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Suggested by Matt Beiriger onto Geography Education |
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According to a new survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, three-quarters of U.S.
Smartphones have built-in location features with a host of apps that can be added. However, 1 in 4 smartphone users do not use these features at all. Age, ethnicity, education and gender (or more simply, demographic factors) play a major role. Which groups would you imagine use geo-location features more or less? Why?
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Investigate for yourself the mechanisms of global trade
Seth Dixon's insight:
This more clearly shows the regional restructuring of the global economy than just about anything I've ever seen, especially manufacturing. The 8 largest and busiest ports in the world are all in East or Southeast Asia (and 11 of the top 13). A quick glance at the historical charts will show that most of these were relatively minor ports that have exploded in the last 20 years.
Tags: transportation, globalization, diffusion, East Asia, industry, economic. 
Magnus Gustafsson's curator insight,
May 12, 3:36 PM
I think this is perfect for my geographystudents this week. Worth to use in a study of global tradestructures. 
Charlotte Hoarau's curator insight,
May 20, 3:01 PM
Synchronized and permutable orthoimagery and interactive map visualisation Delete the scoop?
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Guinea pigs are popular pets in the U.S., but in parts of South America, they're a delicacy. Some environmental and humanitarian groups are making a real push to encourage guinea pig farming as an eco-friendly alternative to beef.
Seth Dixon's insight:
First off, my apologies if you find the image distressing (I have two guinea pigs in my house and I will not be showing this picture to my children). However, the fact that many readers might find this image disturbing but wouldn't think twice about the sight of chicken grilling on the barbeque highlights the cultural taboos surrounding what we consider appropriate food sources. The tradition has diffused to the United States as more South American immigrants have come to the United States. While the meat is more environmentally sustainable (less resources are required to raise one pound of guinea pig meat than one pound of beef), many potential costumers are leery to eat something that they consider a pet. Tags: food, diffusion, sustainability. Delete the scoop?
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"Ogooglebar. That's Swedish, and means "something you can't find with the use of a search engine." At least, that's what the Language Council of Sweden wanted Ogooglebar to mean--until Google stepped in, fearing that the word had negative connotations for the firm."
Seth Dixon's insight:
I am used to the French trying to slow the flow of English words into French, but shocked that Google would join in the fray to slow linguistic change. Words evolve based on cultural shifts and technological changes and the computer industry has especially created new words to describe emerging, new social interactions. I'm certain that the company Google is thrilled that "to google" is the verb of choice to describe the action of searching for online for content. I would have guessed that Google was savvy enough to understand that this "ungoogleable" term is not an indictment on the company, but a new way to define that elusive, mysterious, indefinable quality for a generation that sometimes acts as if everything can be found of Google. Tags: language, culture, technology, google, diffusion. Delete the scoop?
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The current rise or durability of the economies of the Global South do not signal that economic geography does not matter, but that current investment has simply shifted.
Seth Dixon's insight:
In an era where globalization has rendered distances a minor barrier to diffusion, some have erroneously concluded that geography is no longer relevant to economic development and urban planning. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but that doesn't mean that the 'old rules' of space and place aren't be re-written. This is a nice article that discusses the continued importance of spatial thinking and geography for urban planning. Tags: urban, planning, economic, urbanism, globalization, unit 7 cities. Delete the scoop?
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In 1900, two-thirds of the world’s Catholics lived in Europe. Today only 20 percent do.
Seth Dixon's insight:
As Europe has become an increasingly secularized set of societies, the demographic based of the Catholic Church has shifted south. However, the power structure has not migrated south as the European cardinals still are a majority (although 2/3 vote necessary to elect the next pope). Tags: Christianity, culture, diffusion, religion. Delete the scoop?
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TED Talks At TEDGlobal University, Shereen El Feki shows how some Arab cultures are borrowing trademarks of Western pop culture -- music videos, comics, even Barbie -- and adding a culturally appropriate twist.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This TED talk cleverly discusses the cultural processes of globalization by examining two examples from the Islamic world. The examples of the TV station 4Shbab and the comic book series The 99 show that all global cultural interactions don’t have to result in a homogenous “melting pot.” Local cultural forces can tap into the powers of globalized culture that can create dynamic local cultures that are both intensely local and global. Questions to Ponder: What does the speaker mean when she by refers to cultural interactions as a mesh (as a opposed to a clash or mash) of civilizations? What other examples of cultural meshes can you see that show these processes? Tags: TED, religion, culture, Islam, globalization, popular culture, unit 3 culture. 
Heather Ramsey's curator insight,
January 28, 10:21 AM
This speaker gives examples of gobalization in action, but explains how cultures adapt new concepts and ideas to fit in with their own ideals. 
Adrian Bahan (MNPS)'s curator insight,
March 11, 11:59 PM
What type of diffusion is this? Also an example of ______________ 
Max Krishchuk's comment,
April 30, 9:44 AM
This is an interesting TED talk that centers on the integration of western culture with Arab culture. The Arab pop culture is very different from what I thought that it would be. It takes hard work to produce a culture that is modern yet still centers on Islamic foundation, but is seems like the Arab world has put in the work. The new culture is significant because that means that the people in the Arab world know what pop culture is and why it is important. The speaker says that the culture is a mesh of the old and new. She does not call it a mash or clash because there are certain parts that are being used from the West, such as superheroes and music videos, but the overall culture is centered on Islam. The people in the Middle East still learn about Islamic ideas and thought, but now get to learn about the subjects with superheroes. This is relevant in modern times and even in my life because as a Christian, I try to find movies, music, and entertainment that is different from the world. It is also hard for me to do so because there is a lot of nonsense out in the world that is portrayed as being normal.
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The idea of flash mobs has spread quickly, diffusing at a time when online video sharing can immortalize the moment in time and social media can amplify the audience beyond just one place.
Seth Dixon's insight:
I LOVE this particular flashmob (as a bonus, 'read' the cultural landscape to try to identify where this took place). While there are many types of successful flash mobs, all share one characteristic: place matters. The place where a flash mob performs is not simply a stage; place is a crucial part of the meaning of the flash mob. An incredibly prominent place with open spaces and many sight lines is a prime location for a flash mob. Beyond these tangible characteristics, if a site has some importance cultural significance, those qualities can be meshed with the meanings of the flash mob. For more of my musings on flashmobs (and extra clips) you can continue reading here: http://geographyeducation.org/whats-new/articles/place-and-flash-mobs/ Tags: place, space, diffusion, popular culture. Delete the scoop?
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View Full Lesson on TED-ED BETA: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-pandemics-spread In our increasingly globalized world, a single infected person can board a pl... This is a great demonstration of why spatial thinking is critical to so many fields, including medicine. Tags: diffusion, medical, historical, spatial. Delete the scoop?
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The viral hit isn't a fluke. South Korea has been cultivating a global music business for decades. You may already know that I've been fascinating watching the cultural diffusion of Gangnam Style throughout the world as mentioned previously. This NPR podcast looks at the economic infrastructure of the South Korean music industry that explains in greater detail how this video went viral. The distribution of this video is dependent in part on the technological sophistication and economic strategies of South Korea to associate their brands with cultural cachet. Tags: popular culture, industry, diffusion, globalization, technology, economic, unit 6 industry. Delete the scoop?
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The Gangnam Style! sensation is all over the internet, complete with parodies that both honor and mock the original. This first video is the original, which in a few short months received well ove... The following link has the video, parodies and infographics to help student explore the meaning behind the cultural phenomenon. Questions to Ponder: Considering the concept of cultural diffusion, what do we make of this phenomenon? What cultural combinations are seen in this? How has the technological innovations changed how cultures interact, spread and are replicated? Tags: popular culture, video, diffusion, globalization, culture, place, technology, unit 3 culture. 
Rich's comment,
October 3, 2012 2:27 PM
When I first saw this music video and heard the song I remember myself saying "I have no idea what is going on, but the human race is a better place thanks to this guy." I may not know what he is saying but it puts me in a great mood. This guy is breaking cultural and geographical boundaries with music.
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Public health crises of the past decade — such as the 2003 SARS outbreak, which spread to 37 countries and caused about 1,000 deaths, and the 2009 H1N1 flu p...
The spread of infectious diseases is inherently connected to the mobility of infected. Airports are important nodes in this complex transportation network. Which airports would have the greatest potential to spread diseases? At MIT, they've gathered data that incorporates variations in travel patterns among individuals, the geographic locations of airports, the disparity in interactions among airports, and waiting times at individual airports to create a tool that could be used to predict where and how fast a disease might spread. To read more, see the associated article. Delete the scoop?
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This resource is a comprehensive approach to teaching spatial thinking skills. Terms with spatial reference (i.e.-place, diffusion, migration, situation, scale, region, centrality, proximity, etc.) are defined within their spatial context and related to their multiple curricular connections such as Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science and (of course) Geography. These terms and concepts then link you to teaching resources, online modules, lesson plans and classroom activities. While useful for all units, this is especially useful for the beginning of a course to teach the importance of spatial thinking skills to then have them permeate the rest of the year. Delete the scoop?
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A page that plots the geographic distribution of the terms "pop" and "soda" when used to describe carbonated beverages...
This is an old classic that is going viral on Facebook right now, so I thought it would be time to link you to the original. This map isn't just cool, but a great portal to a discussion on regions, diffusion and cultural identity. This is a modern 'shibboleth' for the United States, a way to show where you are from to some extent. What are other 'shibboleths' that make your region distinct? 
's comment, February 2, 2012 5:23 PM
Other could mean "cola" or "drink"
Elizabeth Allen's comment,
November 16, 2012 5:05 PM
Such a neat map that certainly illustrates the differences between US states. Seeing this map and the reasons for the variation in name makes sense. Of course soda is called "Coke" in the south. Georgia is the home of the Coke Cola Factory.
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Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah's journey to the NFL, beginning as a walk-on to the Brigham Young University football team from Accra, Ghana, who had never played foot...
Seth Dixon's insight:
Ezekiel loved playing soccer and never played American football until he was in his 20's; that is NOT a typical path to the NFL. Ziggy's life represents the geography of opportunity. If he had grown up in the United States, a boy with his physical abilities would have been funneled into football leagues at an early age. If he lived his whole life in Africa, he would never become a millionaire (probably not anyway). However, global diffusion of religious ideas brought LDS missionaries to his home in Ghana; enhanced migrational opportunities took him to Utah and all of these geographic factors (combined with his personal skills and ambition) helped him to become the fifth overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft and a member of the Detroit Lions. Read here for more on Ziggy. This story also makes be wonder if those with the greatest physical talent for a sport always gets the opportunity. I'm sure some kids in tropical countries have the physical tools to be fantastic hockey players, but without access to participation at an early age because of the cultural preferences of the area (although with hockey you could argue it's also climatically determined), they are geographically constrained to a different set of possibilities for their lives. 
Michael Miller's comment,
April 26, 8:23 AM
Seth, I don't know if you have ever picked up Malcolm Gladwell's book "Outliers", but it addresses some of these topics. It is a great and quick read!
Mike Busarello's comment,
April 26, 9:52 AM
I am an long time Eagles fan and cannot believe they passed on him.
Seth Dixon's comment,
April 26, 7:36 PM
I have (and forgot that's where the nugget of the 'hockey' idea came from). I just wish I had those cool glasses! Poor Eagles, Ziggy is ultimate high risk/high reward pick.
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Seth Dixon's insight:
This resource has grade-level appropriate lessons on the spatial diffusion of of teams and the cultural geography of the baseball. Delete the scoop?
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The Pew U.S. Religious Landscape Study religion map diagrams which religions have the highest populations in each state.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The geography of religion, even in an era of secularization, is still a powerful indicator of many patterns of human geography. What is the religious profile of your state? What is the spatial distribution of the religious tradition with which you identify? What explains those spatial patterns? Tags: USA, culture, diffusion, religion, Christianity. Delete the scoop?
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Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide pop out over certain shipping lanes in observations made by the Aura satellite between 2005-2012. The signal was the strongest over the northeastern Indian Ocean.
Seth Dixon's insight:
David Collet's curator insight,
February 19, 10:37 PM
The Straits of Malacca show up as a highly affected band - and this from traffic that is not even bound for, or related to, Malaysia. Delete the scoop?
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New demographic study in California reveals nation’s changing face. Plus how Pacific Islanders changed high school football in Utah and why a Somali Bantu band from Vermont is in demand around the country.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This news article of 'odds and ends' has some interesting geographic content. Having lived in Utah for many years, I can attest to the fact that the "Polynesian Pipeline" for Utah schools is incredibly important and represents a chain migration that has culturally shifted both the 'host' and 'migrant' population. The 'haka' is now institutionized as a part of Intermountain West football culture. Also in this article: --Hispanics to outnumber whites in California by 2014 --Somali Bantu band from Burlington, VT in demand across the country Delete the scoop?
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A handful of AIDS cases were first recognized in the U.S. at the beginning of the 1980s. By 1990, there was a pandemic. In 1997, more than 3 million people became newly infected with HIV.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The spread of AIDS/HIV since the 1980s has varied greatly over time and space. The red lines represent Sub-Saharan countries and the dark blue line on this interactive is the regional average of Sub-Saharan African countries. The regional trend was on the rise at the end of the 20th century, but is now on a slight decline (but still an major impact on the continent). Countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe have made some significant strides in limiting the spread of AIDS (Zimbabwe is the country that 'peaked' in 1997 and has had the steepest decline). Tags: Africa, medical, development, infographic, diffusion. Delete the scoop?
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In this age of fast travel and instant digital communications, we tend to forget that not so long ago, distances were subjectively very different.
Seth Dixon's insight:
This series of maps shows the great leaps and bounds that were made during the 19th century in transportation technology in the United States. This impacted population settlement, economic interactions and functionally made the great distances seem smaller. This is what many call the time-space compression; the friction of distance is diminished as communication and transportation technologies improve. Questions to Ponder: When someone says they live "10 minutes away," what does that say about how we think about distance, transportation infrastructure and time? How is geography still relevant in a world where distance appears to becoming less of a factor?
Tags: transportation, models, globalization, diffusion. 
geofoodgraz's curator insight,
December 15, 2012 4:35 AM
Seth Dixon, Ph.D.'s insight:
"This series of maps shows the great leaps and bounds that were made during the 19th century in transportation technology in the United States. This impacted population settlement, economic interactions and functionally made the great distances seem smaller. This is what many call the time-space compression; the friction of distance is diminished as communication and transportation technologies improve.
Questions to Ponder: When someone says they live "10 minutes away," what does that say about how we think about distance, transportation infrastructure and time? How is geography still relevant in a world where distance appears to becoming less of a factor? " Delete the scoop?
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THERE WAS SOMETHING odd about the black car at the junction of Sutter and Hyde Streets. It was an ordinary saloon. Its windows were clear, and it looked in good... Technologies today have allowed us to be digitally connected from anywhere. This impacts geographic patterns from outsourcing to local businesses that rely on interpersonal communications to connect potential demand with resources. Some may see this as geography becoming less of a barrier, and consequently, less relevant. This article in the Economist argues that as these technologies have rendered location more important than ever since they rely on geospatial technologies. "The reports of the death of distance have been much exaggerated." Tags: technology, globalization, location, place. Delete the scoop?
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The Kauffman Foundation's Samuel Arbesman on his new book, The Half-Life of Facts. This is an interview, Samuel Arbesman,the author of The Half-Life of Facts explains how population density and place matter in forming a creative economic workforce. Urban centers act as drivers of innovation and advancements and attract the more ambitious and daring workers. Additionally, this map on the expansion of the printing press (discussed in the interview) is also a great map to show how technological innovations can spur cultural diffusion. Tags: technology, diffusion, urban, labor, migration, book review. Delete the scoop?
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Extreme poverty in the United States is giving rise to a group of infections known as the neglected tropical diseases, which we ordinarily think of as confined to developing countries.
Poor Americans are more likely to contract tropical diseases such as Chagas disease and dengue fever. Question to ponder: what geographic factors (physical and human) lead poor people in the United States to be more heavily impacted by the spread to these diseases? 
Mary Burke's comment,
April 14, 7:37 PM
I don't understand why the drug companies can't help this situation. These are the richest companies in the country. These poor people need help. I don't think they can help themselves. They need a boost. Because of where they live in remote areas and no access to ready help its even more difficult for them. It's going to take some charitable organization or company to step in. We need another Mother theresa.
Kimberly Hordern's comment,
April 25, 6:23 PM
I think it is absurd that the pharmaceutical companies don't see it beneficial enough to produce the vaccines necessary to prevent outbreaks of the potentially harmful diseases. These people may be low-income, but they are still humans and there is no barrier stopping the spreading to middle-class higher income families.
Brianna Simao's comment,
April 30, 10:23 PM
With the level of development in the United States and the amount of technology there is, it is a little surprising to see such a large number of people living in poverty, but at the same time it is almost expected. Minorities make up the bulk of those living in poverty, which are the biggest targets for these rapidly spreading diseases. Since these people unfortunately receive a below average salary, if any at all, they don’t get the proper health care needed and their symptoms are often overlooked or neglected. They are basically prone to get infected because either their health care provider does not have the knowledge to diagnose and treat these diseases before they spread or the patient does not have the money to pay for treatment and vaccines. These prolonged and chronic diseases are what cause them to stay in the financial situations they are in. Helping these people get better healthcare and providing the doctors with the education needed for these diseases would definitely help. I do find it absurd that some pharmacists believe it is unnecessary to make vaccines when this could easily be passed down from a pregnant woman to her offspring, creating another generation of health disasters.
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A former gang member from Long Beach, California, teaches break dancing to at-risk youth in Cambodia.
This video is a great example of cross-cultural interactions in the era of globalization. Urban youth culture of the United States is spread to Cambodia through a former refugee (with a personally complex political geography). What geographic themes are evident in this video? How is geography being reshaped and by what forces? 
Crissy Borton's curator insight,
December 11, 2012 11:38 PM
A very positive video but I would like to know how KK was able to come clean of drugs (I assume he did them in California). I would also like to know what made him decided to change for the better. Delete the scoop?
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Michael Slackman, The Times's Berlin Bureau Chief, looks into the city's obsession with a popular street dish that combines sausage, ketchup and curry powder.
The globalization of food, immigration and the diffusion of cultural practices are all richly displayed in this short clip. 
Don Brown Jr's comment,
July 11, 2012 10:02 PM
Food is often as distinct and diverse as the cultures they come from. The diffusion of foreign food in international cities (which are becoming places of ever increasing diversity) such as Berlin, is very symbolic of the growing presence of globalization around the world and its impact on culture.
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