For a long time I have been of the opinion that there is a global ethic that underlies all of humanity. I am a staunch supporter of the idea that morality is a biological and evolutionary construct rather than a religious one. As such, I feel that what Prime Minister Brown speaks of is a very real and actionable cause. He is absolutely right in that the information age has pushed the global ethic to new levels of understanding and appreciation, and as scholars and practitioners of government, it is our responsibility, our ethic, to promote this ideal.

This course has shown me some of the potential tools that can be used in furthering the reach of what I feel are common human ethics. Specifically, I would like to use technology to lower the cost of education and increase the opportunities for participation of local communities and groups that are otherwise restricted from accessing quality education. The main ethic behind this ideal is opportunity. I firmly believe that opportunity is central to the success of anyone in any culture in any country across this globe. A persona have have all the talent in the world, but unless they are given an opportunity to apply it, that talent will be wasted.

Computer hardware is no longer the central prohibitive factor in the digital divide as prices for computer systems are incredibly cheap. Thus, I can imagine a multitude of web-based technologies that could aid in bringing opportunities to under-served populations. Primarily I see virtual worlds as a key technology where students can explore things beyond their limited physical spaces. Things like a virtual safari, a Google Earth trip through ancient Rome, a virtual diving expedition, etc. All these things are generally out of the reach of poor and under-served populations.

As odd as it may sound, I think mainstream computer games can help fill this void. As an occasional gamer myself, I have seen the incredible graphic and immersible power that some games provide. After playing some games, I literally feel like I was just in another world so distant from my own and this feeling has lasting impressions on my daily experiences. I think that this power can be used in incredibly productive ways to bring inspiration, experiences, and opportunities to under-served communities.

While this idea is local in nature it can certainly be global in scope. MMOG’s like World of Warcraft combine the networked world with gaming to create an immersion experience. But imagine if instead of fighting wizards and orcs, students were able to examine plants and insects, visit famous world wonders, explore the oceans (and learn about sea life), and converse with other students across the globe playing the same “game” in real time.

This type of technology would impact the global ethic by creating positive opportunities for populations that otherwise would never be able to experience these sorts of things. I know this idea is not novel but I do not know of any networked examples built off the MMOG framework and designed for educational/exploratory purposes. A game for the Wii, Endless Oceans, is very similar to this idea. But I can imagine a networked version with community involvement for adding things like new species, more details, and even interactions (symbiosis, climate change effects, etc.). A true virtual educational world for everyone to explore that is not prohibited by cost or location; that is my idea.