Meetings work on protocols.
Pre-meeting needs are time, place and agenda and introduction.
Greeting protocols like handshake, bow, bare right hand and exchange of cards.
The cup of coffee before, water during and tea or gift afterwards enhance bonding.
Computers do the same, as in IP the Internet Protocol. Each computer has a number, so to exchange data, the numbers are connected as in a phone system.
For efficient networking, both computer and driver and driver’s mindset must be in synch. Hence the research and money in user interfacing. The failures of systems are as more due to unforeseen computer phobia than to malfunction. A nice example of this en masse is the national reaction to the death of Diana. There needs to be a resonance of processes between the minds of the composer and the audience. Note also in the Diana case the interaction of the audience: shock, tears, action, blame, involvement. Reinforced by media makeover, and the various levels of discussion that triggered different reactions and expectations in each viewer. Branding is currently effective but will ultimately become a turn off.
For a system to work, there needs to be parallel resonance and pleasurable interaction between the end users. Ongoing systems need ongoing market involvement from top to ground root.
Videoconferencing Some suggested uses for UK schools.
Clubs for specialist students
Secondary teaching of hard subjects like mathematics and physics
Primary teaching of rarity subjects like computer science
Revision sessions
Intra-school and inter-school meetings
INSET sessions to illustrate techniques and possibilities
Daily and extra-ordinary senior team and departmental meetings where needed.
Careers advice by past students.
Mentoring of student and teachers.
Outsider-led support for focus groups on topical issues eg cyber bullying. parental involvement, reactions to current media issues, local opinion leaders.
Feedback from parents on progress and problems. This could be edited, batched and dealt with by phone or email. The video equivalent of voicemail.
Of course safety, child safety and total political correctness must be fully taken into account before there is any thought of using any of these. Schools have a duty of care, and the reputation of the institution affects the education of students very strongly. It is also crucial that the school retains the respect of the students, by delivering the very best it can, and explaining and justifying any deficiency. Able students need guidance on how to rectify or work around the matter.
Transport
Why do we travel? We all desire novelty and change. Our genes leap up at the prospect of new fields. Our mental habits refresh better in challenging environments. Tedium reduces intellectual brightness. Hence art, Hollywood, and music. But with travel comes pollution. Decay for those stuck near the paths of travellers. In every empire, travel has been for the aristos. With government army if needed. To expand the empire or protect the leadership, usually. In a democracy we are each the governor of our province, briefed to beats the bounds. Driven by ancestral need, we travel. Blanking the damage we do to ourselves as we criss-cross the paths of others. And unaware of the physical, mental and moral stresses on ourselves.
Morality
Ethics we leave to philosophers. Pricipia Ethica being a major heave by a heavyweight economist (Maynard Keynes). Morality is the standards we try to live to. The commandments, pillars and tenets of the major religions being a solid basis for comfort. Of course the wine of hypocrisy – see the Screwtape letters by Narnia’s creator CS Lewis – is still a major sin. Very hard to escape, hypocrisy. It besets us all as we justify our living standard relative to the rest of humanity. Slavery is meat to the hypocrite, excessive profit rare wine. And the turning of cheeks is welcomed as opportunity by the slaver. Position on the koros-hubris-ate-nemesis loop probably determines the bounds of morality.
Celeb effects
The unseen triggers of evolutionary herd behaviour condemn us to ignorance of the attractiveness of celebs global and local. Few can resist the royal contact of knighthood, the team feel of the football pennant, the film made by a star. We justify them to ourselves by dreaming of glory, status for family, influence, wealth. They influence career and private life, others’ opinions of us, and self perception. Like alcohol and the rest, we are insulated from reality and fly the daily coop for a while. Perhaps a necessary escape, with a small price to pay. And perhaps essential for every culture to keep its citizens in parallel on the flightpaths.
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