articles 11 to 20 of 70
The Super-motivated Entrepreneur Behind Egypt's SuperMama
The force behind SuperMama.me, the region's first online parenting advice website, has some superpowers of her own -- chiefly, an appetite for risk that helped her leave a rising career to start her own venture. Boldness and persistence have been critical, Yasmine El-Mehairy tells Arabic Knowledge@Wharton. In her experience, remaining positive, being flexible, sticking to a routine and learning to accept rejection are all components an aspiring entrepreneur must possess in order to succeed: "I think you need to be aware of the dangers, but decide to go for it nevertheless."
Published: November 27, 2012
Lesson Plan: Khan Academy Builds Educational Content for a Global Audience
What started as a teaching aid for his cousin became a new career for Salman Khan. His YouTube math tutorials became so popular that he used them to launch the Khan Academy. The online education nonprofit is dedicated to spreading knowledge across the world. Its dean of admissions, Bilal Musharraf, speaks to Arabic Knowledge@Wharton about how the site is translating its content and creating learning platforms for users in different countries. Web traffic, he says, is six million unique visitors per month globally, "literally from every country in the world."
Published: October 31, 2012
Digital Ivy League: Coursera's Mission to Bring the Best Universities Online, for Free
Even for the brightest, entry into the world's top universities is not guaranteed. High costs and time commitments can be formidable barriers to a college education. But the Stanford computer science professors behind Coursera, the leading free online education source, see the Internet as the way to help people anywhere in the world access the best schools and improve their lives. Coursera co-founder Daphne Koller tells Arabic Knowledge@Wharton why it is her goal to see high-quality, free education reach as many people as possible.
Published: October 31, 2012
Mobile Learning Presents Opportunities and a Challenge to Modern Educators
Portable and relatively inexpensive compared to even laptops, tablet devices are changing the way we consume content. A number of education experts say they can radically transform the classroom, and that such change has already begun. At a conference on mobile learning in the United Arab Emirates, industry and educational figures gathered to discuss how best to implement mobile learning. Its potential for disrupting traditional learning models was weighed against its benefits for teachers and students. Educators were also challenged to adapt their practices to the technology just as the young students in their classes have done.
Published: October 16, 2012
As Middle East Cyberattacks Widen, Caution Against 'Militarizing' the Internet
After several major financial firms and two oil and gas companies were hacked, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta hinted Iran was to blame. He also warned that "a cyber attack perpetrated by nation states… could be as destructive as the terrorist attack of 9/11.” But Wharton’s Andrea M. Matwyshyn says while Panetta isn’t overstating the potential of a large scale cyber attack, she notes that “information security vulnerabilities are now taking on unduly charged and political rhetoric.” Additionally, she and Virginia Commonwealth University professor Gurpreet Dhillon offer Arabic Knowledge@Wharton steps companies can take to deal with a cyber attack.
Published: October 02, 2012
Can Twitter Monetize the Cultural Zeitgeist?
Since launching in 2006, Twitter's platform has tapped into the collective consciousness around events ranging from the Arab Spring to the Super Bowl -- 140 characters at a time. Recently, Twitter retooled the design of its profile pages and moved to take greater control of its developer ecosystem -- both signs that the company is trying to focus on a more sustainable business model than its current advertising-based approach, experts say. They note that Twitter has created a unique application, but needs to figure out exactly how to leverage it into a service that businesses and consumers would be willing to pay for.
Published: October 02, 2012
The Apple-Samsung Case: What It Means for Patents -- and Innovation
A California jury awarded Apple what could be a decisive victory in the smartphone wars on August 24 by ruling that Samsung infringed on a number of patents relating to the functionality and design of the iPhone. Samsung plans to appeal, but Apple is now calling for a ban on U.S. sales of some of the devices at issue in the case. Some observers believe the verdict might open the door for additional Apple lawsuits against other smartphone makers -- including Google. Wharton professors David Hsu and Andrea Matwyshyn discuss the key players, the future of smartphone design and the U.S. patent system.
Published: September 04, 2012
Growing Pains for Jordan's Tech Entrepreneurs
Despite neighboring unrest, Jordan has managed to quickly build a thriving ICT industry that now accounts for 14% of its GDP. But entrepreneurs in Jordan face some of the same hurdles for tech startups across the region. The three main challenges for growth include finding the right talent, knowing how to market products, and accessing angel investors. A Fulbright Scholar's report suggests getting a wider range of Jordanians involved in tech entrepreneurship and fostering greater industry collaboration to meet those challenges.
Published: August 21, 2012
Protecting Your Data from a New Generation of Hackers
Cyberattacks are becoming more common, and hackers are rapidly growing bolder -- but many companies and individuals still do not have strong safeguards in place to protect personal and financial information, and even a firm's trade secrets. In some cases, guarding against threats is extremely difficult, and many of the related legal questions have yet to be answered. But businesses ignore the issue at their own peril, observers from Wharton and elsewhere say.
Published: July 10, 2012
In the Arab World, Social Media Has Fast Developed into a Medium for the Masses
Researchers at the Dubai School of Government tell Arabic Knowledge@Wharton that the use of social media in the Middle East has evolved since the Arab Spring revolutions began. In just 12 months, researchers have seen several new trends develop. The exponential growth of social media continues, they say, as even governments and political parties take to Twitter. People have also realized that social media can be a tool for change at every level of society. But most tellingly, researchers say, a surge of the Arabic language on social media suggests it is increasingly becoming a tool for anyone to use.
Published: June 12, 2012
