The World is Flat Friedman, in chapter 2 of The World is Flat, describes the 10 elements or phenomena that contributed to flattening the globe and added to our still- globalizing world. The tenth flatterer, in his opinion, are the "steroids" of this globalization process. He realized this during a trip to Japan, when his colleague Jim Brooke was using his laptop via wireless connection, while traveling on a high-speed train. His beliefs about the vastness of Japan's virtual networks were confirmed when Brooke's colleague, Todd Zaun, was using his Japanese cell phone, which was capable of connecting to the Internet wherever he was. This leads Friedman to note how the cellular coverage networks of Japan and Ghana were very extensive and efficient compared to those in America, adding to the “extraordinary degree of wireless penetration and connectivity” (160) found in Japan and the rest. of the world today. Friedman then cites examples of how new age technology has made daily life easier for people in a wide range of situations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay All of this is attributed to “steroids” within technological development that have pushed globalization beyond its previous limits. They are all considered today's technological "steroids" because "they are amplifying and turbocharging all the other flattens" (161), including the state of constant improvement, which allows technology to operate at cheaper and faster rates than first, the development of file sharing – leading to better connection and collaboration between people of different nations, the invention of multipurpose devices – where devices are more streamlined and capable of doing more than ever (“your mobile phone with Internet-enabled camera is not just a camera; it is also a photocopier, with material distributed throughout the world” (170), as Friedman states), the VoIP – voiceover Internet protocol service, which provides a new, cheaper and more personal with which messages can be delivered, revolutionary improvements in video conferencing – making business interactions much simpler and more efficient and, most importantly, the creation of wireless networks, giving us the ability to drop things off and then pick them up anywhere. This section relates to the entirety of Chapter 2 as it explores how these “technological steroids” are driving all the other flatteners and affecting them too. It is also recognized that, without these steroids, many of the other flattens would not be as developed as they are today. I completely agree with Friedman's observations and conclusions, much of the technology as we know it today is continually being developed based on the steroids mentioned. These are the driving forces within society, through business competition and consumer demands, that push various companies to reach new heights with their products. As these products become more accessible to more and more people, the world will continue to “flatten,” to quote Friedman, with the ever-expanding networks through which globalization will continue to spread..