"... at the palm of my hand" " ... at the touch of a finger"  ... are only a few phrases that when said over decades ago meant nothing other than a figure of speech. Today it holds true in every literal sense. This is not about a particular mobile device (seen in the photo is the Google Nexus One Phone) or about mobile devices in general. This post is about how the behaviors of people, communities as a whole, society, and how a generation of global citizens are being provided the resources to extend their global citizenship'ness into a "one touch, handheld, time travel, history making, transparent, network piece" that stays connected to the world 24/7". In an ideal case, 24/7 would be feasible should someone come up with a mainstream solution that uses other means of power other than these useless batteries that come with current devices.

When people talked about convergence 10-20 years ago, I don't think they had ANY idea that the word would transcend the meaning of "convergence of technologies". Perhaps, only a few futurists were able to abstract the possibilities of what we are seeing now ... 

 a convergence of humanity as a collective digital cloud. 

"Gathering" platforms like Facebook and Twitter are seeing a rise in the probability of connecting with like-minded people. Articles and talks have delved into the sociology of what happens when like-minded people get together to collaborate. In most cases, positive and empowering things happen but like all balance in the universe, the opposite also holds true - negative and destructive ideas can also accelerate into action.

There is still much heated debate on the pros and cons of such a convergence. But the numbers who engage in such discussions for the cons have diminished considerably, as individuals find themselves getting tangled in the digital-sphere of the cloud.

My mention of cloud is two fold. Cloud computing is definitely behind this take but the cloud I am talking about refers more to a "consciousness" one. That metaphysical collective consciousness that has started to seep into our fibre optics, integrating itself with the very frequencies in which our digital devices operate. I'm guessing that the science of artificial intelligence will see a huge leap forward once its developers realize the potential of such a bridge - much less see and admit that there is a bridge. 

Behind the scenes, humanity is seeing a convergence of science and religion whether or not some people want to admit it. Invisibly happening is the osmosis of thoughts, from one state to another. Our ego's are still holding strong to the power of "separateness", just as we still see individuals claiming rights to aspects of ideas of creativity. But there is no longer an original idea. Maybe, there never was a "real" original idea. Original ideas were perhaps perceived as original because the human mind had not evolved in this 3D space to even comprehend the notion of a probable "connectedness". 

But the convergence of technologies and this era of communication on super-drive is making it easier to notice that no matter how separate and physically distant we are from others, when connecting and engaging in these social platforms, we begin to see parts of our selves, not only in someone else, but in many. So what does this all really mean?

Because my mind only thinks in abstract, let me plant an interesting thought: Our current handheld portals are evolving into the windows of our souls. 

Augmented Reality is definitely not a new concept, nor is it a new technology. Our world has been augmented ever since man developed ego's through which he perceives his world. Thanks to make-up, radio, television, photoshop, fashion accessories and cosmetic surgery, our world is more augmented than ever. But, there's an emergent interest in augmented reality of the sci-fi kind and it's happening now.

The First European Augmented Reality Business Conference will be taking place this Friday, April 23rd followed by the Augmented Reality Developer Camp in Berlin. Hosting the event is Dan Romescu, an avid augmented reality advocate. Dan and good friend Willi Schroll have been engaging in dialog on augmented reality for many years now and their efforts have accumulated into one promising and fruitful event.

Our team will be covering both events and we hope to come back with some interesting insights into the future of augmented reality and its applications with every day life.

Gaming and education are like new menu items in one of those fusion restaurants. Not all dishes, when mixed, make for a delectable treat, but for some reason, gaming and education does. Here's are 10 reasons why.

1. Most education systems are outdated and do not address the change in learning behaviors of those generations that grew up with technology.

2. People have adapted to technological tools and other platforms that allow for a more engaging learning experience.

3. Both online and offline games are seeing a rise in popularity and use-effectiveness in training and learning environments.

4. Learning is no longer seen as a one-way, teacher-student, or two-way, teacher-student-student-teacher process, but a highly immersive process involving as many faculties of senses as possible.

5. Technological advancements have empowered not only educational institutions, but have also provided portals and platforms that help to extend teaching and learning boundaries.

6. An emerging focus on serious games have caught the attention of many industries, institutions and businesses.

7. The demand for "Gaming Institutions" has risen as well as the demand for suitable instructors for serious game development.

8. The accessibility for games in general have exponentially grown with the increase of mobile gadgets, their affordability and their hardware and software.

9. Learning is no longer limited to the classroom or local excursions but extends around the world where students share, teach and discuss common topics from both a local and global perspective. 

10. Younger generations are in need of education systems that can challenge, stimulate and are fun.

DF NOW is an upscale, sophisticated platform that discusses technology, the internet, virtual worlds, social networking sites, art, global business and their impact on life as we know it. Candid, arrogant, abstract, brutally honest and at the same time empathetic to today's lifestyles, DF NOW is a no holds barred look at how the future may be, given all the sh*t we have now.

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