or the future of a series of tubes
I think that every generation I’ve talked to thinks the next one will have flying cars. It used to be thought that the 2000s would bring the future (or an apocalypse at the hand of computers). But things only seem to be getting smaller and more portable, we’re building on foundations, but it doesn’t seem like we’re revisiting the cornerstones as often as most would like. At the very least, technology and the future is coming a lot slower than we used to think it would happen.
That’s not to say things aren’t changing, and it’s often a fun comment to say, “what a time to be alive”, but we’re definitely not at a Jetsons level yet, are we?
However, at the heart of almost all our advancements, small as they are sometimes, there is often one central point: the internet.
Called a series of tubes, a cultural hub, the death of classic society, it’s been seen as everything from the greatest thing since sliced bread to the death of traditional values (and a way to get sliced bread delivered to your door fast!).
But despite everyone’s opinions, the internet is going to be around for a long time, if not forever. So what does that mean for humanity’s (arguably) greatest invention?
It means a stalemate.
But that’s not a bad thing. Sure, things will be faster, hardware might converge (can’t wait for Apple’s new laptop/phone/tablet/toaster…. I-toast?), but the internet as what it currently stands as probably won’t change for a long time.
The internet by itself, in my opinion, is a delivery vehicle; a way for different companies, small businesses, creative artists and individuals to broadcast their message or their platform or facilitate their technological advancements. It’s a way for every individual to have their own soap box. But since it’s widespread release around the 1990’s, the internet has pretty much been the same thing since launch: a transmission hub.
There’s a lot of talk about “fixing the internet” or “redefining the web experience” or “changing internet culture”, but that’s a lot of buzz-words. The user experience may change, companies may change their portals to the internet, but the internet itself? That isn’t budging (outside of no longer hearing your phone line dying as you connected to aol.com).
If you’re looking at how we receive the internet? That’s a different story.
With the rise of virtual and augmented reality, and the increase in portability of those types of hardware, the information that’s delivered to us will continue to increase in dimensions. I see it eventually transitioning from a 2D to a 3D environment. The world wasn’t ready for Google Glass when it was released (google’s attempt to bring futuristic computer displays to your glasses), but it’ll probably catch on more in the next decade or so.
Eventually, we may even go even more immersive. Is it really that far-fetched to think of “smell-o-vision” from Futurama becoming an actual thing in the future? People could smell perfumes and cosmetics in virtual malls, restaurant websites can entice you with smells of their daily specials. “Try before you buy” could have a whole new meaning as the online experience moves towards a more immersive platform.
But as for the structure of the internet itself? There might be a lot of advancements in infrastructure and engineering, but those are matters that I have no authority or knowledge to speculate on. However, I believe the internet will continue to remain steadfast in what it is as a platform.
It’s the foundation of a lot of what we base and build our current technology on. It’s the host of all of our future advancements and it’s quickly becoming (if it isn’t already) the digital history of the human race.
It’s easy to continue to build onto a building, but it’s a lot harder to rebuild it’s base. Will the internet be any different? My thoughts right now? I doubt it, and again, that’s not a bad thing.
We need some stability in our lives, a constant, a rock to cling to through the torrent of new fads and technological crazes. That’s what the internet serves, and I’m perfectly happy with it continuing to do that, at least until someone far more creative than me comes along.
This is Kip. See Kip Blog. 