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Berkman Buzz: June 15, 2015

Ubiquitous connectivity in NYC, citizenship in the digital world, and America's "Interested Bystander."
 
READ: News and commentary from the community

"How do you fix a broken system that isn't yours to repair?" In his article for the Atlantic MIT PhD student and Berkman Fellow J. Nathan Matias brings together the “The Tragedy of the Commons,” the history of Boston’s Charles River, and the digital marketplace for cheap labor. (Join us for his Berkman lunch talk Tuesday!)

Can art help heal a city ravaged by war and violence? Global Voices executive director and Berkman Fellow Ivan Sigal explains how multimedia exhibits set up around the city of Karachi are meant to bring people back out into public spaces in his Guardian article.

"We can't create Estonia on the fly." At a recent tech conference suggestions for “ubiquitous connectivity” in New York City included making libraries more like co-working spaces and setting up payphone Wi-Fi units that make community announcements. But Berkman co-Director Susan Crawford encourages higher expectations.

“In order for a car, a jet engine, a parking meter, or a pill bottle to send and receive important data, it needs to be able to seamlessly connect to other systems and networks in ways that are meaningful and secure.” In his dispatch for the ITUBlog Berkman’s Executive Director Urs Gasser looks at Interoperability and the Internet of Things, and how to build the systems which make it possible to send the same email from both a phone and a computer.

Understanding America’s “Interested Bystander” Berkman Fellow Kate Krontiris and the Google Politics and Election Team try to figure out what makes Americans participate in civic duties?
LISTEN: Gaming Grief

We covered hate speech in online gaming in a recent episode of the Radio Berkman podcast. In this episode from the archives, Lisa Nakamura talks with David Weinberger about the culture of "ironic racism, sexism, and homophobia" exhibited by trash talking gamers, and why we should be concerned.

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The Berkman Buzz is the Berkman Center's weekly newsletter featuring news and commentary from around the community. Sign up here to have the Buzz delivered directly to your inbox. You can stay in touch with us in other ways, too: join us for an upcoming event, subscribe to the Radio Berkman podcast, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.