Even the Pope has embraced social media! Pope Francis tweets to lessen people's time in purgatory! Currently the Pope has close to 2.7 million followers and almost 100 tweets!

Follow Pope Francis on Twitter @Pontifex

Check out the article below!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/16/vatican-indulgences-pope-francis-tweets

Up next is Duncan Mclean from Doctors Without Borders. Mr. Mclean manages
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) programs in Nigeria, Uganda, Haiti, Ethiopia and Somalia. He has worked with MSF since 2002 in various capacities, including Head of Mission in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Nepal, and Chad, and Field Coordinator in Sudan, Thailand, and Mynamar. In addition to his humanitarian field work, Mr. Mclean has lectured at several universities in the Czech Republic and worked as a journalist.

Everyone welcome Barbara Miller, a professor in anthropology from Syracuse University! Dr. Miller has done most of her research on gender and health issues in India, but she has also studied rural development in Bangledesh, low-income household budgeting in Jamaica, and Hindu adolescents in Pittsburg. Her current research take 3 directions: what works in gloval gender policy; child survival and gender inequality in India; and the role of culture/society in international policy and programs. 

Her bumper sticker -- "if you ignore half of your population, you're not going to make it"

Professor Michael Nelson discusses 7 new technologies and trends and how they will impact us.

1. Mesh networks- don't have to have cell towers if you can build devices that talk to each other and make own networks
2. Identity- Social media will begin to become your identity
3. Digital flood of information and how using social media helps us sort that through
4. Memes- must read "Microstyles", the art of writing small
5. Book "The Power of Pull" by John Ceeley Brown and John Hagel- best place to go in thinking about how information is shaping society 
6. Power of emotion online
7. Transperancy- no better way to foster trust, than being transparent 

Welcome Michael Nelson, a professor at Georgetown University who teaches courses and researches the future of the Internet, cyber-policy, techonlogy policy, innovation policy, and e-government. Prior to joining Georgetown, he was the Director of Internet Techonlogy and Strategy at IBM, where he managed a team helping define and implement IBM's Next Generation Internet Strategy. His team worked with universit yresearchers on NGi techonlogy, shaping standards for the NGi, and communicating IBM's NGi vision to customers, policy makers, the press, and the general public.

Ken Anye discusses the Hive Knowledge Platform and their focus on spreading knowledge through technology. Professor Nelson brought to light projects such as BRCK and Google Project Loon whose goals are to provide Internet access to remote parts of the world. Does anyone know any other organizations that seek to increase the availability of technology around the world?

Kenneth Anye is the Operations Officer at the World Bank's Center for conflict, Security, and Development. Ken also serves as a supervisor of the Hive Knowledge Platform. The Hive is a World Bank-sponsored global community that helps countries reduce and prevent fragility, conflict, and violence. He is involved in the conflict and fragile unit which helps other countries prevent/recover from violent and conflicting events. A central focus of his research has been to identify the effects of conflict on economic outcomes in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Check out the major themes and ideas from Day 1! Thank you to all of the participants who took the time to utilize social media to express their thoughts and opinions!

Social media highlights from Day 1

ADOBE CONNECT

I’m not sure it was so much a cultural gap as much as it was perhaps a personality gap

If we don’t ask the question, there is no conversation

But you also want to keep the balance, ask questions and be open and share information, that could develop trust quicker

But also some of the most interesting conversations are triggered by pushing the envelope, daring to ask the sensitive questions

D9’s last comment might be a generational thing; I believe that the new generation is much more understanding of tech shortfalls/challenges as it is the world they live in - they are frustrated, but its not a major stumbling point in the virtual world

Good points on the extrovert/introvert portions; however, for those uncomfortable in public with others, the use of social media and controlling/managing the interactions more deliberately are more acceptable/beneficial

Good point on engagement mode - use of social media would then allow you to manage the method, while you concentrate on the content in a one-on-one environment.

The challenge is not the particular media, but the up front questions that we ask ourselves - “do I know enough about the culture and perspectives of the person I am speaking to in order to be properly understood?” and “what do I really want to get out of what I am about to say?”

Agree it is tough; am thinking though of social/political areas where the passions of the moment can turn people to the street for violence - a rule of law/social order issue.

Crowdsourcing is tailoring to the middle of the bell curve - how do we make sure that the bell curve is right

Or is crowd sourcing a way of redefining the bell curve right or left based on prevailing opinions or passions that can change very quickly - such as with the Boston case?

If in Reddit there is a community maintained anonymity -which is good in some contexts re freedom of speech- how do you cope with cases where anonymity is exploited re hate speech?

FACEBOOK

How does body language translate into a purely digital experience?

Perhaps the question needs to be are there ways in digital space where people can acquire the same cues that body language does in the physical world. Much of what we have tried to date is to proxy up the physical world in virtual space (smiley face for example). Is this what we should be doing or look at what emotional cues we need to receive from the digital medium to provide us with the same contextual info.

The point about being an extrovert/introvert is a key point in social interaction, but my son who has ADD actually does much better in interacting through social media because it allows him to be a closet extrovert, even though he is personally uncomfortable around others. He feels he can better manage his personal interactions/avoid embarrassment.

Social media is mitigating the divide between the East and the West

Danger of what Erik is describing is a Wiki-like challenge : you would hope that the person doing the analysis and explanation is intellectually capable of firm analysis and not someone with a cursory knowledge and personal bias that is rapidly spreading poor analysis with a preconceived bias

TWITTER

The discussion was in fact interesting AND intellectually stimulating

It presents a different touch point when you’re holding someone in your hand

Social Media is the unlimited and ultimate digitalized human interaction used for business and social platform

Respect, humility and empathy key for relationships. Can this work via tech-only and not face to face?

Good morning! Hope everyone is excited for day 2 because P2P has a bunch of exciting things planned. Conversation 3 will focus on the sharing of knowledge and new ideas through digital media. Across the world at any given moment, isolated groups are in the process of reinventing the same wheel. New ideas are best developed through networks of people with common interests and passions. Rather than working in seclusion, we aim our discussions at unifying partners with similar goals.  Our two speakers will be Kenneth Anye from the World Bank, and Michael Nelson from Georgetown University!!

Using GoTo Meeting for Virtual Participants today

Greetings folks, 

Many thanks for joining us yesterday. Kindly note that we will be connecting via GoToMeeting today and not Adobe Connect. 

1.  Please join my meeting, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 7:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/248099498
2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.
Dial +1 (267) 507-0012
Access Code: 248-099-498
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID: 248-099-498

As always, continue to follow us via this blog and our:
- Twitter hashtag (#p2pll)
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/People-2-People-Learning-Lab/212624435555404)

We look forward to today's conversations,

the P2P Learning Lab team

Hope everyone found Day 1 to be intellectually stimulating and walked out learning something they didn't know before. Looks like you did based on the results below 77% of you found today to be intellectually stimulating!!

Come prepared tomorrow to learn even more and interact with people throughout various parts of the globe. 

Thanks to everyone who participated today. See you all tomorrow!

Check out these 3-D "Augmented Glasses" and 3-D Virtual Teleconferencing Devices being developed by David Alan Smith!

To check out more advances that are being made in virtual reality go to

www.development.virtualworldframework.com

Did you find today intellectually stimulating?

1. Not at all
2. A little
3. Somewhat
4. Very much

Check out a video of the 3D "augmented goggles" David Alan Smith is developing! This will enable us to be able to communicate in three-dimension with people all over the world.

How will 3D virtual reality help create interpersonal relationships when communicating digitally?

What are some of the issues you are concerned about in regards to communicating safely through digital social media? How do we protect ourselves from these issues?

Up next is Erik Martin, the manager of the social news site Reddit, which acts as a "bulletin board" allowing users to post updates on social news and entertainment, while polling the posts based on popularity. In the tragic event of the "Boston Marathon Bombing", Reddit users began a hunt to identify the bombers. However, what started as noble deed began to transform in to a "witch hunt", affecting innocent lives in the process. Erik Martin recognized the negative impact this had not only on the individuals involved, but on social media as a whole and immediately released a statement apologizing,

"Though started with noble intentions, some of the activity on reddit fuelled online witch hunts and dangerous speculation which spiralled into very negative consequences for innocent parties. The reddit staff and the millions of people on reddit around the world deeply regret that this happened."


Erik Martin recognized that although we have the freedom to speech, we are still responsible for the consequences that result from our words. This also applies to everything said on social media, be it Twitter, Facebook or Skype. The fact is, that irresponsible social media conduct could potentially ruin your education and negatively impact your career, not to mention hurt others in the process.

Check out Erik Martin's blog below:

http://blog.reddit.com/2013/04/reflections-on-recent-boston-crisis.html

People are becoming less resistant to talking to lab participants as the Learning Lab continues! 47% feel very much comfortable talking to lab participants, with there being 0% who do not feel at all comfortable!

David Alan Smith is presenting a technology, "Augmented  3D Conversation" through 3D glasses that allows you to interact with a person in a three-dimensional world. How cool is that?! 

How will this make virtual communication more efficient?

What type of person are you? Someone who gets energy by being around other people or would you rather be alone?

D9 believes if you are someone who does not derive energy by relating to people, it will be more difficult for you to grow an interpersonal relationship. What are your thoughts? Any personal experiences that help you relate to D9's comment?

We are starting the Technology Demonstration by David Alan Smith! You don't want to miss this!

Conversation 1 has just ended! How does everyone feel thus far about connecting with people through digital media? What are your reservations?

Technology Demonstration is up next!

Do cultural gaps play a role in communicating digitally? If so, what can we do to lessen the gap?

After seeing the first conversation between Denise and Rosa, how comfortable are you with having conversations with other lab participants?

1. Not at all
2. A little
3. Somewhat
4. Very much

What were your thoughts on Denise and Rosa's conversation?

If you are trying to create a relationship online, what cues do you think you can look for in an online relationship to see if someone is being honest with you? What are the ways we can address that concern?

D9 believes that we need to "take out our all of the contextual biases out of your mind to create a raw communication between one person and another".

Your thoughts?

Polling is now open! In this moment in time, how comfortable do you feel having an open relationship with lab participants? 

1. Not at all

2. A little

3. Somewhat

4. Very much 

Do you think you can create an interpersonal relationship with your only interaction being through digital media? What do you think P2P?

Throughout the day if you have any questions specifically to D9 don't be too shy to tweet him @D9_Pilot!! #p2pll #ppl2ppl2013

Just a reminder to everyone that when tweeting please use the following hashtags #p2pll #ppl2ppl2013

10 minutes away! Anyone who hasn't created a Twitter or Adobe Connect account should do so now. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to the P2P staff.

Good morning!! Hope everyone is ready for today's activities. We have a bunch of interesting things planned for you and can't wait to get started! You are going to meet people all over the world and be able to experience the power of digital media in communication. Be sure to remember to tweet throughout the event and share your thoughts and ideas!! 

The one with the most tweets by lunch, food is on D9!! #Tweet2Eat #p2pll

I encourage everyone, especially if you are virtually tuning into the Learning Lab, to please join Adobe Connect. You may enter as a guest using your name and in parentheses provide your email. Click here to log into Adobe Connect. 

Welcome to everyone who is joining P2P in exploring how to enhance digital interactions and relationships! My name is Kat and I will be the live blogger for the learning lab, providing real-time coverage throughout the event and making sure that all vital information is captured. Feel free to join in on the conversation by sharing personal opinions and ideas throughout the learning lab. Come prepared tomorrow to learn a great deal about digital media and interact with participants all over the world!

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Kat

P.S. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@p2pll) and our Facebook page P2PLL!!

The blog is going to be used to capture active feedback and responses to questions through our evaluations.

Welcome to the People 2 People Learning Lab blog. We'll be using this platform as both a communications and evaluation tool before, during and shortly after the event. More on this to come.