In his book "Here comes Everybody" Shirky states that "Communications tools don't get socially interesting until they get technologically boring. . .It's when a technology becomes normal, then ubiquitous, and finally so pervasive as to be invisible, that the really profound changes happen. . ."
We stand at a new point in time where the technology of communication is becoming so common place and the tools so easy to use, that the assimilation of information seems to be about to make a radical shift (if it hasn't done so already). The question that needs to be looked at is what kind of shift will it be.
When information was limited it was treated as some prized possession, something to be pondered over and over again. Poems, pros and even entire books were memorized by individuals. Readings were given at social events, and important occasions. Those who had memorized long and lengthy poems were looked on a very learned.
Einstein changed all of that. He didn't bother memorizing things he could look up easily. He assumed they were there for the taking. Instead he used his brain to contemplate new ideas and postulate new theories. He was acknowledged one of the great minds that has ever existed.
Now information comes charging at us like a dozen frieght trains carrying not car loads of information every minute of every day. How do we assimilate it? How do we decide which precious nuggets we are going to remove from those cars and take the time to think about?
This is the challenge that we face today. Yes Google, and Yahoo and many other sites can "filter", but whose to say that they are filtering the items we want filtered.
We are on the cusp of an information overhaul. How we will learn to glean the information that is presented to us will tell us a lot about what kind of society we will have in the future.
Evan. . .
No comments:
Post a Comment