Podcasts, Web 2.0 & Maslow

I’ve finally found some podcasts that I want to listen to. The recent Web Essential 05 Conference down in Sydney, Australia has been so kind as to create podcasts for the sessions. Yum! While I would have preferred to actually be in Australia, these podcasts did let me virtually attend.

I had to listen to Derek Featherstone‘s Designing for Accessibility – Beyond the Basics. It was interesting listening to a podcast on accessibility, which in essence was like attending his session blind. I’m still drooling over his accessible crossword puzzle and I haven’t even seen it yet. Ooooo D, you are truly a css samurai.

Next, I listened to Molly’s keynote. I still have goosebumps! Talk about inspirational. Molly’s vision for Web 2.0 is profound. While I was listening to her speak, I saw the image of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need in my head

Quote from Envision on Maslow

Self-actualization is the summit of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It is the quest of reaching one’s full potential as a person. Unlike lower level needs, this need is never fully satisfied; as one grows psychologically there are always new opportunities to continue to grow.

Self-actualized people tend to have needs such as:

  • Truth
  • Justice
  • Wisdom
  • Meaning

Self-actualized persons have frequent occurrences of peak experiences, which are energized moments of profound happiness and harmony. According to Maslow, only a small percentage of the population reaches the level of self-actualization.

What if, the purpose of the internet is to make self-actualization a possibility for everyone? I mean, why not? Why can’t everyone reach their potential?

1 comment

  1. Glenda, wow – interesting. Note that there’s a tie in to the W3Cs tagline “Leading the Web to its Full Potential”

    I’m glad you enjoyed the podcasts. It worked very well for WE05 to do that.

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