“On Tuesday, Facebook agreed to settle federal charges that it violated users’ privacy by getting people to share more information than they agreed to when they signed up to the site. As part of a settlement, Facebook will allow independent auditors to review its privacy practices for the next twenty years. It also agreed to get approval from users before changing how the company handles their data.”

I’m currently teaching an introduction to Facebook class for ages 50 and older, offered through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University. We finished the second of 10 classes last week; however, Facebook just introduced several changes so the previous material that I covered is now obsolete. That’s how fast the changes are taking place and how confusing it is for casual users of Facebook to keep up with the changes.

Just as Kurzweil predicted, because technology is growing at an exponential rate, and we just happen to live during a time where we’re experiencing the later end of the growth curve, the amount of changes that we need to keep up with and how quickly they occur is gaining speed (until the Singularity takes place?).

Well…until that happens, we need to be on our toes! No more “I learned it, so I don’t need to revisit the subject”. No! Get used to constantly having to revisit the subject and relearn it. Information and change will not be settling down anytime soon. As scary as it may seem, you must remain flexible, open and willing to experiment at any and all stages of your life.

What an exciting time we live in!

Everything is a Remix Part 3 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

I’m very interested to see part 4!

His most recent post is on mobile aps that can be used to offer social support for people with Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar disorder.

Read more here and here.

Yes! I DO want to use a paintbrush to create digital paintings on my iPad! Estimated cost per paint brush: $30.

If only they could integrate haptic (touch) feedback, creating the same feeling of resistance on the page as when you’re using real paint, and then we’d really be in business! You know that’s coming, right? The Samsug Galaxy Tablet already has haptics built in.

“Paralysis patients could play music with their minds, using a new brain-control interface that senses brain impulses and translates them into musical notes…

Patients with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s can use music to walk to a rhythm or even to trigger memories or emotions. But stroke patients or those with locked-in syndrome can’t interact with music beyond just listening to it. With this system, patients with physical limitations might be able to use music for therapy, too — truly making music the medicine of the mind.”

This opens the possibility for extension into other forms of creativity, including (how did you guess?) art therapy!