
A:  In my opinion, there will be millions more using the net.  Lines will be busy and it'll take forever to up or down load.  Actually, I'm afraid that one day, every household will hold a computer and boom, each of it will "crash"

Q: Do you agree with Dyson's guidelines?  And how do you feel about them?
    - Valerie Iinuma, Craig Kawamura, Hyechin Kim, Sheri Lieberman, & Kyle Michibata
A:  There are some things that we can't all agree on and some of them are Dyson's rules.  Some are easy to follow, yet there are things that sound too idealistic to go by.  For instance, I think that we can't always disclose who we are.  We have to protect our privacy for those hackers, and harassers.  Also, many of us can't just "walk" away from a fight on the computer.  The beauty of  flame wars is that you don't really know the other person behind the computer,  and you can argue back and fourth all day long without getting your nose bled.

Q: How do you relate to the 12 design rules?  How are they true in your online experience so far?    - Dr. Leon James
A:  For this class, I always try my best to be honest with reports.  I write what I feel, and I design how I please.  If I want respect and trust from others, I have to do the same so that's what I'm doing!  And of course, I contribute to communities in what we call "Web Crossing".

Q: Do you find any of Dyson's principles helpful when creating your own web page or when interacting on the net?    - Jocelyn Manibusan
A:  I'm really don't interact much on the net with other people.  This is practically what I do on the computer.  However, Dyson's principles are helpful to me when designing my page.  I make mistakes and learn from all of the generations.

Q: Do you think Dyson's ideas are more idealistic than realistic?    - Wilfred Lee & Sean Marrs
A:  It's both.  We can live up to it or think it's very ideal to follow.  It's actually up to how you feel about it when you're on the net.

Q: What would you add to Dyson's list?    - Leon Mosher
A:  I don't think I would add anything else.  She probably said what I wanted to more or less.

Q: What do you think are the most important rules for living?  Why?    - Evelyn Moss
A:  Even though we may not agree on what Dyson thinks are the 12 most important rules for living, I think three of them are the most important.  They are...Assert your own rights and respect those of others, be generous, and have a sense of humor.

Q: Is there a conflict of interest with Dyson promoting TRUSTe?    - Russ Muramatsu
A:  Dyson just gave an example of what to use if you wanted to keep them unwanted guests out of your business or if  you wanted your personal information kept secret.

Q: How much "enlightenment" did you really get out of the book?  Was it informative or just another internet book?    - Albert Ne
A:  Honestly, I didn't read all of the chapters, but I did find a lot of useful information when the students presented the chapters.  They were really informative and something I have been using or could use for the future in the net world.
 


REACTIONS

    I felt confident in doing this report because I was prepared to discuss the issues Dyson had presented in her book.  It was a short, yet straightforward chapter and all there was to it was give examples that would relate to Dyson's guidelines.  There was a bit of conflict about the 12 rules mentioned.  Some felt that you really can't follow these principles because it's too ideal.    Dr. James disagreed on that.  He feels that everyone can be that person who follows every rule on the net.  It was a very interesting discussion.  It's really an exciting issue if people gets involved and orally participate.
 
SUGGESTIONS
    If you want to give a great report, I suggest you read the chapter over and over and brainstorm some questions you might think the class will ask you.  Try to answer them so that you won't get stuck and say something that is off the subject.  Prepare in advance, no procrastinating, and have something written down to fall back on if you have nothing else to say.  Get the important sub-parts and focus on them, and make sure you comment on each part you describe.  One more thing...try to post your orals up even before you receive the questions because that will save you time in writing the whole report.
 
 
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