Our Moats (A text based cartoon conceprt)

Anyway, isn't it reasonable to figure out how to do the most good
that we can with the technology that's emerging?

Sure. I'm a practical guy.

Alright then, so you'll listen to my plan?

Are you going to talk about copyright law again?

Sort of...and education reform, and a new era

of participatory government, and---

Well, fine. Just don't be boring.

...Ahem. Well, the grand idea is that we are trying to get our new

technologies to blossom under outdated systems.

Like keeping a plant in a small pot for too long.

Sure. But it's better described with...THIS PICTURE!

Nice.

See technology expands our opportunities and choices, right?

Most people think technological progress works like this,

with technology naturally expanding the positive impact of

society outward relatively unimpeded.

Go on.

The thing is, expansion doesn't work so easily.

Technology funnels into the channels that we

design for it. 

That's pretty abstract; you'll have to be more specific.

Well, the majority of artists create within the

protection--and limitation--of the copyright

system. Inventors work within the patent

system--

 --and teachers and students function within

the traditions of the scholastic model developed

 by the principles of the industrial revolution.

Wow. Um, yeah. I didn't realize that one, actually.

Where did you get that?

 I saw that TED talk about it, the one by the

British knight. Seems to fit with your idea.

Plus, I've always been interested in education.

Well, these antiquated systems worked well enough for

a while. But they weren't designed for the kind of 

technological potential that we have nowadays.

It's like we're walled into our own city.

 Maybe. So what would that mean?

It means that we've got to rethink our social

infrastructure to make sure that it allows the

kinds of social progress that emerging technology--

--you mean "the Internet."

Yeah, but utilized in ways you don't imagine.

But the real point is, we need to move beyond the
rethink our infrastructure and move on to
infrastructure that is more suited to our era.

Well, let's just not get carried away.

Some of the things we've inherited

are still pretty good.

Yeah, yeah. Of course. Lessons of the past and all that.

 But you agree that we might need to reevaluate some

things?

 Yeah, that statement is noncommittal enough for me.

Great, lets talk about patent practices...