ORCM Architecture Model Transcendence, part 2

Persistence-based limitations override

(source: http://erelations.info/orcm-architecture-model-part-2/)

ORCM Architecture Model Transcendence, part 2: Persistence-based limitations override

Relations created online have some advantages over offline relations, at least in a business context. Such an advantage is transcendence over persistence-related limitations.

Throughout its history humanity used two main forms of communications: speaking and writing (there is also sign language but it is used on a smaller scale). The former can have a powerful timely impact but its relevance fades over time, while the latter tends to retain a greater degree of importance throughout the years. For example, tribal cultures with exclusively oral-based traditional knowledge tend to fade away while cultures based around writing-based knowledge thrived. This is simply based on the fact that sounds are invoked than disappear while written forms of communication remain by default (although they do disappear when we shred/burn the piece of paper it is displayed on, etc.). But even that rule is changing now as online websites/sharing software/social networks (YouTube and all) are introducing the concept of massive distribution/dissemination of oral communications. Still, the oral form of communication is harder to control than the written form; for example SEO functions are based on written words and the software is not able to scan for spoken words (well surely some guys are drilling down this stuff as I write so it should revolutionize online marketing practices soon to the immense joy of SEO-obsessed marketing capitalists). Could a dying/dead native language be saved/brought back to life through social media propagation then? Why not.

Online relations do not really introduce the concept of an «eternal» communication, as those already existed in one way or the other. For example, the Egyptian papyrus are dated thousand years old and still exist today; those drawings on some cave wall could also be considered early forms of communication (maybe there were a bunch of keywords in that drawing, who knows). We could then assume that there can be a form of persistence regarding traditional forms of communications (writing, drawing, folkloric songs, etc.). Social media just does that in a gigantic, enormous scale. Those Egyptian papyrus were «managed» by kings (pharaohs, tsars, or their equivalent), i.e. only the elite of society could read and then write. Even when having acquired the knowledge of writing one would still have to gain access to proper tools and materials to engrave writing into stone. Whereas a handful of people controlled written communications around that time, today almost anyone can gain access to a device (pc, tablet, smartphone, gaming console, etc.) that will enable her or him to post something in the cloud, where it will exist and stay «alive» for everyone to see (well, potentially lots of people), this for an unlimited time (in theory).

But there is no magic there. Although fairly improbable, let's say there is a revolution/war/insurrection of some kind where Taliban-like figures seize power on a worldwide scale. They could then judge the online world as too hard to control, perceive it as a potential threat that enables people to collaborate, acquire and diffuse knowledge, evolve and take part in such similar, evil-inclined activities. To make it short those guys decide to «destroy the Net». They go to where cloud servers of ABC Inc. are located and blow them up, destroy those big cables under the sea, block all power sources and force us to cut wood and burn it to survive the cold months, etc. So there you go, all this social media stuff is gone. Yes, it will not happen but the mere fact that this kind of scenario is technically possible to some degree just serves as a reminder that underneath all this unfathomable online 2.0 magic you still need an IT infrastructure.

Part 3 (final part) of this thematic dissertation will discuss diffusion-based limitations related to online VS offline communications.

ORCM Architecture Model Transcendence, part 1

ORCM Architecture Model Transcendence, part 1

ORCM Architecture Model Transcendence, part 1: Time zone & localization-based limitations override

(source: http://erelations.info/orcm-architecture-model-part-1/)

Relations created online have some advantages over «offline» relations, at least in a business context. Such an advantage is transcendence over timezone-related limitations.

First off, this type of relations can be maintained/managed 365, 24/7: for example, your ABC social network app will notify you of posts related to you, even if those were invoked in the middle of the night while you were sleeping. You may also post while you are sleeping, as automation tools such as Buffer and numerous others enable one to schedule posting activities in the future; this can facilitate over-the-clock social network feeds and reaching out to potential followers/customers in different countries/time zones, etc. Those type of 2.0 tools (interface-based, user-friendly IT tools that do not require any particular IT expertise) can transcend material/physical constraints as they open a new world of networking possibilities, of which we do not know yet the 100% full reach.

«Physical/material» type of communications, such as regular mail, do not run 365, 24/7 as there are many constraints associated with traditional communications. Those online, «non-material» communications can then also be managed through software-generated interfaces, enhancing productivity and usability. There are physical constraints in some ways though: if your internet connection is down; if your electronic mail service is down; if your website hosting provider is down; if there is a power outage where you are located; etc. Also, people forget that the cloud is not magic: instead of being physically located on your own computer your files are stored physically on someone else's computer/server. Which means if this guy goes down, your files go down too...

Most likely Google/Apple/IBM/Microsoft/Facebook/Dropbox/etc. servers will not go down for a long period of time but there is no absolute certainty whatsoever over those matters. Nonetheless, even though online+cloud is not a synonym for godly perfection it still is much, much superior in its overall efficiency and availability than trad communications. And think of it: a Web server won't go on strike, while trad comm workers may eventually do so (automation WIN).

Another positive aspect of online comms is the relative lack of relevance of one's localization. You could be in India and follow the Twitter account of a US-based user. Traditional comms would involve complications, additional fees, etc. in order to establish and maintain a relation/communication between someone based in India with a US-based individual (although possible). Again, since online comms are less material-dependent than offline comms there are a fair share of limitations which can be ignored in the context of such relations & communications. Still, it is important to note that online comms do necessitate a proper telecom infrastructure, of course (you still need the Net). Also, by relative we want to point out that some applications, apps and devices are localization-based (such as Foursquare and similar apps/social networks). So, simply by being localization-based those type of apps introduce physical-based limitations to relations & communications established in the online realm. But that is what they intend to do, i.e. duplicate the physical, localization-based limitations of the offline world into the online world (concept of proximity-based relationships). Kind of ironic if you think about it.

So, apart from introducing the possibility of transcending physical limitations related to traditional communications, online relations do not cease to exist once completed as they might stay alive somewhere in the cloud, where they can be seen by flyers looking out the window of a magnificent blue Web sky... We will further elaborate into this aspect of online comms in part 2 of this thematic dissertation.