IST Monitor

The Commission's New Clothes

Analysing some IST slides presented by the European Commission

These slide cuts commented here were taken from the
presentation titled as "KA II in 2000 - strategy"
by Rosalie Zobel, Director IST Key Action II.
IST is part of the 5th Framework programme
funded and coordinated by the European Commission.

See the original slides in http://www.cordis.lu/ist/ka2/informationdays.html

A modification of Negroponte's classic convergence picture has here been further
modified. But on the left side "powerful processing" and "intelligent software" are
essentially the same thing and "media" in the second box is popping up from nowhere.
The boxes on the right are examples on the "new magic" practiced too often by the
Commission. There is no logic on the text below right. Perhaps the texts "value &
wealth" and "new ways" have changed their places by accident? If this picture is trying
to define "Global information Society", it fails in it in all respects
This slide is conceptual rubbish. "Public administration" is presented on the left,
"communities, organisations" on the right.Again "Take-up measures" are presented
on the left and an arrow to "key Action II" on the right. And what about that
"Business/Consumer/Worker" in the middle? If this picture is trying to clarify
the path to IST Key Action II, it fails in it in all respects.

"Digital Economy"? Let's see: "Intangible assets"? The earliest known English patent
was granted to John of Utynam in 1449. Nobel made his fortune by clever patents.
"Uncertainty, highly dynamic"? Well, the period 100 years ago was highly dynamic
when people had to get used to trains, telephone, cars, radio, aeroplains, electricity etc.
"New skills"? There were need for huge amount of new skills when trains, telephone,
cars, radio, aeroplains, electricity came around. "Value based on 'abundance' "?
Should we be happy of that? "Mass-customisation"? Aha! 400 million mobile phones
sold in a year should be customisised? "Enhanced products & processes"? Hmm...

How the people inthe Euroepan Commission love those molecule bubbles! It is good to
know that I as a consumer am a Dynamic market player and that administrations will
increase their responsiveness by acting in the electronic markeplace.

It is strange the the Commision can't coordinate even their slide presentations. The slides
above and below were presented almost during the same hour in the same room in the
same seminar by people who work in he same Directorate having workrooms quite
near each other! And the subject matter is about Knowledge Management...

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More slides. IST KA II infoday 7.12.2001:
The Commission seems to think that Citizens of Europe are just "users".
What about this slogan mentioned so often: The aim is “people first”

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That is true, but one should start with the problems and not with the solutions!

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Look at the direction of the arrows. The arrows don't start from the people's
side but from the technology's side! What about this slogan mentioned so often:
The aim is “people first”

Conceptual structuring of such low quality would not be allowed in any
first year student's presentation at universities. An is this really a "vision"?
No wonder the money used for Framework Programmes is wasted.

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"Needs" defined by whom? And where? And when?