MediaBerkman

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Berkman Fellow David Weinberger interviews Paul Graham, software guru, entrepreneur, essayist and painter.

In a recent essay, “Taste for Makers,” Paul argues that successful design, from math to software to painting, relies on the same aesthetic principles. Taste is therefore not a matter of subjectively appreciating fine works but is a required capability for creating great software. But is taste as timeless as Paul suggests? Do the design principles Paul points to result from aesthetic or functional characteristics? And why should we think that the visual and the programmatic, the artistic and the functional, the physical and the virtual might all be beautiful in similar ways?

Produced by Indigo Tabor and Colin Rhinesmith.

Berkman Fellow David Weinberger interviews Paul Graham, software guru, entrepreneur, essayist and painter.

In a recent essay, “Taste for Makers,” Paul argues that successful design, from math to software to painting, relies on the same aesthetic principles. Taste is therefore not a matter of subjectively appreciating fine works but is a required capability for creating great software. But is taste as timeless as Paul suggests? Do the design principles Paul points to result from aesthetic or functional characteristics? And why should we think that the visual and the programmatic, the artistic and the functional, the physical and the virtual might all be beautiful in similar ways?

Download the MP3 (time: 1:19:07).

Produced by Indigo Tabor and Colin Rhinesmith.

Track C Breakout Two: Long Tail Markets, Social Commerce and Open Business Models

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Friday, May 12, 2006

Panel IV: Surviving or Thriving: Beta Business Models in the New World

Download the MP3 (time: 58:23)

Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Professor of Electrical Engineering and co-founder of the Telecommunications and Computer Networking Group at the Indian Institute of technology at Madras, explores the factors that have contributed to, and characterized the rise of India over the past decade, and the challenges that lie ahead for the world’s largest democracy.

In this edition of AudioBerkman, Professor Jhunjhunwala offers his unique perspective on this process and in particular the role of new technologies, policies, and business models. Through his working creating information and communication technologies, incubating start-ups, collaborating with national and international companies, advising on national technology policy and preparing the engineers and leaders for tomorrow, Professor Jhunjhunwala has become a true academic entrepreneur, helping shape the present and the future of his University, his nation, and indeed the developing world.

Download the MP3 (time: 24:36)

Produced by Colin Maclay and Colin Rhinesmith.

Attribution: Music from this episode of AudioBerkman was sampled and remixed using a track from Antony Raijekov titled Moment of Green.

Industry leaders, musicians, legal scholars, and international experts convened at Harvard Law School this fall to discuss one of the most controversial subjects in internet law: the future of digital media. This audio documentary offers a window into the conference — a chance to overhear experts’ views and business leaders’ concerns. Running time: 15 minutes.

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Stream the MP3 (FYI, the file may take time to buffer — 15.3 MB)

Full Description

Get behind the scenes of a conference held at Harvard Law School this fall to discuss the future of Digital Media. The conference is part of a long-term study at the Berkman Center — the Digital Media Project — to analyze the different legal principles, business models, and interest groups vying to reshape the distribution of creative content in the digital age. Listen to what the experts had to say… (Running time: 15 minutes)

Background

The Digital Media Project investigates five scenarios that forceast different directions the copyright and digital media debate could take. These scenarios address questions like: what if copyright law becomes more restrictive, how will DRM systems will shape use of digital media, and what role technology will play in the future of this debate?In the coming weeks, we’ll offer another look at a conference held at Harvard in December to discuss Alternative Compensation Systems and the idea of an Internet-based Entertainment Co-op.