Benefits Of The Internet Revolution?

[carlhungis]

I was just wondering if society has really benefited from the Internet (or information) revolution? I was just thinking that we as a society haven't really done anything fantastic in a long time. It would seem that innovation has more or less ground to a stop after the 50's, and other than the internet we have simply improved on old technology and ideas. Look at what was going on back then, they were pushing boundries and really doing some amazing things. Look at Atomic research, or the space race. Those were huge projects taken on. We have gone deeper into space (not with manned spacecraft, but we have seen deeper). We haven't gone beyond nuclear power, in most cases we are trying to get away from it. We are still using the same inefficient means of creating power as the 50's, same weaponry for the military, same fuel,..... You would think that with the amount of information available allong with the ease of communication combined with the vast improvements in computing power these days, that we would be inventing things at a remarkable pace. However, it seems as if the opposite is true. I know that every generation seems to think that there is nothing left to be discovered. I don't think that is true, I just don't seem to understand why we seem to be stuck in a rut. Am I just being to negative and impatient? Are any of you impressed with our progress? * I do feel that semiconductors have proven to be amazing devices. The power that we have in a home PC now is amazing, when you look at what was available in the past. Other than that though... I am disapointed. Anyways, just curious what others on the board think.

[Invader]

I believe that technology beyond what we have is something that the world govs would like to keep to themselves. Of course, this has been true for the technologies of the past as well, but we're getting deep as it is. We are developing at a suicidal rate, and you can see that already, what with people ignoring the effects of petrol biproducts in the air we breathe. If anything, I think we should have ditched petroleum long for newer, more efficient energy cources, as you have said. That is the one thing I am disappointed about.

[M.D]

Technology isn't in a rut, intellectually. Sure, we haven't discovered another electricity, but that's just because there's only so much in the way of major fields of hard sciences that can be discovered. What aspects of nature we've discovered are more than enough to apply technology in incredible ways. For instance, as it is right now, we have the technology to build human settlements on the moon, we have the technology to build a combination mp3 player / cell phone / internet interface / camera / RFID device that's portable and compact. The applications of computer technology and the internet as it connects people around the world are just incredible. However, in addition to money problems (it'd be incredibly expensive to build that moon base it's probably unreasonable to really consider it until more cost-efficient technology is developed) the 20-year patent, along with laws pushed by powerful businesses such as Verizon (yeah, you can't modify your verizon cell phone or access their network using something else, legally) is part of what holds us back. Really, it's generally just the state of things which holds people back. New technology comes around but it's held back until businesses are ready for it. The digital cassette tape is an example of that; the record companies wanted full control of what they sold, so they held that back until they could think up the CD (yay for that backfiring on them). If we had free energy, or incredibly cheap energy a la cold fusion, we could also have a lot more money to put into things, but as it is we have a lot of problems we are putting a lot of money toward addressing. ...Well, this post was certainly kind of aimless, wasn't it. Anyway, I'm all for researching to find new kinds of technology, such as what science fiction has made famous. There's definitely potential in the area of physics, despite what some people think about that area.

[Slight]

Internet Rev really a Rev? Definetely for most of the common people, also outsiders find their place here. Problem is: there is no barrier - you'll find everything and everyone from most ethically to mofo'ing sick on it. It also damages economy a lot by downloading whole dvd's, albums etc - not that I care, but that's what leads to control-fanatism - and that, I friggin hate. With the "properties" humans have these days - we reached pretty much what we want: Money, luxury, a life that was looked at in the past as strivable. Right now we are optimizing the details - we even got, hm, the ultimate bomb? Build a huge enough atomic-bomb and wipe out the earth... What is needed right now is a crisis, to take a step further .. but before that, we'll take steps back ... It's just a matter of time.

[landsquid]

What is needed right now is a crisis, to take a step further .. but before that, we'll take steps back ... It's just a matter of time. [/b] Your right, like with rome, the great world powers will fall and we will again fall into dark times but when? and how? if its from a nuclear war will there be anyone left to rebuild? And if governments fall what kinds will take their place? Also if it happens soon i think it would be strange to say experienced somthing like that. we are still advanceing in techknowlogy somethings just hasnt been put to practical use yet.

[Kaniaz]

I guess in a way the internet revolution is a revolution. A relatively short time ago, this wouldnt've been here and the idea that you could go to a mythical place and talk to someone from Finland, someone from America and someone from South Africa all at the same time? That's just crazy talk. On the other hand, it's not a earthquake of a revolution. What are we doing on the internet? Talking. Oh, and, looking at porn. Not many revolutions can boast having their first buck made from porn, but the internet (apparently) can.

[Leo Volont]

Well, as far as Internet Literature is concerned, the essay, as a literary form, has had to be severly curtailed and made brief to the point of actual omissions. There is simply not the attention span on the Internet for a more than a few minutes of reading. So the Internet essayist has to focus on presenting not much more than an introduction to his topic, with a suggestion to the supporting explanations. This opens the author to accusations of neglect of his subject, 'holes' in his logic, indeed, every blame that comes from noncompletion. But any full treatment would be so imposing in length, nobody would read it. But then there is subsequent dialogue. The Internet Essayist must rely upon an intelligent audience to suggest with questions and comments the openings and invitations that could present justification for fleshing out and perhaps even finishing the original essay. It is hit and miss. We may liken it to a Professor giving only an Introduction to his Lecture, and hoping to the insight, erudition and intelligence of his students to suggest the complexities of all of the supporting explanations. It is like expecting one's audiance to already know what has not been told them yet. So, there still remains a place for books.

[Jalexxi]

Well, I don't think you should look at the internet as a technological revolution, but rather as a cultural one. Freedom of information has never been so great, opening up the door to contrasting worldviews, uncensored communication with anyone, and nearly every piece of knowledge you desire. That's unprecedented, and the consequences could be a (silent) cultural revolution. As far as technology goes, we are doing great. Yes, we are improving upon old ideas and discoveries a lot. You seem to interpret that as a stagnation of technological achievement. But you look at it the wrong way, there simply aren't many major things to discover anymore in our current scope of the world. That's not stagnation, that's simply the pinnacle of technological achievement. If you want a great discovery, though, I suggest you look into nuclear fusion. There's been a lot of buzz about cold fusion in the past, but it seems we're finally getting close to a energy-effecient fusion reaction. The first fusion reactor has been approved to be built in France, and is scheduled to be done in 2030. I don't know what kind of a scope you want from your discoveries, but I consider near-limitless energy to be pretty revolutionary.

[carlhungis]

there simply aren't many major things to discover anymore in our current scope of the world. That's not stagnation, that's simply the pinnacle of technological achievement. [/b] It seems that every generation has felt that way. I just find it hard to believe that we have run out of things to discover.

[Jalexxi]

Well, it all depends. It takes some time for things to become widely used. Electricity was something that was known to the ancient greeks, even if they didn't know its scope. A lot of research on electricity took place in the 17th and 18th centuries, but it was more then a century after that untill the lightbulb was invented. These days, scientists may discover some obscure force that attracts heavy particles. Who cares, you might say, but that very force might be powering our warp drives in a century, and be considered one of the great discoveries of our time.

[Dangeruss]

the internet is an integral part of my plan for world domination. It's the most important invention since the printing press!