Lessig

I think the point of these stories is that open-source software and freedom from copyrights allows us to express ourselves and share our ideas with the world. I like how Lessig said, "Democratic tools gave ordinary people a way to express themselves more easily than any other tools could have before." I think that is so true. Photography, blogs, videos, music, and open-source software are all technologies that allow us to express ourselves and be heard by the world.
Kodak changed how people documented their lives. It made it easy for them to take pictures and remember events in their lives and share those events with others through their photos. Just Think! is an amazing program that helps kids learn how to become media literate. It allows them to "tinker"and create their own media. I know I learn way more when I actually experience something or make something than I do when I simply read about it in a textbook. The 9/11 example goes to show how fast the media can get a story out there and how much coverage there is. Blogging makes it easy for anyone to state their opinion and share it with the world. Blogging makes it easy for amatuer journalist to get their name out there and share their ideas. I think it is kind of crazy how fast paced the world has become and it's not about to slow down anytime soon. It's exciting and a little scary at the same time.
Open-source software allows people to take something, use it, and improve it if they want to. Everyone has access to open-source software and information and that is something that shouldn't be taken from us. It allows us to expand our knowledge.
I liked what Heather said about our tech world being in a state of constant change and to end the availability of open source information is to end the ability of the masses to communicate and learn a new type of language. I agree.