The Roadside Philosopher

Insight Blog

Pamala Clift — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:10:38 +0000

Artificial Intelligence_ Can you get an inoculation for that?

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:32:05 +0000

Insight Blog

Pamala Clift: Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2011 11:39 AM

Just came from a IEEE organizational meeting talking about the timeline for the artificial intelligence field.

The presentation was by a Navi blue avatar that had the label over his head: Evangelist for Virtual Worlds.

I read some profiles and marveled at all the exceptional IQs sitting in one spot., but wait?… they are NOT sitting in one spot. They are sitting all over the world. Speaking from their perspective, .. collaborating in real time… sharing what would be impossible to share with out including the transportation industry.

I got a friendship request from a brilliant scientist that had scanned my profile or laughed at my text comments and decided that I would be good to add to her resources. She didn’t have to wait for the speaker to finish, navigate thru the crowd to meet and introduce herself. She instantly had a desire to connect.. a thought to share and Wah Laaa..

The deed was done. (No lost business cards to shuffle thorough at the end of conference trying to remember where you picked that card up and who it was from)

I am continually perplexed at the resistance to try a medium that draws such exceptional intellects together? Why is it that the immersive communicative component of a new technology is shunned like a plague.

No, no.. it is not real life!

Well then… phones are not real, nor television information.. lets just go back to digging in the ground with sticks.

So with technology doubling every 18 months… where is that going to leave everyone else…. if only a few are making the effort to keep up? It is too much to absorb for one person or several dozen… only an Artificial Intelligence could possibly have the storage capacity to sift all the information and methods of communication that will be available.

The biological resistance is there.. fighting the progress like a virus. Who is it that produced this very functional inoculation to intelligence?

Compartmentalization is that feasible?

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:26:31 +0000

Insight Blog

Pamala Clift: Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:57 PM

Business, Education, Personal all belong in their own compartment–

Don’t cross the line?!? What the Heck?

Will business and education ever realize that life is one big whole? Businesses ignoring the social component won’t become Facebook powerhouses.

Educational institutions that refuse to acknowledge that social-computer-mediated communication is the speed of today’s society, are NOT going to be around for long. They simply are not supplying the product of students capable of dealing with the “method of business” used in today’s environment to their graduates. They are technologically phobic, using outdated internal systems and tenured professors that balk at having to learn something new.

I have watched businesses collapse because of interpersonal relationship failure. Either the HR drama of an interoffice romance, or the dismissal of the fact that employees have feelings in the corporate culture, or a divorce of the CEO, any can become the downfall.

Social CAN NOT be dismissed. It should be the focal point of every single action. You want customer social, employee social, vender social. Social IS the value! The economy sucks! You better provide a reason to love you. I need to believe I am important to you! Prove it!

LIFE is Personal! Whether it is existing at work, at school, or social, it is ALL personal. You don’t stop being human upon entering class or your workplace. You are you wherever you go.

Cisco’s: The Human Network has a beautiful slogan that touches everyone even NON-geeks. We now all belong to the human network and can visualize our contributions.

We do not live for Reality…

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:16:52 +0000

Insight Blog

Pamala Clift: Posted on Friday, May 13, 2011 8:11 PM

We live for our fantasies!

As a philosopher there is one common thread everything seems to come back to… “What is Reality?”

Reality for the Fox is certainly different than the reality for the chicken. The meeting of these two would have totally different perceptions of Right & Wrong.

The degrees in perceptional differences are almost the same with male & females.

If we want to make headway in understanding, we need to be able to see and acknowledge perceptions far different from our own and truly be able to see them as valid.

Women know they are right, but men blindly make the same assumption. (smile) Men have their feet planted squarely on the ground in the ‘here & now’ and women look afar for what this will mean in the future… so what is wrong in that? Two eyes, different perspectives makes a grand couple.

Why does there have to be a wrong or a right. Is blue better than red?

But the drama that exists because “He lied.”, or “She read more into what I said, than I said” type comments abound.

Our perspective of things is “our plot”. The story we tell ourself in our mind is happening.

It is devastating to your self image and perception when you are force-fed information that is totally opposed to your assumptions. Your plot is destroyed. Now how much pain are you going to afflict on yourself and others before you take ownership of your misperception and create for yourself a new “plot”.

So how do you start to try and understand?.. that is the question.

It is with this question that I constantly struggle as I try to assist those hurt by misperceptions from the other party… either because they over looked the facts presented or were intentionally misled.

How have you been enlightened by a totally opposite view? What brings about the epiphany of realization?

We have our head up in the clouds.. thinking OUR perception indeed has to be the correct one.

It is,… but only for you!

Please tell me your story.. of when you suddenly understood.

Nostalgia over pixelated places.

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:59:11 +0000

Insight Blog

Posted on Monday, August 29, 2011 9:33 AM

Places that are not Places… created virtual environments that contain in the mind experiences lived through a cartoon life. It is amazing how those components take on an actuality.

The same feelings of not being able to go back, to experience a moment in time. It’s like that same feeling when you realize your childhood locations will never be accessible again.

I was showing off the many beautiful builds within SL as creative minds create visions and techniques unique to their own perception.

Going through landmarks that I kept in my inventory… yet.. they were not there..

Greenies is Gone! No one has created anything like that in SL. a totally unique humorous British giant build of a simple kitchen with little green men exploring all those strange items we call everyday commodities. You turn the corner and see a Porter Rockwell vision of a stop motion story experience.

I went to the beautiful build of Avilion Castle, a place that I would struggle mightily to get through the lag, because of all the people who frequented this romantic medieval experience. It was empty. Not a soul.

I sat there on one of the side chairs contemplating how quickly not only our pixelated world is changing but the speed of technology is catapulting our real life existence into light-speed transition that I am not sure the biological avatar is equipped to handle.

We need time to morn what we have lost before we can transition. I don’t think we have found a best practice for that time gap, which is why technology is meeting so much resistance.

What do you think? Should there be a farewell to the old before embracing the new?

Focus on the Horizon

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:52:01 +0000

Insight Blog

Pamala Clift: Posted on Friday, July 01, 2011 7:41 PM

So you have been laid off… You just got divorced… The children left home… Your health has shifted.. All are challenges with new horizons. We have to shift our focus now, but the key to surviving transition is to ‘look up’.

Everything ends in this mortal existence. Whole genres of careers and businesses get outdated. The linear time line of life never stays the same as well, BUT the horizon is still out there.

I became particularly interested in how a shift in focus removes a lot of stress when I was only 16 and taking my driver’s ed course. I had never driven while the others in my vehicle had snuck in time behind the wheel.

I was keenly aware of the line on the road. Those little white dashes that divide the road so that you know where you are suppose to drive.

It was HORRIBLE. I would watch each dash so focused on those lines that it was extremely stressful. If I did not predicted a curve in the road and went over the line everyone in the car was also aware of the danger, which added to my stress.

Why was this so hard for me? I was always an A student. I can learn fast but the road always seemed faster.

My instructor knew exactly what to tell me to do. He said simply, “look up and farther ahead”

That did it! No longer was I facing each of those little dashed lines as a constant challenge. I only had to look at the horizon to see the big picture and those little dashes were now something that fell into proper place.

When life keeps coming at you one intimidating white line after another, look up.. ignore the white lines (well put them on the fringe of your vision) and seek the horizon.

The panic leaves.. and you choose your horizon, since no one knows what the future holds pick one pretty and pink and promising and then work toward that.

With technology and life changing economically that is all we can do because none of us can survive if we just watch the white lines sail past.

Is Education Sell-able in it’s current form?

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:50:12 +0000

Insight Blog

Pamala Clift- The Roadside Philsopher: Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 8:26 PM

So we have an exorbitant cost associated with buildings, marketing, personnel to keep Universities up and running soooo we can pay for administrators and marketing so we can get more students in to pay higher prices so the University can confirm that they might have learned something.

So what, if what they learned ..they learned from books, the internet, their own research, listening, and doing….

We needed a teacher to ASSIGN that stuff before they can learn it?

Ok, lets back up here… The student is ultimately responsible for learning what is needed. The instructor assigns reading, and exercises for the student to do research.

Does that mean it is NOT valid if I read and do exercises I find on the internet and learn something because someone else has not assigned it?

So this is what I am saying. Since the student has multiple avenues to learn information now. One does not have to sit on a hard seat in a crowded classroom to listen to a boring professor tell us of his summer vacation before he gives us the 10 min next assignment.

It seems the value of the higher education institution is in only one thing…. Validating that you know what you know.

So lets get rid of everything but the two components.. ok we can add a third.

1. A list of all the things you need to know and be competent for different fields.

2. A mentor that might point you in the direction and flow of your research as you discover and do activities that will make you more knowledgeable. Watch videos, do tutorials online, talk with your mentor about your questions.

3. And then validating that you know what you know… HOWEVER you acquired it.

This is the ultimate use of an Institution of higher learning. Putting a stamp of approval on those that do know something.

But instead it has turned out that the only thing that is available is.. did you PAY and exorbitant amount of money and endure the totally antiquated slow almost non-usable dribble for four plus years.

When you could have learned six times faster on the job….but if you did that you don’t have that piece of paper which allows HR people to narrow the candidate pool of applicants quickly so they don’t have to think.

Engaging Education-Tool Orientation

Pamala Clift — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:47:53 +0000

Insight Blog

Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 2:20 PM

So many new companies coming out with different methods of communicating information and social interactions yet the general populace only see these as fads and work to avoid them.

Even I will use power point to help facilitate my lectures in a virtual world. It isn’t power point that is responsible for a good or bad dissemination of information, it is the presenter.

The point of giving information is to have it be digestible to the recipients. Something familiar amid a whole lot of newness allows for a common perception. If it is understandable and usable to their minds at this moment, we have a good connection. So the only way to discern that, is by interaction.

“Welcoming interactions” not “interrupt-able interaction”.

People need to feel embraced by their curiosity and encouraged and safe to ask anything. This can be in a classroom or online if all items are available and within the users comfort zone.

So where it is easy to raise your hand in a meeting, it may not be as obvious how to put your question across “just to the instructor” or how to use voice, or the open chat. Some general format questions need to be addressed prior to every meeting. Encourage those that are new to come early.

It is this aversion to appearing “dumb” in front of others that have most people balking at new tools. So if your trying to teach make a “gentle overall method of communication intro” a priority with every event.

I thought about listing the many usable tools and then decided there isn’t enough room. Just Google “virtual education” and set aside a month or two for reading and watching.

We are such a fast-food society that often times orientation is left out, figuring they will learn eventually. It is like learning in German when your an English speaker such a hurdle is not desirable. You want your students ready to receive and understand.

Well I am Official.. whatever that means.

Pamala Clift — Wed, 18 May 2011 03:13:46 +0000

Amazing what people attribute as being “Real” and what is not. Spent time and money to make my Business idea and name REAL. To do that you have to pay fees and fill out forms. All asking the same questions. Your name? What you want to call your business? How many employees? Where is it? What do you do? So you write this all down and pay fees.. and POOF!! Now your a real business. Of course you now have to fill out the same information for two or three other government entities, not to mention banks so you can write checks.

So banks give you a credit line, you get protection of limited liability, and you get double taxed.. charged fees.. but Hey? Your Official!!

For this little exercise I have this piece of paper on my wall.. (paid $12 to get a frame- but at it is a real nice frame) with the name of my company. So now you get to pay for a website, start a GoogleAdWords campaign struggle with the hosting service not giving you access to the header of your own site, cause they have a flipping interface lock down. *rolls eyes* Google analytics has killed your word campaign cause you can’t link the site with the javascript… You get business cards and a sticker for your window.. and now you get.. To Market!

My least favorite people in college were the marketing majors. They would so smoosh the professors into giving them good grades, trade favors, not study, but still manage to shine everywhere with their charisma. Did they DO anything? sigh.. However, somehow.. magic happens when you employ one.

Here I am the Roadside Philosopher so contemplating that maybe the Roadside would be more fun than marketing.. but it is a part of my life’s perception to understand what motivates people. After listening to marketing lectures I came up with their secret in a short little phrase. “If you can’t sell a solutions…. Sell a Dream!”

Well my dream is to have people THINK instead of being cookie cutter robots to marketing…… umm.. am I undermining my goal here?

I want education to WORK. I want businesses to spend some time orienting and transitioning employees into using technology so we stop having luddites fighting the wonders advancements can provide…. and I want to assist people in understanding how virtual relationships play out in real life.. the good & the bad and how to best balance.

So that is my Windmill! … and here is my steed… http://www.virtualhandhold.com as I take my shaky lance (Business license) and as a woman CEO go forward out into the abyss. Giggle what a picture… The Roadside Philosopher is now CEO of Virtual Handhold, LLC.

Finally Got the Slides up for a basic State of Being Lecture!

Pamala Clift — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:42:57 +0000

After lecturing around the grid for over the last year and having professors, grad students, business professionals all ask for a method to site this lecture.
I finally decided to put up my slides for most of the presentation.

The confusion over what is going on in virtual worlds has kept it down. The perception is that only the culturally stiffled will engage. But just like the Internet was in its inception, virtual worlds are a communication medium that will prove it’s worth.

BUT if the digital citizens can not describe it, talk about it, and figure out a proper frame of reference for introducing others.. it will indeed stay on the fringe.

Here is a shortened State of Being lecture that offers words to begin the process of understanding perceptions & differences. From here… we can soar!
I look forward to the brillance other will add to this work.

Pamala Clift. The Roadside Philosopher’s State of Being Lecture