TheRevelationaryApproachofInnovativeTechnologyasaToolfor

ChangeinaEnergyImperialisticCultureofControlandSurveillance
thatEmpowersthereinventionofaDecentralizedSelf

BenjaminPhilipGeorge
V00767906
ResearchPaper
AWorkingPaper(November19th,2014)

UniversityofVictoria
DepartmentofPoliticalScienceandTechnology
PoliticalScience430:Media,Technology,andPolitics
withDr.ArthurKroker

WordCount:10057

Abstract:
TheInternet,ismanythings,itiscreationandinnovation,itisalsomeansanewformsof
connectednessbutoneofitsgreatestassetsisthepowerofcommunication.Butyet,the
storyoftheInternethasjustbegan.Commercialinnovationisatitgreatestheight,millionsof
digitalnativeswillspendmillionsofhoursondevicesthattheyspenthoursandhoursinlines
tobuy,everyyear.Thegrowthofcommercialinnovationhasforciblyledtoaculturalshift,a
personcouldeitherbecomepartofthedigitalculturebylearningtoevolvewitharateof
technologicalchangeortheycanrejectchangeandgetleftbehind.Softwaredevelopmentnot
onlybecameanintegralpartoftheirbusinessbutofoursociety.Thischangeisfacilitatedby
innovation,anddefinedbyitsapplicationbysocietyanddiffusionintosociety.Adefining
characteristicofrapidgrowth,acommonfactorwhichwasprevalentinthe16thcentury
AgricultureRevolutionasitwasintheInformationandTelecommunicationRevolutionofthe
20thCentury,wastheuseoftechnologyasatoolforchange.However,technological
advancementbynatureisimperialisticandinitsessencetheuseoftechnologyopensthe
individualstoexternalcontrol.Therelationshipissymbioticbetweentechnologyasatoolfor
controlincommunicationandenergyproduction,distributionandconsumption.Theenergy
reliantselfisinitselfatruthconcealingidentity,buttechnologyisthelightattheendofthe
cavethatwillsavesocietyfromtheentrapmentofthepast.

TableofContent
1.0Introduction
1.1TheImperialisticNatureofTechnologicalInnovationinCommunicationandthe
Relationshipbetweencommunication,technology,andenergygeneration.
1.2Thetruthcreatingpotentialofinnovationintechnology
1.3Thenewidentityofselffoundindigitalinnovation
1.4Aconceptualframeworkforamachinemediatedsystemoflive

2.0Methodology:MultidimensionalAnalysis
2.1HistoricalApproach
2.2SocialApproach
2.3ScientificandTechnologicalApproach
2.3ScientificandTechnologicalApproach
2.4EconomicalandPoliticalApproaches

3.0Conclusion

1.0Introduction

Theworldisnolongerwhatitusedtobe,anditwillnotstaythiswayformuchlonger
changeisinevitable.Rapidtechnologicaldevelopmentcoupledwithdigitalinnovationhas
expandedthepossibilitiesoftheunknowninthefutureoftechnology.Theageofinformation
andcommunicationshasevolvedthuscreatinganewidentitiesofself.Thisideaof
transnationalityorboundarylesshasmadethedistinguishingbetweenprivateandpublic
murkybecauseweareabletocompartmentalizeourunderstandingofourselvesandour
identitiesinawaywewantto.Theformationoftheinternet,orARPANET,bytheU.S.Military
Department,wasdesignedinamannertoescapethepotentialthreatsontheir
communicationcapabilitiesintheeventofaSovietinvasion(Tully,2013:P.260).The
creationoftheinternetmeantnewformsofinnovativeandopencommunicationtechniques
werenotlimitedtothephysicalandstructuralboundariesbywhichtheywerederivedfrom
newformsofconnectednessthatpowerscommunicationbecameadefiningformofsocial
organizationandthebasisforthenetworksocialorder.However,Tullynotesthattheinternet
isabiproductofsocietythatthatisdependentonpreviouslycreatedtechnologicaladvances
andtheirnetworks.Cartellarguesthatcommunicationnetworkshavebecomethedominant
formoforganization,hedescribescommunicationnetworksasanetworkthatproducesand
communicatesinformationorknowledgeamonginterconnectednodesbymeansofnew
informationtechnologythatarenotonlyopen,butflexible.

1.1TheImperialisticNatureofTechnologicalInnovationinCommunicationandthe
Relationshipbetweencommunication,technology,andenergygeneration.
Therefore,ifTullyandCartellarerightabouttheiranalysisofpowersof
communication,initsessencecontrolandimplementationoftechnologicalinnovationis
covertlyimperialisticbynatureofitsopenness,itcanbearguedanalogouslywithenergy.In
QuestionsConcerningTechnology,MartinHeidegger(1977)denotesthattechnologyismore
thanitsobjectiveself,butratherawayofthinkingthatisinstrumentallydefineditsisbotha
meanstoanendandaresultofhumanactivity.Hestressedthatthosewiththeskillsto
manipulateoftechnologyhavetheabilityofcontrollingitinthepropermannerasameansto
anend,butevenwiththeproperskillsthereistheriskoflosingcontrolofthetechnologywe
create(P.2).Heideggerusestheexampleofapowerplantasameansofanendbysaying
thatturbinesandgeneratorsaremanmademeanstoanendestablishbyman.Theend
resultbeingelectricitygeneratedforstorageandusethatisdistributedthroughcentralized
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locationsandisdistributedunequally.Inalaterargument,Heideggerclaimsthattechnology
isamodeofrevealingtruthsthatwerepreviouslyconcealedheusestheallegoryofthe
cavebyPlato,analogouslyrelatingtheseeingofthelightandfindingaletheia(truth)to
technologyunconcealingthefuture(1977:P.6).WhenTullyexpandedonhismethodsof
communicationcontrolhedemonstratedthatcontrolcancomeintwoforms:inclusionand
assimilationorexclusion.Almostonethirdoftheworld,2.33billionpeople,havenoaccessto
powergrids,insayingso,thesebillionsofpeopleareexcludedfromthenetworksocietythat
wehavecreatewiththeexpansionoftechnology.Equally,anotheronethirdoftheworlds
populationlackstablenetworkandpowergridconnectionduetolackofinfrastructure,timeto
network,andnewcapitalforinnovativeinvestment(Tully,2013:P.264).Itisforthisreason
thatcommunication,andinturncommunicationbetweenenergynetworksoraccesstosuch
networks,havedevelopedandcontinuallyreproducesinequalityincommunicationand
commerce.Thegenerationofnetworkinequalitiesisnotdissimilartotheinequalitygenerated
inthenetworkconstructedindustrialage,whichsawtheindustrialrevolution.Thisinequalityis
thedirectresultofexclusionofpeoplefromcommunicationnetworks,networksthatpower
livelihoods,energysources,commerce,etc.Thesecondmethodofcontrolisthroughthe
assimilationofcommunicatorstoanetworkbysubjectivitythroughinclusions.Tullyargues
thatthissubjectivityinmoderncommunicationisessentiallyourrelianceonnumerous
differenttechnologicalappliancesthatservethesamefunctionsandpurposeasoneanother.
However,Iarguethatthissubjectivitytoconformityismoreonmanipulativeinthesensethat
itattemptstoembodythephysicalbodyoftheindividualmeansofnecessitytoaunending
end.Itisthroughourinclusionandacceptanceoftheassimilationthatwebecomethemeans
ofsomeoneelsesend,whichisasocietydictatebymenjustlikeourselvesbutwhoarenot
slavestotheirsocietybutleaderandcontrollerofthesocietytheylivein.Inthissense,energy
manipulation,likemanipulationthroughcommunicativetechnology,isdeterminedbythe
capabilitytoreceivepowerthroughpowergrids,butmoreimportantlystableandconstant
power.Inthispaper,Iwillusereallifecountriestodemonstratetheanalogouseffectsof
communicationandenergy,butalsothemanyimplicationsthatfollowstechnological
innovation.

1.2Thetruthcreatingpotentialofinnovationintechnology
Thecrutchesofafalsesecurityisnolongerasdamningasbeforetechnology
accordingtoHeidegger(1977)hasthecapabilityandthepotentialtobefreeing.His
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understandingoffreedomignoresthemodernconceptionoffreedomobtainedbyrights,but
ratherheequatesfreedomtothePlatonicunderstandoffreedombeingtherevelationofa
truthhappeningthiscanbeaccomplishedthroughobtainingnewknowledgeortruththat
allowtheindividualstoseethetruthorthelightthatisontheothersideofthecafe.Inmy
understandingoftheAllegoryoftheCafe,Platodescribestheindividualslivinginthefalse
reality,whichgavethemfalsesecurity,aspeoplehiddenfromthelightandtheindividuals
whowerefreewerethepeoplewhofoundthelightasaresult,thesepeopleweretooneday
gobacktofreetheothersfromdarknessbyrevealingthetruth,whichtoHeideggeris
technologicalinnovationandadvancement,butnotbecauseofitsobjectivity,buttheessence
thatisderivedfromthetechnologycreated.Hearguethatenergyhasthecapabilityof
unlockingpowerandexposingpower,wherebypowergeneratedistruthcreating(i.e.bringing
forth)ortruthchallenging.However,initscurrentframeworkprofitmaximizingand
costeffectivemethodsofbusiness,theexpeditioninexpandingenergycapabilityisdrivento
achievesomethingelses,inthatitisnottruthchallengingortruthcreating,but
truthpreservinginwhichthefewarepreserveattheexpenseofthemanythebasisofthe
capitalistmantra.AstrivingtheoryinmathematicalandphilosophyknownastheChaos
TheoryormorecommerciallyknownastheButterflyEffectdictatesthatsmalldifferenceinthe
initialconditionyieldswidelydifferentoutcomesrenderingvariouslongtermoutcomes
(Kellert,1993:P.32).Therefore,itisalarmingthattherelevantsimilaritiesoftheWestern
imperialismandcolonialismhistoryinvariouscountrieshasembeddedaculturalstigmatism
thathasinhibittherapidgrowthofchangethatbringtruefreedomratherthanacontrolled
freedomandthusapredictabledevelopmentpath.

1.3Thenewidentityofselffoundindigitalinnovation
Thefounderoftheinternet,theDigitalPioneersortheGenerationY,imaginedthen
createdaworldwherecommunicationwouldbesafeandsecureonthebasisofitslackof
dependenceonnonphysicalpropertiestocounterpotentialthreatstophysicalcommunicative
modes.TheseindividualswhichIclassifyasDigitalPioneersarepioneerbecausetheywere
involvedthemakingofatechnologicaladvancementthatthewasanevolutionarystepin
communicationandtechnologybutmoresotheypioneertheconceptionsofthedigitalfuture
throughthemeansofcommunicativetechnology.Heideggerwouldarguethatthecreationof
theinternetwasatruthchallengingandmethodofbringingforthcommunicationfromour
previousunderstandingofcommunicativetechnologycapabilities.Theorganizationof
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networkscanbemodified,recognized,andretooled,therebyallowinginformationtobe
transmittedthroughtechnologythatcanbecreated,destroyed,programmedand
reprogrammed,andtheinteroperatingcodesamongnetworksenabledendlesspossibilityof
couplinganddecouplingofnetworks(Tully,2013:P.260).KevinKellyaddedthatthis
processofendlesspossibilitiesisonlymadestrongerbecausethenewinformation
technologyhasthecapabilityoftransmittinginstantaneously,andisnotlimitedbytimeand
spaceitisahyperextensionorglocalization(globalizingandlocalizing)technology,andin
turn,definestheidentityofselfthroughcommunicationandknowledgeretention.Sofar,the
conceptofcommunicationhasbeenlimitedtohumaninteractionwiththemselvesand
differentmachineries,etc.ButasImentionedinmyresearchproposal,theDigitalNative,
whicharetheGenerationX,arethetruebearerofthetaskofbeingtruthchallengerbecause
oftheirunfetteredaccesstoaworldthatisopenedyetmonitoredandsurveilled.Itconceptof
opennessiscontradictedbytheactionsofmonitoringandsurveillancebecauseitallows
someonetoexertcontroloveranotherwherecontrolshouldnotexist.inaworldwhere
heightenedcommercialinnovationhasledtoaninevitableculturalshift,thedigitalnativeis
onewhoisincludedinthesocietyoftechnologybutalsoexcludedinthemodesofunderlying
control.ThisisaformofexclusionandinclusionbyassimilationthatHeideggerquestions.
Theinequalitycreatedbythedigitalgapbetweentheincludedandtheexcludedisthecore
essenceoftechnologicalcapitalism.InformationalandCommunicativeentrepreneurship
sweptthe1990sbyastorm,allowingthosewhocouldunderstandthegameofcapitalismto
capitaliseonthesituationthattheinternethadcreated.OpportunistlikeElonMusk,Sergey
BrinorLarryPage,MarkCuban,pioneeredincommercializingonmilitaryinnovationthey
understoodthelanguageofcodeandhowtomanipulateandcontrolcodetoincreasethe
capabilitiesofotherhumans,butatthesametime,greatlyexpandingtheirowncapabilities.
Theirdesiretoinnovatepushedtheageofinformationandcommunication.Sincethen,we
havemovedtowardsthedigitalage,theagehasmodernizedthewaysinwhichwe
communicatewithoneanotheritreliesonthetoolsofthepastbutdesignedwithideasofthe
future.Thedigitalpioneerswereinventorsoftechnologysystemsthatwerehumanmediated
systems,controlled,governed,andmonitoredbyhumanactivity.However,thedigitalnatives
aregoingtobeinventorsofthecomputermediatedworld,wherebymachinetomachine
communicationwilltakeprecedenceoverhumantomachinescommunication.Thiscreatesa
shiftinthefundamentalwayweidentifyourselveswithinaidentity.

1.4Aconceptualframeworkforamachinemediatedsystemoflive
Atechnologicalrevolutioncanbedefinedastheperiodbywhichonetechnologyis
replacedbyanewertechnology.Nonetheless,thetruepotentialoftechnologytendstophase
manyindividualswhoareavidusersofdigitaldevices.Inthispaper,thetermtechnologywill
notjustrefertomaterialisticobjectsasconventionaldigitaldevicessuchastablets,
smartphones,laptops,butalsorefertotheabstractconceptsandnonmaterialisticusesof
technologysuchascryptocurrency,machinetomachinecommunication,artificialintelligence
systems,etc.TheInternetofThings,whichisembodiedbytheconceptofmachineto
machine(M2M)communication.Itisthetimeofthecodeandcloudgeneration,where
everythingisstoredandaccessibleeverywhereandthepossibilityofcreatingawholenew
worldismadeeasyduetotheopennessandcrowdsourcingabilitytotheworldwideweb.Itis
easytoforgettheabstractnessofthewirelessnatureoftechnologythathasbecomevitalto
ourdailylife.JusttheotherdayIoverheardaconversationbetweentwouniversitystudents.
TheonestudenttoldtheotherstudentthatWifiwasherlife,andwithoutWififoraweekshe
didnotknowwhattodobutatthesametimefeltsofreeandrelieved.Overhearingthis
conversationmadetoreevaluatemyunderstandingoftheimpactsandimplicationsofmy
technologyandhowmylife,withorwithouttechnology,woulddrasticallyinfluencemy
behavioralpattern.Mynotionofselfhasincorporatedtheuseofmytechnologicaldevices
withmyfragmenteddigitalself,butalsomyphysical,mental,andspiritualbeing.The
immersionoftheinternetandtechnologyinmydailylifeisnotpredominantlyinnovationinits
essence,butratherjustatransformedversionofpriortechnology.However,withtheInternet
ofThings,thefunisjustabouttostart.Intheindustrialage,thegrowthoftheminingindustry
sawtheriseofcoal,goldanddiamonds,andoilminingsimilarly,themininginthedigitalage
comesintheformsofdatacollection,dataanalysis,anddataintegration.(KellyDetwiler,
2013).Dataisthenewknowledge,anddatacollectionisthenewmethodofacquiring
knowledge.KellyDetwilerarguesdatacanbeusedintoplotbehavior,buildmodels,and
redefinemarketboundariesandproductvalue.AlanAtkins,theVicePresidentandGlobal
HeadofM2MatWipro,toldForbesMaganizethatthevalueofM2Misbeingdrivenbya
needtoknow,aneedtocontrol,andaneedtosecure(KellyDetwiler,2013).Thus,machine
tomachinestechnologyisthenaturalorderofprogression,andcanoperateinacontrolled
societybecausetheflowofinvestmentiscontrolledbythedriveforprofit,security,and
knowledge.Machinetomachinetechnologyisthepromiseofinnovationandgreater
efficiencyforthefuturethatwillresultincostsavingandifsupportedbytherightpolicies
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potentiallyincomegenerating.Thisfreedom,ortruthchallenging,technologycanhelp
individualswhosufferfromenergypoverty,especiallyinruralareas,thetoolstobecome
technologicallyindependenceandformanewidentityoffreedomnotboundbyimperialand
colonialinfluences,thisfreedomisadirectresultoftheirenergyfreedomadecentralizedgrid
monitored,controlled,andpowersbymachinesthatarehighlyefficientandgreen/clean
innovativetechnologycancanbeharnessnaturallyorrecycledfromenergyexerted,or
generated.Thefreedomofmoderntechnologyisachievedthroughgainingawarenessthat
counterstheconcealedtruthshiddeninsocietyHeideggerwillarguethattheessenceof
moderntechnologyistheprocessofenframingandthusisonlythebeginningofthejourney
torevelation(1977:P.11).Heideggerarguestheessenceenergyproductioniscyclicaland
createsavirtuouscirclethatcontinuallygrowsandexpands.Energyconcealedinnatureis
unlocked,whatisunlockedistransformed,whatistransformedisstored,whatisstoredis
distributed,andthedistributedenergyisusedtostartanewandimprovedcycledof
generation(P.12).

2.0Methodology:
Theimplicationsoftechnologicaldevelopmentcanbedissectedasamultidimensional
approach.Thefirstapproachwillbeahistoricalanalysisofhowtechnologicalinnovationhas
beenaveryimportantfactorinpastrevolutionsandsocialmovements(i.e.agricultural
revolution,industrialrevolution,informationandtechnologyrevolution,arabsprings,etc.).By
examiningfactorsinvolvedinpastrevolutions,Iwilldemonstratetheeffectsofchangesin
energypricesindeterminingthestandardoflivingofanation.Furthermore,Iwillanalyzethe
marginalizationofthepoorerindividualinsocietyasaresultoflackofelectricityandhow
externalfactorsinhibitingenergysupplyorraisingthecostofenergycanbedetrimentalto
theirlivelihood.Thesecondapproachwillfocusonthesocialargumentsconcerningthe
InternetofThings(IoT)andthesocialimplicationsoftechnology.Iwillexpandtheapproach
byalsolookingatthedomesticinequalityfaced,specificallyinenergy,byruralpopulationsin
comparisontotheirurbancounterparts.Thethirdapproachwillbethecombinationofthe
scienceofgreenandwastetechnologyanddigitalinnovative(i.e.costeffectiveandcost
efficientmethods)inrelationtoenergyharvestingasameanstoimprovingstandardsof
living.Thefourthapproachwillbetheeconomiccostbenefitanalysisofnewtechnologyand
innovationinrenewableenergyandthestatisticalpathtobecomingdomestically
independenceandgloballyinfluential.Thefifthdimensionwillbecomparativeanalysisof
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politicalimplicationsstemmingfromtechnologiesinenergymoreimportantly,thefuture
implicationsoftheIoTinourdailylives,digitalsecurity,andotherabstractconceptspertaining
totherelationshipbetweenenergyandtechnology.Iwillalsoexploretheeasterncolonialistic
energydevelopmentpatternasabyproductofwesternimperialismoninternationalenergy
marketsandtechnologythatwouldseetheEastdevelopintoamoretechnologicallyapt
societythantheWest.

2.1HistoricalApproach
Energyisavitalcomponentofasustainablelifestyle,itisaprimaryfacilitatorofdaily
lifeorinbusinessoperationsrequiredforacommodiousliving.GlobalEnvision(2014)argued
thatapproximately25%oftheworldspopulationlacksaccessibilitytopowersourcesthis
numberisgreaterifweincludetheproportionofthosewholackstableelectricalconnection.
TheInternationalEnergyAgency(IEA)equatesthisproportiontobeapproximately1.6billion
peoplethathavenoaccesstoelectricity.InthispaperIwilldefineanindividualorfamilyasa
victimofenergypovertyasthosewhosuffertherelativelackofbasicnecessitiesasaresult
ofthelackofaccessibilitytostableelectricity(i.e.structurallimitationsorlackofmeans).The
EnergyPovertyActionInitiativeoftheWorldEconomicForum(WEF)arguesthataccessto
energyisfundamentaltoimprovingqualityoflifeandisakeyimperativeforeconomic
development.Thiscanbefurtheranalyzeddowntothebasicenergyneedsrequiredfor
attainingbasiclivingstandards(i.e.cooking,heating,water,lighting)andthebasicservices
linkedtohealthcare,education,andcommunication.Forinstance,Bloometal.citedby
Abdelkarim,Youssef,Mhenni,Rault(2014:P.3)arguethatmostAfricaneducationinstitutions
lackthesubsistencerequiredtofunctionsappropriatelytheauthorsarguethatthebad
performanceinAfricaneducationsystemsareduetolackofteachingstaff,qualityof
teaching,andthemeansandbasiccommoditiestochallengenewstudentstolearn,which
occurinacontextofshortageandinefficientprovisionofenergy.Thisiscauseforalarm
becauseentirepowergeneratingcapacityofSubSaharanAfrica(SSA)excludingSouth
AfricaislessthanthepowergenerationcapacityofSpainalone.

Therelationshipbetweenenergyandeducationcanbebothpositiveandnegative.
Similarly,thereisthecorrelatedrelationshipbetweenenergyandhealthcare,andenergyand
livingstandardscanbebothpositiveandnegative.However,theimplicationsoftheir
relationshipissymbioticforthedailystrugglesindividualsfacerelativetothestatusquoof
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theirsociety.BythisIamarguingthatalthoughthetermpovertycanbedefinedasscarcity
ofbasicneeds,ithastwoforms:absolutepovertyandrelativepoverty.Accordingtothe
MeasuringInequalityReportwrittenbytheWorldBank(2011),Apersonlivinginabsolute
povertycanbedefinedasonewhoisdepriveoftheirbasichumanneedssuchaswater,food,
sanitation,clothing,shelter,healthcareandeducation.Wherelse,relativepovertyisdefinedin
thecontextualaseconomicinequalityinthegeopoliticallocationorsocietyinwhichaperson
live.TheUnitedNationsInequalityAdjustedHumanDevelopmentIndex(IHDI)Reportsutilize
a4layeredmultidimensionalapproachfocusing3maincategories:education,healthcare
(livingstandards),andincome,whichisusedasanindicatorforeconomicandsocial
development.Interestinglyenough,asourceofenergyisarequirementforeachoneofthese
tenatstobeconsidered,indevelopmentgoals,asustainablesuccess.

VandeVenandFouquets(2014)researchledthemtobelieveinanaggregate
indicatorofenergy,whichwassupplyofenergyisdependentontheweightedgrowthratesof
everyenergysourceused.Therefore,itisthedominantsourceofenergyofthedaybeitcoal
inthe1700soroilinthe19thand20thcentury,orevennaturalgastoday,theypriceof
energyandthesupplyofenergyarecontrolledbytheproducersandsuppliersoffueland
gas.Inthissenseenergyisusedasasourceoflivingandhasaninelasticdemand,andlack
ofenergythereofcanbeafactorthatinhibitsindividualabilitytobeliketherestofsociety,
whichcanleadtoindividualoutofpoverty.Theyfoundarelationshipbetweenenergysupply
shocksandvariousprobablecauses.TheirstudyfocusedonenergycrisisinEnglandfrom
thebeginningofthe18thcenturyuptothelate20thcentury.Theyfoundthatthethreemain
sourcesofenergysupply:coal(fossilfuel),oil,andnaturalgas,weredependentonthe
economicandpoliticalsituationofthetimeperiod.Inaddition,theyfoundacloseinverse
relationshipbetweenheatingandtransportationasameasureoflivingstandardsandenergy
supply.Whentheeconomywasstable,energysupplywasstablehowever,whentheindustry
ofthemostdominantenergysupplywasinshock(egoilinthe21stcentury),theenergy
supplydecreaseandpriceincreasedrapidly.Theseshocksdonothavetobeofdirect
relationtoforinstancetheoilindustry,complimentingindustriessuchasminingand
agriculturewerealsofactorsofdecreasingsupplyinenergywhichledtoanincreaseinprice
levelsforelectricityorfuel(Pp.1617).Intwoseparatestudiesthatanalyzeddataofa
historicalperiod,Balassa(1986)andRomerandRomer(2004)usedshocktheoryto
demonstratethatlongruneconomicgrowthisdependentonmarketvulnerabilityand
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resiliencetomarketshocks.Ashockcanbefurthersegregatedintothreetypes.Asupply
shockscanbeeithernationalorregional,crossindustryorindustryspecifictheoriginsofthe
shockareallmoreofameanstoanendbecausetheendispriceinflations,higherinterest
rates,orstagnation.Anaggregatedemandshockisanationwideprospectbecausedemand
isdirectlycorrelatedtooverallpriceincrease.Aspeculativeorresidualshockisashockthat
occursnotbecauseofcurrentdemandorsupplyinthemarketbutitisashockthatoccurs
whenthemarketspeculativeonthedirectioninwhichthefutureofthemarketwillgo(Vande
VenandFouquet,2011:Pp.23).
2.2SocialApproach
Theinequalitygapthatdevelopsasaresultofdigitalinnovationisonlystrengthened
bytheincreasingrateofchangeintechnology.However,Kochei(2013)describesthetherate
ofchangeontheinternetasfast.Thefrequencyofmicrorevolutionoccurrencesupdatesin
ornewermodeloftechnology,meansthatthefuturegenerations,especiallytheGenerationZ
children,willbebroughtupinaworldthatissorapidlychangingyetsoimmersedin
technology,whichwillrequiretheindividualtoadapttothedigitalageandcultureandadopta
digitalidentityofself.Inthepastfewmonths,Ihavebeenforcedtoacceptthedigital
adaptationrequiredinthemodernworkingworld.Inmyjobapplications,somemodern
employershavemadecompulsorythatnewapplicanttotheircompanieslisttheironline
profilessuchasfacebook,linkedin,twitter,instagram,pinterest,google+,blogs,etc.tohelp
themfilteroutunwantedandwantedcandidatefortheinterviewprocess.Theindividualhas
himselfbecomeabrandthatrequiresmarketableskilltoobtainajob.ArthurKroker(2014),
quotingafriendthatsaidthatoncehewasabrand,butthenhemadehimselfintoa
franchise,arguedthatthebasicunitofselfisnolongerjustaboutthephysicalorthemental,
butnowmustalsoincludedthedigital.Theinternethasmadeitpossibleforanyonetomake
themselvesintoabrandandexpandtheirinternetpersonalityintoafranchise.Forexample,
YouTubestarsarethenewsetofactorswhohavemanagedtocapitalizeonthe
technologicalinnovationandinnovationpracticesoftheopennessoftheinternet.Thedebate
ontheimplicationsofthedigitalselfcanbeexplaininanotherresearchpaper,thereisso
muchtodiscussonthattopicalone,butinthispaperIwillnotdiscussthedigitalself,but
acceptthenotionsofrealitythatrequiresmetoadaptandcreateadigitalbeing.The
YouTubemodereliesonthecrowdsourcing,whichistheprocessofobtainingservices,ideas,
orcontent,fromalargegroupofpeople(i.e.onlinecommunity)contributingbasedontheir
owninitiativeorduetopaymentincentives.GoogleandtheYouTubePartnershipprogram
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haveembodiedtheDoitYourselfcultureofthe21stcentury.AnadcompanySterling&
Cooperfoundintheirresearchthatiftheywantedtoachieveatrulysuccessfulcampaignthey
wouldhavetoenlistthehelpofsuggestivemarketbythistheauthorsmeantthat,societyin
the21stcenturyhasembodiedtheconceptofchoice,inwhichtheyrelatetofreewill,butis
onlyreallyanexcerptofthefalsefreedomandfalsedemocracythatIdiscussedabove,
stemmingfromourimperialisticorcolonialisticpast.Thepowerofsuggestionwouldenable
theindividualtobelievethatitwastheirowndecisiontobuyaproduct,andthejobof
marketingandadvertisingprofessionalaretosubtlytriggerthepsychologicalmindtomakeus
believethattheirproductisthebestchoiceforus.Thisdoityourselfcultureor
thinkityourself,beindependentthinking,isaproductofourenvironmentwewereraisedina
westerndominantcapitalistsociety,wheretheoptionforsurvivalwasassimilationor
exclusion.
SilviaLindtner(2014)analysesthegrowthofthehackerspacecultureinChina.The
hackerspaceculturehasbeengreatlyinfluencedbythecontemporarylandscapeof
informationtechnologyismakingabilitiesmakesitstruthchallengingculturethatempowers
theindividualtoexpandandexposetheinternetinitselfwhatisusedasatoolofsurveillance
andmonitoringcanbealsousedasatoolforfreedomandtruthchallenging.Lindtner
continuesbysayingthatthemakercultureisconcernedwithbothopenInternettechnology
thedigitalthingsandalsothephysicalthingsthatistechnologicalinnovation(P.146).It
empowerstheindividualsandpromotescrowdsourcingandtheDIYculture.Accordingto
Lindtner,hackerspacecanbedefinedascommunityspacescreatedbypeoplecommittedto
newapproachestowardtechnologyuseanddesign,basedontheopensharingofsoftware
codeandhardwaredesign,thiscanalsobecommerciallydefinedascrowdsourcing(P.149).
Thereisacertainsortofpsychologicalfreedomassociatedtothehackerspaceculturethatis
embodiedintheprincipleofanonymitybutalsoacknowledgementofaccomplishedworks.
Thehackerspacecultureallowsthemassestoreinventwhatcreativity,innovation,industrial
production,andcitizenshipmeanstoday,simultaneouslyexploitingandchallengingpolitical
rhetoric(Lindtner,2014:P.145).TranslatingtheDIYyourselfcultureinenergyterminology,
webegintospeakofenergyasaselfgeneratingorregeneratingtoolofproduction.
Alternativeenergysuchascleanandrenewableenergy,andatloweringeconomiccost,has
enabledthehouseholdtobecomethebasicunitofenergyproduction.Solarpanelling,wind
turbinesandkites,motionregeneration,geothermalenergy,alltheseavenuesandmoreallow
theruralcommunitiesthatpreviouslylackanyorhadlittleaccesstoelectricityproductionand
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distributiontobecomeenergyindependentfromthecentralizedcontroloverdistributionand
production.Theconceptofhackerspacecommunities,whichinenergymeansdecentralized
andopenproductionanddistribution,canallowofefficientcreationofavirtuouscircleof
unlockingandexposingenergygeneration.Theopennessandindependenceoftheindividual
fromthecentralizedsystemsofgovernances(ordistribution)canmaketheindividualandthe
communityenergyindependent.

Thepathtobecomingenergyindependentreliesononesacknowledgementthat
changeisrequired.Heidegger(1977)denotesthatthebeingawareofthechangesor
awarenessofonessurroundingscanleadtounconcealmentinthishearguesthat
technologyhelpsusachievethatawarenessbytheprocessofenframingamodeofrevealing
themanifoldsofinterlockingpathsthatregulatetheircoursepertainingtotheorderly
dispositionofelectricalenergy(P.11).HeusestheexamplesoftheRiversbeingcoming
watersupplyplantsthatgenerateandstorehydroelectricityfromrunningwaterinthis
context,technologicaladvancesthatallowthehydroelectricplanttodrawenergybynatureof
beingconnectedtotheRhineisonlyunconcealedbythoseawareofitspower.
Abdelkarim,Youssef,MHenni,andRault(2014:P.3)explainsapotentialrelationship
betweenenergyandeducation.Theyarguethatthereispositiveevidencelinkingtheenergy
consumptionandimpactsoneducationalperformancesbecausegreateraccesstoelectricity
providesanavenueforchildrentobemoreproductiveinschoolandathomeandforparents
tobemoreproductiveatwork,thusneedinglesshelpfromtheirchildrentoprovide
subsistencefortheirfamiliesneedtosurvive.Anotherfactorimpactingeducationalstandards
inadditiontolackorabsenceofelectricalenergy,ispoorqualityofeducationalstaff.The
notionthatenergyhasasymbioticrelationshipwitheducationisfurtherenhancedbySaqibs
studyoftheelectrificationofneighborhoodsandtheirwillingnesstopayforeducationin
Pakistan(1995).Hestudyfoundthatintheeventofaneighborhoodbecomelessenergy
consciousbecauseitnolongerthreatenstheirbasiclivelihoods,theywillbemorewillingto
spendtheirlimitedincomesoneducation.Similarly,Valeretal.(2014)demonstratedthat
greateraccesstoenergyaselectricityhasimprovedoutcomesoneducationasaresultof
prolongedschoolinghoursandaccesstotheInternet(P.4).Gustavsson(2006)showedthat
Zambianchildrenaremorelikelytohavecompletedtheirhomeworkassignmentsiftheylived
inahouseholdwithaccesstosolarenergy.Abdelkarim,Youssef,MHenni,andRault(2014:
P.6)arguethatoneofthegreatestproblemsfacingtheAfricaneducationsystemislackof
13

accountabilitythattranslatesintohighlevelsofstaffandpupilabsenteeism.Therefore,a
proactivemethodofenergyusecouldchangetheconditionsofthelearningexperiencein
Africa.Thisimprovementsineducationcanbemultipliedexponentiallyifaccesstoelectricity
athomebecomesaviabilityaswell.Thisisalsoclearindicationthataccesstoelectricity
raisestheoverallstandardofliving.

2.3ScientificandTechnologicalApproach
Thesocialgoaloftechnologydiscoveriesinregardstoadvancementand
breakthroughinenergytechnologycomesintwoforms:tosuccessfullyincorporate
themselvesintothealternativeenergymarket,thenewtechnologymusteitherbemore
energyefficientsuchashybridorelectricplugincarormustbeanewwayofharvesting
energyforsocietyincostefficientmanner.Ifthealternativetechnologyorproductionof
energyislessefficientand/ormorecostlythatcurrenttechnology,theincorporationand
marketabilityofsuchaproductwillfailtogaintractionisthepubliceye.Therefore,
technologicaladvancesinenergyproductionorusagemusteitherreducedependenceon
fossilfuels,reducetheproductionofglobalwarminggasesthatareharmfultothe
environment,createsjobsorstimulatetheeconomyisamannerthatwasnotpreviously
possibly(Wolf,2010).Beingthatmoderntechnologyisrapidlygrowingandchanging,most
experts,businessexecutives,etc.willacknowledgethatthereisavastamountoftechnology
alreadypresentthatcancouldpotentiallyreplacenonrenewableenergysuchasthe
concentratedsolarpower,windenergy,geothermalenergy,etc.However,theimplementation
ofsuchtechnologyintoourdailyliferequiresmorethanjusttheavailabilityofthetechnology,
italsorequiresocialcooperationbyindividuals,groups,businessesandgovernments.Dr.
RobertHariss,thepresidentoftheHoustonAdvancedResearchCenter(HARC)arguesthat
themosteffectivetechnologicalsolutionstoclimatechangeandenergygenerationwillbethe
moreresilientenergysupplyatthelowestcost.

Cleanandrenewableenergytechnologyisnotonlytheinevitablesolutionfor
sustainablegrowthbutforeconomicgrowth.Anynewtechnologyinnonrenewableenergy
mustbeeithermoreefficient,costeffective,orincomesaving.Themodelforsustainable
growthinalternativeenergycanbeatechnologicallyderivedeconomicsolutionforsocial
change.Inaworldwherenaturalresourcesandcommoditymarketsaredeclinedatan
alarmingratebutdemandforenergycontinuestoincreaseatarapidpace,researchand
14

development,scienceandtechnology,andinnovation,areimportantfactorofenergy
development.Highcostsofoilandgasandlackofmoderninfrastructuretousethese
nonrenewableresourcesefficientlyhasmadeitdifficultforAfricanfamiliestogetenough
energytopowertheirbusinesses,andinsomeinstance,theirhomes(Iberdrola,2014).
Accordingly,thepotentialfortheexpansionofrenewableenergyagendacanbeachieved
onlyifwechangeouroutlookonenergyproduction.Popp(1998a)arguedthattwoenergy
crisisinthe1970sledtolargescaleenergysavinginnovationstocountertheuncertainties
causedbytheOPECgroup.Berndt,Kolstad,andLee(1993)addedthatasaresultof
technologicalchangebothfuelandelectricitybecamecheaper,thusleadingtosavingsby
firmsandhouseholds.

Theageofthedigitalnativeishere,theabilitytousethelanguageofcodeto
understandandplotoutworldsbyusingknowledgeofanothersubjectsuchasmathematics
orphysicsisrudimentarytotheuseofcodetogeneratenewvirtualworlds.Theworldof
cryptocurrencies,reallifegamesimulations,etc.areusedastestinggroundsforciviland
militaryresearch.Theabilitytocreateaconceptualworldbasedoffsimulatedvirtual
experienceistheessenceofmanygameslikeCallofduty,Battlefield,etc.Thedigitalnative
havetheabilitytocreateanythingthecanthinkof.YvonneCoady,aprofessorofComputer
ScienceatUniversityofVictoria,oncesaidthatifyoucanthinkit,youcancreateit,what
shemeantbythisisthatthepossibilitytocreateanythingjustbyunderstandingtheproper
utilityofthelanguageofcodeanditsimplementationcanallowsustodefytherealityofthe
societyweliveinandwiththerapidrateoftechnologicaladvancement,thisprocessfrom
dreamtorealitycanoccursinashortenedspanoftime.TheINTERNETOFTHINGSisthe
communicationbetweenmachines,withouttheneedforhumanintermediation.Thedigital
pioneerscreatedandgeneratedsystemsthatrequiredhumantomachinecommunicationfor
operationalpurposesindustrialmachinesrequiredhumancapitaltobefullyfunctionaland
optimizedinfactoriesduringtheindustrialage.Inenergy,theinternetofthingsmeansenergy
efficiency,lesswastage,andcosteffectiveness.Inaworldwherecurrentpowergeneration
andconsumptioniscentralizedandflowofelectricityisdictatedbynationalandinternational
influencesandpricelevels,nooneisreallyenergyindependence,buttherichtendtohave
moredisposableincomeavailabletolavishlyspendonenergyconsumptionthiscreatesthe
digitalinequalitygap.KellyDetwilerexplainsthatpowergridsarecomplexstructureswith
involvesmanycomponentssuchaspowerplants,transmissionlines,transformers,
15

distributionlines,andliterallymillionsofenergyconsumingassets,fromprintingpressesand
aircompressorstorefrigeratorsandelectrictoothbrushes.
Therefore,themarketforenergymustbeatequilibriuminordertoavoidinstability,including
poweroutagesandblackouts.However,duetoalackofcosteffectiveenergystorage
technologyforenergygeneratedinperiodsoflowdemandandhighsupply,thereisa
constantneedtofluctuationgenerationtomeetthedemandandsupply.Thisbalancingact
happensatregionalorsubregionallevels,andelectricitypricescanvarytremendouslybased
uponcostofenergysupply,transmissionconstraintsingettingelectricitytoareasofdemand,
aswellasotherfactors(Forbes,2013).Indevelopedeconomies,Machinetomachine(M2M)
technologyhasbeentoutedagamechangerbecauseitallowsmachinestobeconnected
throughawirelessnetwork,empoweringconsumers,increasingefficiencyofexisting
services,andcreatingnewopportunitiesforbusinessandcommercialapplication(Niqueand
Arab,2014).Theyadmitthatunderthecurrentbusinessasusualmodel,wheredeveloped
worldapplicationsareappliedtodevelopingmarkets,thishampersthepotentialofM2Masit
istieduptothecurrentaccesstoglobalinfrastructurethisistheessenceoftheenergy
imperialismargumentTullyarguesfor.Fukahori(2011)definesM2Mascommunication
amongmachineswithoutorwithonlylimitedhumaninterventionitsapplicationisdiverse
becauseitappliestoanyindustrythatuseshorizontalintegrationandcrossservicesthatare
machinemediated.Powergrids,especiallyrenewableenergygrids,requireconstant
communicationbetweengeneratorsandsystemstoensuretheirarecontinuouslymaximizing
energyharvestthemixingofdifferentrenewableenergysourcesisthemostefficientmethod
ofharvesting.Forexample,windandsolarenergygenerationprovideacontinuoussourceof
freeenergy,becauseintimeswhenitiswind,thesystemcanrelyonwindpower,andin
periodsoflowwind,thesuntendstoshine,therebyprovidingsolarpower.Scholars,
entrepreneurs,businessmen,andpoliticiansallagreedthatrenewableenergygenerationis
nottheproblembutrathertheproblemwasthemethodofcosteffectivestoragetobalance
theequilibriumofenergy.Butwithnewenergyefficienttechnologyandmethodsofcreatinga
virtuouscycleofenergygenerationandcheapandcostefficientstorage,themarketof
renewableenergywillprogressrapidlyoverthenextfewyears.MobeenKhan,theExecutive
DirectorofM2MsolutionsatAT&T,predictsthateverysingleassetwillhaveanembedded
communicationscapability(i.e.asmartsystem)andsomelevelofsecureconnectivitytothe
cloud(Forbes,2013).Thiswillbethedrivingsteptotheenergyrevolution,theabilityforthe
assetstobeselfgeneratingandalsoenergyproducingunits.
16

TheconceptforM2Mcommunicationisinterconnectednesswithinanetworkthatcan
becontrolledremotely,atlowcostandinreliabletechnologiesthatarescalabletodifferent
uses(Niyato,Xiao,Wang,2010:P.1).M2Mplaysanimportantroleindataexchangeof
pervasivecomputerregimesthatisapplicabletomanysituationssuchaspublicsafety,
energymanagement,transportation,etc.withobjectivestoimproveefficiencyandreduce
cost.Theconceptofthesmartgridistechnologyofthefuturepresentintodaysworld.The
focusonsmartphone,smarthouses,smarttvs,areallowingustosimplifyourlivesthrough
complicatedconnectionthroughnetworks,andindoingso,ourrelianceontechnology
deepens.Thepowertocontrolthroughtechnologywillbecomethekeymedianofcontrol.The
modelofthesmartgridthatreliesonM2McommunicationproducesbyNiyato.Xiao,and
Wang,illustratesthenewpotentialforpowergeneration,distribution,andconsumptionthat
canbeachievedthroughtechnologicaladvancement(seefigure5and6).Ontheenergy
supplyside,M2Misalreadywellensconcedinareasofhighvalue.Forexample,according
toAxedasMurphy,insomeareasGEsellspowerbythehour,gettingpaidonasubscription
basisforhowmanyhourstheirenginesareinuse.Withover1.4billionpeoplewithlackof
accesstoelectricityand85%ofthatgrouplivingwithinruralcommunities,andover800
millionpeoplewillnoaccesstocleanandimprovedwaterandsanitarysystems,technology
canbetheanswertoacriticalsituation.AccordingtoNiqueandArab(2014:P.8),offgridor
energyexcludedfamiliesgenerallygainaccesstoenergythroughbatteryorkerosene
generationtopowerlight,heaters,cookers,etc.Bydecentralizingcleanenergysystems,
integratingGSMconnectivity,ruralcommunitiescanovercomethebarrierstomicroutility
sustainability,affordability,andmaintenance.Inaddition,theopportunitycostofdispersion
willsavemanyfamilies,especiallywomenandchildren,thetimetakentogainaccesstobasic
needstosurvivethatconstitutetheirrelativequalityoflife.Dysfunctionalwatersystemsin
Africaleadto$1.2billioninlosseseveryyearduetopoormaintenance,limitedfinancing,and
overallpolicyfailuretoaddresssustainabledevelopmentpracticesmosttimesonlyachieve
upto30or40percentinefficiencylevels(NiqueandArab,2014:P.10).M2Mconnectivity
canalsoaffectthesystemsnotdirectlyconnectedtoitwith50%oftheworldspopulation
livinginruralareaswithlackofaccesstohealthcarefacilities,andthelackofaccessto
electricityandmodernmedicalequipment,itcanbechallengingforfamiliesandindividualsto
stayhealthy,whichaffectstheiroveralllevelofproductivityandefficiency(P.12).Goncalves,
Popplewell,andGrilo(2012)arguethatcompetitivemarketshavebecomeincreasingly
17

complexanddynamic,andthetraditionalwayofconductingbusinessasusualcannotprovide
thenecessaryandexpectedlevelsofefficiencyrequiredinthemodernworld.Companiescan
nolongersurvivebasedoffindividualcompetitiveelements,theneedforamixbetween
cooperationandcompetitionelementsallowtheseindustriestosurviveinamarketwhere
theycompetewithoneanother.Theydevelopedtheconceptofsustainabilityinteroperability
becauseintheirunderstandingthepotentialvalueofpropositionofinteroperabilityofan
enterpriseofsystemsandapplications,liketheformationoftheinternetwithARPANET,
reachesbeyondtheappliedresearchandtechnicaldomainsbywhichitisunderstoodtoday
itexpandstoamuchbroaderapplicationthatrelatestobusiness,theeconomy,andmost
importantly,society(P.731).Theirsystemofsustainableinteroperabilityfocuseson
strategiesandmethodsandtoolstomaintainandsustaintheinteroperability,orasTully
woulddescribethesystemofcommunicativeimperialism,ofenterprisesystemsinnetworked
environmentsastheyinevitablyevolved,beitthroughevolutionaryalgorithms,withtheir
environment,inaccordance,withthecultureoflearningbydoing(P.734735).

2.4EconomicalandPoliticalApproaches
TheperspectivechangeintheGenerationXhascalledformoretransparencyand
opennessinbusinessandinpolitics.Ifhistoryisanyindicatoroffuturepossibilities,theriseof
capitalismhasexpandeditfromabusinessmodeltoalifestyle.Theindividualisthesubject
andtheobject,theproductandtheconsumer,theuserandthecreator.Byopensourcing
businesses,opportunistandbusinesscantakeadvantageoftheselfinitiatedworkforce.
Codeandcodemediatedtechnologyhasbecomeintegraltoourdailylivesithasreinvented
thewaywedobasicandcomplexthings.Forexample,astronomerscanusecomputerized
telescopesandgraphstoplotoutaccuratechartingofextraterrestrialbeingslikestars,
comets,etc.TheChiefFinancialOfficerofRezayatGroup,JacobKurian,oncetoldmethat
eventheirfinancialdepartmentusetechnologytoplotoutandplanfuturedeals,andtendto
useespeciallyphysicians,astronomers,andscientistwithexperienceincomputerscience
becausetheyhavetheabilitytobothunderstand,recreate,andformnewworlds.Inmodern
society,tofullyunderstandmorethanjustconventionalknowledge,peoplehaveenlistedthe
helpoftechnologyandcodemediatedsoftwaretoaidtheirunderstandingofvarioustopics.
Theageofinformationandcommunicationwasthebeginningofthejourneythathasnow
becomethedigitalage.
18

Buthowdoescoderelatedtoenergy,Heideggerdenotestherelationshipbetweenthe
essenceoftechnology,whichisthelanguageofcode,andenergygenerationsystems.In
mostcountries,electricityproductionandgenerationiscentralizedandcontrolledbythe
government,pricesofenergyasacommodityisdeterminedbytheinternationalpriceofthe
mostdominantenergysourceatthetime,suchascoalorinmorecontemporarytime,oil.
Underthecentralizedparadigm,electricityismainlyproducedatlargegenerationfacilities,
shippedthroughthetransmissionlines,anddistributiongridstransfertheelectricitytotheend
consumers(Martin,2009:P.2).Theproblemswithnewtechnology,especiallyinenergy
generationandelectricityconsumption,isthattechnologicalchangerequiresnewcapitalor
newformsofcapitaltosetuptheinfrastructuresrequired.InthewakeoftheOPECenergy
crisis,industrieswerenotmerelytryingtosubstitutefromoldtechnology,butwere
progressingfromenergyintensivetechnologytolessenergyintensiveinnovations,a
costsavingandenergyefficientinvestment.Consequently,ingeneralchangesinenergy
pricesmovesquickerthangainsinenergyconservation(Berndt,1990).Martin(2009)
identifiesfourmainissuesconcerningtechnologicaladvancementsinenergyinnovation:
firstly,technologicaladvancementonthebasisoftheeconomicandsocialcostbenefit
analysisofenvironmentalprojectswhichfavorsthemostefficient,energymaximizing,and
greenhousegasemissionreduction,doesnotnecessarilymeancleanenergywillbethe
choiceforchange.Martinarguesthatcogenerations,whichistheregenerationofalready
usedenergybyCombinedheatandpower(CHP)systemsorthedistributionofheatand
steaminfactories,powerthatisnoteasilytransportedfromlocationtolocationcanbethe
shorttermsolutionforenergychange.Next,theregulatorybarrierstoentryandtheissuesof
costofproductionandpricecompetitivenesshavehindertheprogressofdevelopmentinthe
renewableenergysector.However,Dr.Harissarguesthatbyillustratingthewaysinnovation
inenergycanimproveandchangesociety,themorewidelythetechnologywillbeusedand
demanded,andasaresult,theflowofinvestmentofcapitalandconsumptionwillincreases
causingthecostofproduction,andinturn,thesupplycostofrenewableenergygenerationto
reducesubstantially(Wolf,2010).Thepotentialfordistributedgeneration,oradecentralized
systemofdistributionandgeneral,willbenefittheruralcommunitiesorthosewholackaccess
toelectricityfortheirbasiclivelihoodsmost.Bydecentralizedgeneration,Iusethedefinitions

19

providedbyDondietal.(2002)ascitedbyMartin(2009),whichstatesthatdispersed
generations/decentralizedgeneration/distributedenergyresources,

Usingoilprices,Iwillexplaintherelationshipbetweenenergyandqualityoflife.Inthe
socialapproachIarguethateducationattainment,andlivingstandards,iscorrelatedto
electricityconsumptionHeidegger'sexplanationofhowenergyisunlocked,stored,and
reusedmoreefficientlyasbeingatruthderivingprocess.Therefore,ifhisargumentholds
through,accesstoelectricityisatruthderivingprocessbecauseitcanenlightenapersons
livesothattheseethetruthoraletheia.Abdelkarim,Youssef,Mhenni,andRault(2014),
identifiedthreeimpactsofenergyoneducationattainmenttheyarguethatenergyimproves
learningandworkingconditionsinschoolsandoffices,thusimprovingthequalityofthe
school,andtheincentiveforparentstosendtheirchildrentoschool.InAfrica,theincreaseof
energyuseandelectricityconsumptionaddressedtheproblemsthequantitativeproblems
(i.e.absenteeism)andqualitativeissuesofeducation(P.5).TheHumanDevelopment
Report,inchapter2and3,demonstratestherelationshipbetweenhealthandeducationto
thedevelopmentofhumancapabilitiesandnotethatabsenteeismandlackofteachingquality
asthedrivingforceoflowlevelsofeducationinSubsaharanAfricaandAsia(HDIReport,
2014).Thesecondimpactsofenergyoneducationisenergyimprovesthehomecondition
establishinganenvironmentsuitableforlearning(P.6).Thethirdimpactisthatenergy
improvesthegeneralconditionsoflearningbyincreasingaccesstoenergyoneincreases
childrensaccesstohealthservices(WHO,2006).Mosthouseholdmedicinesalsorequirea
coldstoragefacilitiestostayeffectiveAbdelkarimet.al.(2014)arguethatimprovementin
healthconditionsdecreasedthelevelofabsenteeisminAfricancountriesbecausestudents
weremorehealthy(P.7).TheGrangerCausalitytestresultsdemonstratestrongcorrelation
betweenincreasingstudentenrollmentandpositiveGDPpercapitagrowth(P.10).TheUS
EnergyInformationAdministration(2014)reportedthatcrudeoilpricesweretheprimary
driverinsettingoverallenergyprices.Theyshowedthathigheroilconsumptioninfluenced
levelsofeconomicgrowthhigherconsumptionlevelsledtohighergrowth.In2009,duringthe
GreatRecession,thelackofdemandforenergyduetodecreasingproductionsledto
negativegrowthandsurprisinglylowoilprices.TheUSEIAreportalsoshowsthatinOECD
countries,amarginallypriceincreaseofenergycanleadtoareductioninconsumption
becausemostenergyusersdonothavetheincometosupplementbothcosts.Duringthe
economiccrisis,whichalsoencompassedanenergycrisis,consumptiongrowthwas
20

consistentlynegativefor8economicquarters,buthavealsobeenstagnantornegativesince
2005(2014).Theneedforenergyindependenceisnolongeraprivilegedfortherichandthe
wealthy.Thesocietalandenvironmentalimpactsofenergygenerationanddistribution,and
theassociatedcosts,hasalastinginfluenceonapersonslifetrajectory.

Theimplicationsofinnovativetechnologyandtherapidrateofchangeis
advantageoustoourgeneration.Thelearningcurvethatisrequiredinalltechnological
advancementcreatesanenvironmentoftrueequity.WithaslittleaselectricitytopowerWifi
andacomputer,apersoncanbecomeasoftwareprogrammerandlearnanythingaboutthe
worldbytypingitintogoogle.Withtheinternet,schoolisnolongerasnecessaryasbefore,
withtherightamountofdedicationandperseverance,someonecanlearnanythingwiththe
helpoftheinternetanditscrowdsourcingabilities.Therefore,itisimportantthatschools
embodythedigitalculturetofosterabettereducationcommunityforthe21stcentury
students.Theageofdigitallearninghascomeandwemustadaptandbeempoweredbyit.
Abdelkarimet.al.(2014)suggeststhatpublicelectricityaccessstrategiesshouldtargetpublic
facilitieslikeschoolssothattheycanprovideessentialservicesneededtoimprovelifequality
andgenerateincome(P.15).AccordingtotheHumanDevelopmentReportbytheUN,the
relationshipbetweendemandforenergyandlevelofeducationiscloselyrelatedtothe
processofdemocratizationinthe8MilleniumDevelopmentGoals.Theyfoundingeneral,the
moreeducatedasocietybecomesthusraisingthelevelofeducation,themorepeople
acquireawarenessabouttheirsurroundingandbegintobecomeactiveparticipantsin
democraticactionsthatwillleadtotheirinterestbeingmet,therebyincreasingtheirrightsand
privilegedinsociety.

Using60countries(Figure1),theUnitedNationsHumanDevelopmentIndexplotsthe
annualpercapitaelectricityconsumptiontomeasurelevelsofinequality.Thedataderived
from1997plotsthatthethresholdlevelis4,000kilowattpercapita,incountrieswithHDI
correspondingto0.9orgreaternocountrywithlessthan4,000kilowattspercapitahada
HDIlevelof0.9orgreater.Thealarmingfigureswerethetwoextremes.Of27countrieswith
aHDIlevelof0.7andbelow,and20withHDIlevelsof0.6,24countriesinthefirsttestand
19countriesinthesecondtesthadaannualpercapitaoflessthan1,000kw.Incontrast,in
thegroupwith5,000kwpercapita,nocountryhadaHDIlevellowerthan0.9.TheHDIshow
thedisparityinhumandevelopmentbetweenthehighandlowendcountries(Pasternak,
21

2000:P.4).TheUNHDIreportcombinesthedataforstandardofliving,representedbya
discountedvalueofgrossdomesticproductpercapita,longevity,andeducationalattainment.
ThehighHDIcountriessuchasAustralia,Germany,France,Japan,Netherlands,Spain,Italy,
UK,US,Canada,thesecountriesthatareclassifiedasindustrializedcountriesallhave
colonialisticpastthatallowedthemtoexploittheAsianandAfricannations.Atthelowerend,
countrieslikeEthiopia,Congo,India,Pakistan,andotherdevelopingnationshavelow
electricityusepercapita,andispartofthereasontheyaremarginalized.WhenIwas
younger,IusedtotraveltoKerala,SouthIndiatovisitmymothersparents,mygrandparents,
everyyearandwhenIwas15,IlivedwiththeminIndiabecauseIwassenttoboarding
schoolforayearandahalf.Inthattime,Ilivedthelifethattheyhavebecomesoaccustomed
toeveninthecity,powershortagesisapartofeverydaylife,thepeoplehavenormalized
andinternalizedtheunstableflowofelectricitythatsupplythemtheessenceoflifeandthe
essenceoftechnology.Evenatthattime,Iusedtothinkaboutwhytheypoweroutageswere
sonormalinIndia,butinMalaysia,itrarelyoccurred.Ithoughtaboutthesenseofcontrolthat
isgeneratedbythegoverningpartyoverelectricityproductionanddistributionandwonderif
theyreallylackedthecapabilitiesofprovidingstableconnections,orwereactingoutbecause
theyknewpeoplereliedonthemandsotheycould.FrommyexperienceofIndia,Iquickly
realizedonething,therewasacompletelydifferentidentitybetweentherichandthepoor,
thoseinhighercastesystemsthanthoseinlower.Figure2demonstratesthatapproximately
15%ofthesamplepopulationmeasuredenjoyedaHDIlevelof0.9orgreater,furthermore,
onlyaround18.5%used4,000kWhofelectricityormore.Conversely,morethan66%ofthe
samplepopulationusedlessthan1,000kWhperpersonperyearthataccountedforless
than16%ofglobalelectricityuse(Pasternak,2000).Theproblemofglobalanddomestic
inequalityinenergyconsumptionandelectricityuseaffectthelevelofhumandevelopmenta
countryhasachievedtodate.Statistically,therelationshipbetweenenergyconsumptionand
newtechnologyinenergyconsumptiononeducationattainment,useofhealthservices,etc.,
asmentionedaboveinPoppswork,isverydifferentfromonecountrytothennext,orinthe
caseofIndiaandsimilarcountries,fromonepersontothenext.Dometicinequalityin
electricityconsumptionstirsinequalitiesthatleadtomarginalizationofagroupinsociety.The
useofrenewableenergytomakethemarginalizeenergyindependencecanraisethelevelof
HDIforeachcountries,especiallybecauseenergyindependentsystemsfavorthe
decentralizedgenerationandcontrolofenergyandelectricityuse.

22

Thecontrolofoilprices,andthusenergyprices,cangreatlyaffectthelivesofmany
peoplewhosebusinessesandlivelihoodscanbedrasticallyalteredbyeventhesmallest
change.Afterthe2008Recession,thefocusongreendevelopmentwassloweddownand
thefocusonmoreenergyefficientproductsweredeveloped.Thisoccurredbecauseontopof
thepoliticalandlegislativelagthataffectspolicychanges,theeconomiccostassociatedin
newrenewableenergygenerationrequiredlargeinitialinvestmentsandweretime
consuming,andbecausetheenergymarketisdemandbased,whensupplyofnonrenewable
energywashigh,renewableenergystoragecostswereastronomical.However,accordingto
Wolf,innovationintherenewableenergysectorshasbroughtforthtechnologyisthatnotonly
costefficientbutmorecapableandpowerfulthanprevioustechnology(2010).Theunending
potentialforrenewableenergygenerationisattractivetoinvestorsseekinglongtermreturns,
whichisnotsurprisingprivateinvestmentbyIBM,Google,etc.havedoubled.Thebenefitsof
renewableenergyforcorporationsandnationsareinsurmountablerenewableenergyallows
themtobeincompliancewithpreexistinginternational,regional,anddomesticlawsand
regulationsuchastheKyotoProtocol,andthereby,relievingthepressureonthelegislative
branchtomakenewpolicies,whichmayforcethemtoreactrashlytoappeasepublicopinion.
Domesticenergyindependencewillchangetheconventionalmethodsofpoweronenergy.A
countrycanhavesustainablegrowth,whilstempoweringtheircitizens,throughtheuseof
renewableenergytechnology.Figure4demonstratetheailingenergygenerationinthemidst
ofarapidpopulationgrowthandproductionincreases.Thisisonlypossibleinthecurrent
economicsituation,ifthetheoryofpotentialpossibilityfrontierholdtrue,throughnew
technologyormoreefficientuseofcurrenttechnology.Although,renewableenergyrequiresa
certainamountoftimetoestablish,thelongtermbenefitstoacountryanditsdomestic
population,andneighbouringcountriesistruefreedomfromimperialisticholdsonsociety
throughoil,orcoal,oranyfluctuationenergyoreconomicsituationthatcanhalttheflowof
constantenergyatlowcost.

3.0Conclusion
Thepathtodevelopmentthatisinfluencedbytechnologicalinnovationand
cooperationbetweenprivateandpublichasbeencharacteristicallyflawedbytheessenceof
thestructures,politicalandtechnological,fromwhichitisderived.Whenthepolitical
structuresofacountrywhicharemeanttobethepillarsofdevelopmentmappingarefaultyby
origin,aformofsystematicandinstitutionalcontrolempoweredthedriveforfreedom,afalse
23

freedom.Thetruthconcealingagendastemmingfromtheinformationandcommunication
age,whichincorporatedtheconceptofsurveillanceandmonitoringintoitscoreoperational
functionsdistortstheperceptionofdemocracythroughcentralizedgovernance.Whencontrol
overenergy,orpowertoinfluencelegislature,iscentralizedwithoutprovidingavenuesof
decentralizedempowermentofthepublic,themeanstocontrolsocietyismadeeasy.The
systemsdesignedtoprotectandpreservetherightsoftheindividualstheyweremadeto
protectisessentiallylimitingthesuccessesoftheimprovementinstandardsofliving.Wu,
Maslyuk,andClulow(n/a)concludethatdistributionofenergyresourcesmaygreatlyaffect
social,environmentalandeconomicinequalities,butthespeedatwhichtechnological
revolutioninenergy,orelectrification,isoccurring,evenwithitsunendingpotential,isslow
andthereisaneedforthecreationofessentialinfrastructureandestablishmentofaccessto
electricityindevelopingcountriestoboosttheirlivingstandardsandqualityoflife(Pp.
111112).Themovetowardsrenewableenergywillalsomitigatethenegativeinfluencesof
theproductionindustryonclimatechangeandpolicyimplementationonclimatechange.

Heideggerprovidesascenariowheretechnologyhastruthrevealingcapabilitiesthatis
analogouswiththelightinPlatosallegoryofthecave.Withoutthepropertoolsandtheability
tocriticallythinkandunderstandthetechnologypresentedbeforeus,thereforewithoutthe
propereducation,individualsarelivinginthecavethatisestablishedbytheimperialismof
pastsocieties.However,technology,byitsessencesofbeingatoolforunconcealment,has
thepowertofreeindividualsfromcaptivityofthecaveortheirdependenceforenergyona
centralizedandcontrolledefficiencystructurethatreliesonexternalandinternalinfluencesto
determinestability.IfTullyanalysisofthecommunicativeimperialismistrueandexpandsto
energyproductionanddistributionandtheinternetisjusttheproductofthecommunication
andinformationage,thenthelanguageofcodehasthepotentialtogreatlyinfluenceour
progress.Languageisthecoreinfluencethatisinvolvedinshapingsociety,codeisthenew
languagethatwillshapesociety.Therefore,thosewhocanunderstandandwritecodewill
becometheaffluentinsociety.Thecreationoftheconceptofscarcityofknowledge,
knowledgebeinginformationlearnedbyanindividualtovariousdifferentsources,has
impactedtheabilityforindividualsandcommunitiestobreakthesocialbarriersandstatus
quosestablishedbypreviouseras.Thescarcityofknowledgenotioninacapitalistsociety
createsaninflatingmarketforknowledgethatislearntbybeingformallytaught.It
distinguishestheformallyeducatedandtheuneducated,andispartlythecauseoftheclass
24

struggle.Scarcityofknowledgeistheconceptionthateveninahighlyaccessiblesociety,
knowledgethatisobtainonlybyindividualwhocancomprehendthelanguagebywhichitis
taught,isascarcehumancapital.Therefore,theimplicationsofthescarcityofknowledgeis
thatitcreatethepotentialforsocialinequality,goingintoaviciouscycleofpopulation
marginalization.

Newpolicymustseektopromoteelectricityaccessstrategiesthatpromotethe
expansionofpublicfacilitiesthatarerelatedtotheimprovedoflivingstandardsandqualityof
life.Theconceptofusagainstthem,orinclusionandexclusion,canonlybecombatedwhen
generalinequalityiscombatedonecountermeasureofinequalityisstableaccessto
electricityandpowergenerationbecauseofitsimplicationsoneducationandhealth,andthe
implicationsoftechnologychangeonenergy,education,andhealthinempoweredthe
marginalizedindividualorcommunity.Therefore,itisimportantthatpolicyfocuseson
enhancingtherurallifebyeducation,becausethevastdifferenceinruralandurbanelectricity
consumptionanddomesticinequalitycanbeexplainedbylevelsofeducation.Inaddition,
policychangemustalsofocusonthecooperativenatureofgrowthininvestment,wherebythe
publicsectorfocusesontheimprovementofenergysituationandtheprivatesectorsfocuses
ontheinnovativetechnologiesthatpromoteefficientuseofenergyandcostindistributionand
storage.Thiscoincideswiththeneedtoinvestinmorerenewableenergiesbecause
technologicalevolutionallowsdecentralizedproductionanddistributionofenergyatlowcost,
whichsuitdevelopmentpracticesinruralareas,especiallyinthecaseofAfrica.Bytargeting
publicworksprojectsinprovisionofelectricitywithrenewableenergies,itcanenhancethe
sustainabilityofthenationseconomyandpromotegrowththroughsustainabledevelopment,
usingsustainableinteroperabilitytechnologies(Abdelkarim,Youssef,Mhenni,Rault,2014:
Pp1516).JurgenHaseofDeutcscheTelekom,arguesthatwherethereisasteadystrong
supplyofrenewableenergy,supplyofpowergenerationexceedsdemandforpowerleading
tounsustainablestoragerequirements,butimprovementsintechnology,especiallyinM2M,
hasimportantimplicationsfortheefficiencyandintegrationofrenewableenergyiselectrical
gridsandpowerdistributionnetworks.Theconceptofadecentralizedenergymanagement
systemsvirtuallyinvisibleminicomputerstomonitorandcontrolefficiencyatlowcostand
minimumhumanintervention.TheimplicationsofM2Monapersonallevelisthatitallows
andempoweredthepreviouslymarginalizedgroupsandindividualsinsocietyastheybecome
moreincreasinglyenergyindependentbytechnologicaladvancementandcooperative
25

growth.Itallowtheindividualtoredefinetheirsenseofselfandidentity,notonethatrelieson
thecentralizedcontrolasameansofsurvivalthatwasestablishedbytheirpreexisting
environmentsandsociety,butonethatencouragesthetheopennessofthenewdigitalself
andfosterthepowerofsuggestion,ratherthanthepowerofforceandcontrol,toimplement
positivedomesticandglobalchangeinaworldthatalreadyischangingsorapidly.

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Appendix:
Figure1:TheUNHDIelectricityuse.1997HumanDevelopmentReport1999.United
NationsDevelopmentProgramme.

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Figure2:Energyconsumptionbasedontypesandpercapitageneration

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Figure3:TypesofEnergyDemanded

Figure4:Energyproductioninrelationstoworlddemand,percapitademand,andpopulation
growth
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Figure5:
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Figure6:

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Figure7:

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