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Businessweek: How Twitter Could Unleash World Peace, April 11, 2011
A KAIST graduate scholar, Meeyoung Cha, conducted a joint study with international researchers and released a paper on the aspect of twitter as an emerging cyber arena for political and social debates and discussions. An article on the paper from Businessweek follows:
Businessweek
April 11, 2011, 9:08PM EST text size: TT
How Twitter Could Unleash World Peace
Researchers from Britain, Korea, and Germany have determined that the amount of fresh information you get on Twitter is less a matter of what you follow than whom—and who follows you
By Bobbie Johnson
On certain days, Twitter can feel like the world"s biggest, fastest echo chamber. Since we tend to follow people who are similar to us, we often see our own views reflected back—meaning a gloomy cloud of irritation can rapidly swirl into a cyclone of outrage as we hear from other people who feel as we do. A group of computer scientists have discovered that the opposite may also be true. Can Twitter be part of the solution, not merely part of the problem?
In a study to be presented at a conference in July, a team of researchers from the U.K."s University of Cambridge, Korea"s Graduate School of cultural Technology-KAIST, and Germany"s Max Planck Institute for Software Systems show how Twitter can provide users greater access to more varied political viewpoints and media sources than they might otherwise get.
The paper, called "The Media Landscape in Twitter(http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~jac22/out/twitter-diverse.pdf)," explains how the team made surprising discoveries when they looked into the site"s usage patterns. First they looked at who follows whom and discovered that Twitter is a highly politicized space. Then they examined patterns of tweeting and retweeting to try to understand how people receive information on Twitter—and what they might see. Their conclusion: Although Twitter is a pretty partisan space, it can offer unprecedented opportunities to break down the barriers that plague local, national, and international politics.
How? Through retweets and interaction—what the authors call "indirect media exposure." As they put it, this "expands the political diversity of news to which users are exposed to a surprising extent, increasing the range by between 60 percent and 98 percent. These results are valuable because they have not been readily available to traditional media and they can help predict how we will read news and how publishers will interact with us in the future."
If you"re interested in the way Twitter works, I recommend reading the paper, which isn"t very long. Meanwhile, let"s boil it down to a few key pieces of data and see what lessons they can teach.
Most Twitter users are political. Just over half (50.8 percent) of all Twitter users studied showed a distinct political bias in the media outlets and individuals they followed. Most of those lean to the left of the political spectrum, accounting for 62 percent of users who demonstrated some bias. Thirty-seven percent were doggedly centrist. Just 1 percent of Twitter users who showed a political preference were right-wing.
Here are a couple of caveats about reading too much into the sharp divide the authors found. Given that Twitter"s user base is younger and more metropolitan than the societal norm, it"s not surprising that it"s weighted to the left. It"s worth noting that this study was undertaken more than a year ago; since then, Twitter has grown dramatically, while global politics have largely skewed back toward the right. Twitter"s user base today might reflect a more-balanced political picture. Either way, there"s a big split.
Twitter has secondary and tertiary benefits. Most organizations comprehend Twitter in simple terms: More followers means more exposure. But the study shows that it"s not just about those you follow, but those your followers follow—essentially the people in your extended network. The network offers a number of routes for information from fresh sources to get to you. According to the study, some 80 percent of users choose to follow at least 10 media sources, but they are exposed to between 6 and 10 times as many media sources through their friends.
People outweigh brands. Many of the biggest Twitter accounts are big media brands such as CNN (TWX) and Time, but the study suggests that Twitter"s active users tend to prefer individuals over outlets. So while the average follower of @NYTimes (NYT) has six followers apiece, individual journalists have followers who boast a median following count of around 100. That gives individual journalists—who are, the study says, more likely to link to a multiplicity of sources—a much wider, more influential network of connections.
The inference is that the personal touch of a journalist is more important than the lofty, impersonal tone of publications that largely act as promotion channels for their content. It"s a discovery that reminded me of Twitter"s recent blog post on the science of the hashtag, which found that hashtags explode in usage when they are picked up by individuals with the most dedicated—not necessarily the largest—followings.
Active users access a wider range of views. The researchers say that indirect exposure expands political diversity by a "significant amount," despite other studies showing a tendency for social networks to do the opposite. "Other studies have found a stronger tendency of homophily; blogs of different political views rarely linked to each other," they point out. "One possible reason is that a Twitter network encompasses several different relationships—from shared interest, to familial ties, friends, and acquaintances—so political similarity doesn"t necessarily exist in all such ties."
This is not to say that Twitter"s creators should be preparing a Nobel Prize-winning speech. Far from it: The influence of its diversity is unknown. It could be that many people who see messages they disagree with simply change their behavior to screen out such material in future. But it shows that there is a potential to do something positive at Twitter. It"s clear there"s much work to be done. The researchers say they want to investigate a number of areas they"ve uncovered, having provided important insights at a time when politics seem more fractious and divided than ever.
2011.04.12 View 10813 -
TEAK: New Multimedia Site kaistube.org Offers Lectures on English
For those wanting an experience of KAIST from an entirely new perspective, there is some good news. The new multimedia website, kaistube.org is available for browsing with better and newer content.
The website, kaistube.org, is a “Creative media in English by the students of KAIST” and was created with aims to introduce university life from the perspective of the very components that makes KAIST, KAIST; its students.
The website features photos the students took and short films they created about KAIST and of KAIST. It can be said that kaistube.org is fast becoming the creative hub and outlet for students at KAIST to express their creative personalities. Students at KAIST or anywhere else for that matter should not be restricted to just academic activities, which make kaistube.org so meaningful.
One great service that can be found at kaistube.org is the TEAK (Teaching English at KAIST). TEAK is a weekly show created and hosted by Visiting Professors Tim Thompson and Don Rikley and serves to provide education in presentation skills and writing skills in English. Season one focused on academic writing and Season two will focus on academic speaking and presentation skills.
The importance of clear communications skills via presentations or writing format in English has become ever important in this era of globalization. The lectures provided for at kaistube.org is a great resource and guide that will aid not only the family members at KAIST, but to any and all non-KAISTians who wish to strengthen their grasp on the English language.
The podcasts can be downloaded onto the computer for transfer to a portable music player, like the iPod or the iPhone, and can be even downloaded from the iTunes.
2011.04.02 View 9209
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2011 International Web Science Symposium Held
The 2011 International Web Science Symposium was held in Seoul on the 24th of March hosted by Web Science Engineering College.
The symposium dealt with the technological development and the social impact of web science and the future of the Web.
A special guest was invited to the symposium this year; the founder of web science, Wendy Hall’s lecture on ‘Web Science: New Frontier’. The numerous experts from abroad was unanimous in stating their outlook of web science affecting the competitiveness of IT companies and ultimately become the driving force in new businesses.
The main research in web science are web platforms and contents production, human based web research, and web SW engineering and web science has to do with pulling together various webs all around the world to create new industries.
2011.04.01 View 6997
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KAIST Design Week 2011 Held
KAIST designated a week (from March 27th to April 2nd) as KAIST Design Week 2011 and will be hosting a series of international conferences on engineering designs.
The 21st CIRP Design Conference, the 6th International Conference on Axiomatic Design, and the 1st Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering Workshop will be held in Fusion hall in the KI Building from the 27th of March.
The CIRP Design Conference was held on the 27th and the 28th and annually provides an opportunity for researchers and industry developers to exchange information and knowledge.
The International Conference on Axiomatic Design was held on the 30th to the 31st and dealt with various presentations and discussions on the axiomatic design theory. The Axiomatic Design Theory was thought up by KAIST President Seo Nam Pyo and deals with analyzing the wants of the consumers and solves the problems associated with the product through making altercations on the product design.
Last The Design in Civil and environmental Engineering Workshop will be held on the 1st and 2nd of April and will deal with sustainable city design and development.
The Design Week will also be featuring humanoid robot HUBO, the Online Electric Vehicle that can charge its battery wirelessly, and the Mobile Harbor, and therefore show off KAIST’s achievements.
2011.04.01 View 9465
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2011 Wearable Computer Competition Participant Registration Started
The registration process for the ‘Wearable Computer Contest’ (WCC) held by KAST and Korea Next Generation Computing Institute.
The contest is the only contest that designs wearable computers in Korea. This year’s theme is ‘Smart Wear for the Smart Life’ in response to the spread of smartphones. In 2010 the contest was run cooperatively with International Symposium on Wearable Computer (ISWC) and is fast becoming an international even with students from foreign universities attending.
The participants will be putting forth an idea on wearable computers that have IT and fashion fused into it and actually produces such an outfit. The cost of producing a prototype will be provided by the holders and education of basics needed in producing a prototype like ubiquitous computing, wearable computer platform, human-computer interface, fashion and design.
The restriction of theme was taken out of the equation and in its place, an idea tank involving handing in ideas in poster format was put into place. In addition the competition is no longer limited to undergraduates or graduate students.
Detailed information on registration and of the contest itself can be found at www.ufcom.org .
2011.03.26 View 9153
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KAIST 40th Anniversary Planning Student Committee Formed
Undergraduate students of KAIST formed the 40th Anniversary Planning Student Committee in order to introduce the students" perspective to the upcoming festivities and programs.
The Student Committee has several key aims:
1) The Committee aims at funding and cooperating with other clubs and club initiated events around KAIST and coordinating them to take on a 40th Anniversary theme and plan events on a grander scale than before.
2) Instil a greater sense of togetherness and pride for the KAIST institute and the various contributions and achievements it has made to both the domestic and international society.
3) Create a supporters group to, again, advertise the importance of KAIST"s achievements in the past 40 years and the significance of KAIST turning 40.
The Student Committee is run under the Student Government and is led by Kang Soo Young and Jin Soo Geul.
2011.03.25 View 7672
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A Light Weight, Energy Effcient Household Polysomnography (PSG) System Developed
A smart ‘household polysomnography (PSG) system’ was developed by domestic research team.
Professor Yoo Hui Joon and his research team of KAIST’s department of Electricity and Electronic Engineering successfully developed a PSG system that is light weight and has high performance levels. The conventional PSG systems were complex with numerous lines and wires.
The PSG is used to monitor biological signals during sleep and the monitored results are used to diagnose and cure sleep-related illnesses and disorders. However because of restrictions like the size of the machine, impurities, and the change in environment, multiple trials over several days were required to obtain accurate data.
The system developed by the research team is lighter than a q-tip so as to not disturb the patient’s sleep. It also has Intelligent Circuit (IC) that detects when sensors come detached and automatically replaces the sensor with another sensor thereby allowing continual monitoring of the user.
A low-power consuming circuit was implemented allowing the entire system to run continuously on a single coin battery for 10 hours which effectively decreased the weight of the system and simultaneously allows for uninterrupted monitoring of the user over the entire sleep cycle.
Even a remote diagnosis system can be implemented. The user will don the PSG and sleep at home, ensuring that a normal heat beat rate, brain waves, breathing, etc. will be monitored. The data procured overnight can be sent to the experts online who will be able to diagnose remotely.
The research team plans on performing research in cooperation with the KAIST hospital and U-Healthcare research.
The research result is winning worldwide rave. The system was announced in the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) and was published in ISSCC magazine and in Japan’s NIKKEI Electronics January edition.
2011.03.25 View 10827
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Late Dr. Ryu Geun Chul's Achievements and Generous Contributions
First Doctor in the field of Korean Traditional Medicine
The late Dr. Ryu was born in 1926 and is the father figure of Korea’s Traditional Medicine and is its First Doctor (1976 Kyung Hee University), and was the vice-professor of Kyung Hee University of Medicine, Vice-Director of Kyung Hee Institute of Korean Traditional Medicine, and was the first chairman of the Association of Korea Oriental Medicine. He developed the painless acupuncture administering device for the first time in Korea in 1962, and succeeded in anesthetizing a patient for cesarean procedure using acupuncture in 1972.
He even was the first to receive a medical engineering doctorate degree from the Moscow National Engineering School in April of 1996 and developed a stroke rehabilitation machine.
Korea’s Most Generous Donor
Dr. Ryu surprised the world by donating 57.8billion Won worth of real estate to KAIST in August of 2008. Dr. Ryu revealed that his reason for donating such a huge sum to KAIST was due to its focused students giving him the belief that the future of Korea is at KAIST and that the development of science and technology is necessary for Korea to develop into a world class nation and KAIST is the institute most suitable to lead Korea in the field.
Dr. Ryu lived on KAIST campus after donating his entire fortune and even established ‘KAIST scholars and spacemen health research center’ and ‘Dr. Ryu Health Clinic’ as he also wanted to donate his knowledge.
Even when he was a professor at Moscow National Engineering University in the late 1990s he carried out free medical work throughout Korea and in recognition of his devoted work, he was named honorary citizen from Chun Ahn city, San Chung city, and DaeJeon city. In 2007 he donated 450million Won to Cheon Dong Elementary School in Chun Ahn city to build a gymnasium and an indoor golf practice range.
Role as Science and Technology Public Relations Officer
Dr. Ryu volunteered to numerous lectures and interviews after donation to advertise science and technology. His belief that the development of science and technology is necessary for Korea’s development was the driving force behind his efforts at increasing interest and support for the field of science and technology.
In addition, through interviews with MBC, KBS, SBS, KTV, Joong Ang Newspapers, Dong Ah Newspaper and other media mediums, Dr. Ryu improved the public perception on donations whilst increasing the pride of scientists and researchers by highlighting their importance and the importance of science and technology.
In recognition of Dr. Ryu’s efforts, he received the 43rd Science Day Science and Technology Creation Award, 2010 MBC Social Service Special Award, and 2010 ‘Proud Chung Cheong Citizen’ Award.
2011.03.22 View 15263
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'S+ Convergence CEO Program' Completion Ceremony
KAIST will be holding the first Completion Ceremony for the ‘S+ Convergence CEO Program’ which is a differentiated course with a new paradigm. The program offers a different syllabus from the existing CEO training programs and focuses on the fusion of industries and IT, fusion of management and security, and fusing together other future technologies. The course should provide the future CEO’s with the ability to plot a suitable creative management strategy in this day of rapid change and growth.
The program invited a guest speaker every month, apart from the planed lectures. The guest speakers were the top of their respective fields. In addition, various activities like riding the OLEV or domestic workshops or educational trips abroad imparted the ability to take on a global perspective.
The use of Social Network Services like twitter or facebook was educated in the free study period before the lecture began. As a result most of the graduates can now use these SNS freely, better preparing them for the technology oriented direction the world is striving in.
The program will have a total of 54 graduates who come from companies from various industries, are politicians, and/or are government officials.
The program name “S+ Convergence CEO Program” is imbedded with the program goal of training the best CEO’s by fusing together Smart Technology, Security, and Strategy.
2011.03.18 View 8909
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Graduate School of Medical Sciences sign Exchange Agreement with Yonsei Graduate School of Medicine
KAIST’s Graduate School of Medical Sciences signed on the 22nd of February an Exchange Agreement with the Yonsei Graduate School of Medicine.
The Agreement was signed with hopes of cooperation in research in the field of medical science and will establish a Cooperation Committee. The committee will put in motion cooperative research, training programs, exchange students, exchange of technology, and hold symposiums and seminars.
The representatives stated that the agreement is more than just a symbolic, ceremonial agreement. The agreement was made so that both graduate schools will develop into a world-class research institute in medical sciences.
2011.03.02 View 9216
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KAIST and Coverity sign MOU for the Analysis of Static in Software
KAIST signed an ‘Interdisciplinary Cooperation in Software Static Analysis Agreement’ with America’s Coverity (representative: Anthony Bettencourt) on the 24th of February.
Dignitaries like Dean of the department of Computer Science of KAISt Choi Gee Son and Andy Chow CTO of Coverity attended the ceremony.
The agreement will allow the application of Coverity’s family of integral product software to research and education at KAIST. This will strengthen KAIST’s ability to develop software and be used in the education of software quality related subjects.
CTO of Coverity Andy Chow had a special seminar for KAIST researches and students after the signing on the topic of ‘Understanding the Present Condition of Static Analysis Technology and its Future’.
Rich Cerruto, in charge of Coverity in Asia, commented that the software developed by Coverity is being used by Samsung, LG electronics, and other domestic companies carrying out R&D for product quality improvement and that he hopes that through this agreement the development of quality-driven software will be educated in a structural manner in the domestic education market together with KAIST.
Coverity has signed MOU with other major universities like Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and UC Berkeley but KAIST is the first in Asia to sign.
2011.03.02 View 10777
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Kazakhstan to develop E-Government, Green Economy innovative programs
Source: Trend, Feb. 25, 2011
The Kazakh Economic University (KazEU) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have signed a memo on joint work in the field of development of "E-Government" and "Green Economy" innovative programs. For more news, please go to the link, http://en.trend.az/capital/business/1836138.html.
2011.03.01 View 7796