The future, huh?
What will the future of multimedia become?
I don’t know the answers. I don’t think I can even think of what the future can hold simply because there are no limits.
This reminds me of what Nick Aster said when he was talking to our class the other day… he can remember the first time he got on the internet, probably on those little green screen Macintoshes. So can I. He would have never dreamed that the website he created with his name and info on it could possibly have turned into a multi-million dollar website.
I can remember logging onto AOL for the first time, and hearing the little guy say “Hello. You’ve got mail.” I truly thought it was amazing. That odd little box talked to me!
I think that for the future to be successful, and I don’t see any restrictions as to why it won’t, the digital divide needs to become fewer and fewer. I bet there is at least one person that everyone in the world knows that does not have a computer or the internet. Whether it is because of economic issues, or simple ignorance, we need to find a solution to let everyone gain experience online. It is our future. The future of the world, and if one doesn’t know how to use it, I don’t see them being fully functional.
“Second Life” and “Twitter” are just two examples of new avenues people are turning to receive their news. Programs such as these allow users to get news updates in real time, and can be accessed from almost anywhere. It is the most efficient, fastest, and easiest way for anyone to get the information they need for anything. If people can have their own “Second Life” online, why can’t they do everything they would need to do to live?
The internet also allows everyone to collaborate and share information. Wikipedia, for example, can be edited by anyone worldwide. Social networks such as Facebook and MySpace give users a place to have their own personal blogs.
Just take a look at how the internet is affecting politics. Politicians can hold debates on You Tube and have vast, detailed web sites. Ron Paul raised $4 million in one day with the use of the internet. He calls the web a “political equalizer,” and you know what, I agree.
Pretty much now, you can get anything at your fingertips that you possibly desire. The internet is a shopping mall, it answers health questions and it allows you to send your grandmother greeting cards. I think that the internet will only improve and grow from what it is at today. It will likely expand into an updated version of what we can achieve now. We have come a long way from that little green screen Macintosh, and I am excited to see what the future holds.
By:Katy Dahlmann and Lexy Kohake