Read the assigned reading (pp. 1-22 of it) on our “Digital Life in 2025 and the hopeful and less hopeful predictions offered by experts. Select 3 of the predictions. What do they mean to your personal life, family life and work life?
The report from Anderson, J. and Rainie, L (2014) was an interesting report to read. Everyone is always so curious of what the future will look like, especially the future of technology and internet. These predictions offered by experts will make anyone wonder how the future of technology and the internet will affect their lives. Looking specifically at three of the predictions, I wonder how my personal life, family life, and work life will be impacted.
3) The Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and big data will make people more aware of their world and their own behavior.
This is one of the more hopeful predictions from the experts. I think this prediction could be interpreted in two ways. The first way is that it means people will be more conscientious of what they put on the internet and their actions on the internet. The second way is that it means people will have more information of their behavior on the internet and the activities they engage in. This would impact my personal life and others in the future in the way people would be more aware of their actions online because their actions would be permanent regardless if something is deleted or taken back. Or it would be impactful in the way people will have information on how they are spending their time on the Internet. Today we are just beginning to have information on how much time we spend on our phones and what sites or apps we are spending our time on so this would be more advanced in the future. It will definitely make people think about how they are spending time and what means the most to them. For example, my iPhone shows that I spend the most time on Instagram which makes me think about how well I am managing my time.
9) Dangerous divides between the haves and have-nots may expand, resulting in resentment and possible violence.
This is one of the less hopeful predictions from the experts. This prediction is clear in what it means, inequality between people will increase causing hostility and violence. I do not personally believe in this prediction but if possible I can see the affects. I think being more aware of people’s lives, social class, and status could affect how people feel about themselves. Personally, when I see people flaunt their wealth and luxuries on social media I do feel a little bit jealous. How can you not be jealous of someone who is able to travel the world multiple times in a year? Overall in the future as inequality between social classes increases, the opportunity to express your anger and distress could cause hostility.
14) Most people are not yet noticing the profound changes today’s communications networks are already bringing about; these networks will be even more disruptive in the future.
This is another less hopeful prediction from the experts. This prediction states that communication networks will continue to impact the everyday lives of people in the future. Today, we are beginning to understand the impact social media, email, blogs and more have on our lives. In the future, these networks could be more disruptive to our lives. The impact communication systems have on families already exists. It is less face-to-face interaction, less communication, more isolation. In the future it would only get worse, families would feel less close with each other. Communications networks would continue to allow people to present themselves in whatever way they like, whether it is reality or not. The accessibility of communications networks in the future would allow people to have their whole lives on their device. People will always have their job with them even if they are not physically at work. There will be no separation between personal lives and work because they will blend with each other.
Another article I found on predictions of the Internet in the future predicts something that seems unbelievable. This is the idea that Earth won’t be the only planet with Internet access. The article states by 2030, Mars will have Internet access and people will have settled there. Although this may seem unimaginable it is possible to see in the future. If there is Internet access on Mars in a couple of decades then that would affect all people on Earth. Families would be able to communicate with their family and friends who may have settled there.
These predictions are interesting to look at, especially from people who are very knowledgeable in technology and the Internet. As technology and the Internet continue to change and advance will we see the effects it has on people.
Anderson, J. and Rainie, L. (2014). Digital Life in 2025. Pew Internet and American Life. http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/03/11/digital-life-in-2025/
DeMers. (2018). 7 Predictions For How The Internet Will Change Over The Next 15 Years. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2016/04/18/7-predictions-for-how-the-internet-will-change-over-the-next-15-years/#49b5f7522e0e
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