E&L: week 1: Pekka Himanen's paper

"Challenges of the Global Information Society"

In Information Society paper Himanen concentrates more on the new way of doing things, than just to new technologies. He points out that there is currently three dynamic models in terms of technology and economy: Silicon Valley, Singapore and Finnish. Additionally he sees room for fourth scenario - the combination of the welfare state and the information society. He says that we should no longer focus on reacting to something that has already happened, but act beforehand. I would say easy to say, not so easy to do.
Theoretically I find his point right but the greater part of the world is dealing daily with the innovation problems, specially right now at the time of crisis. Increasing the production, the economy gets better. I find that compared to the beginning of 90s it is quite hard to invent the bicycle, but I also believe that this is the point where information society comes into the picture.

The topic of innovation is very actual in Estonia also. We have created the project "Year of the Innovation" and "Ajujaht" to find people that believe in their business ideas. It is hoped that people start to think in new way and be more creative.

I also found interesting Himanen talking about the work culture and atmosphere. I think this is the era where a lot can be done better. In our changing economy, people work more and
more and there is a need to give (re)look to the orgnizational part, how the work and the leisure time hours are combined, what could be done to improve the work culture and atmosphere.