29 replies to this topic

[jjf3]

Many science fiction movies depict that we don't have the internet, or that we do have the internet in limited form, why is this? Will it really last a long time or will something happen to it that will make people not want to use it?

[sirhotalot]

Generally those movies take place in post apocalyptic societies. The only way we'll lose our internet is if our economy collapses and we can no longer afford to maintain the infrastructure.

[Time_Traveller]

I think something will replace the internet like on Phil of the Future as seen here: - http://youtu.be/BSVndHa7hFs

[Caiman]

Assuming no apocalyptic event of our own, I imagine the internet of 2021 will be a significantly different platform to that which we are using today, let alone the internet of a hundred years hence, I think some kind of integrated, socially networked augmented reality is the going to be the next big thing before eventually leading into realistic virtual worlds and the like (perhaps Caprica offers a decent vision on how this might look in a near-future human society?)

[wjfox]

The Internet will expand to eventually cover the entire Virgo supercluster, and perhaps ultimately the entire Universe.

[GNR Rvolution]

The Internet will expand to eventually cover the entire Virgo supercluster, and perhaps ultimately the entire Universe.

Pfft, I spit on your universe and it's puny physical limitations, and raise you one virtuverse, where physcial laws mean nothing and there is no end to the dimensionality

[GNR Rvolution]

Hehe, but seriously, depends on which films you are referring to? Films like The Matrix and The Lawnmower Man essentially almost base their entire plot around the concept of the internet (or a virtual reality form). And bear in mind that the internet is relatively new so many older sci-fi films won't have and reference to it, but people like William Gibson have been writing about it for years. Unfortunately watching someone check their status update on Facebook doesn't exactly make for riveting action Mind you, have they broguht out any internet based horror films recently - I would be surprised if they hadn't but I haven't kept up with the genre recently...

[OrbitalResonance]

The Internet will expand to eventually cover the entire Virgo supercluster, and perhaps ultimately the entire Universe.

Woo! Bring it on! The internet is here for good.

[truthiness]

I think it'll largely disappear into the fabric of our lives... it'll be there, but generations from now they won't even know it. Instant "telepathic" communication will come naturally to children through mind-machine interfaces by the turn of the 22nd century, as will the ability to learn anything about anything from anywhere. The internet will be everywhere, but nowhere. You'll need no devices, and you'll never have to log in, and you'll never log out.

[Caiman]

You'll need no devices, and you'll never have to log in, and you'll never log out.

Possibly within our own lifetimes, tbh.

[GNR Rvolution]

You'll need no devices, and you'll never have to log in, and you'll never log out.

Aye you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave...

[mic of orion]

Assuming no apocalyptic event of our own, I imagine the internet of 2021 will be a significantly different platform to that which we are using today, let alone the internet of a hundred years hence, I think some kind of integrated, socially networked augmented reality is the going to be the next big thing before eventually leading into realistic virtual worlds and the like (perhaps Caprica offers a decent vision on how this might look in a near-future human society?)

yep, Caprica does offer some insights and I tend to agree, Internet will indeed become amalgamation of real life and virtual reality, how far will this take us, its hard to guess, but Caprica certainly did get some good ideas upfront.

[sirhotalot]

Guys, those things are still the internet just different ways to access it.

Assuming no apocalyptic event of our own, I imagine the internet of 2021 will be a significantly different platform to that which we are using today, let alone the internet of a hundred years hence, I think some kind of integrated, socially networked augmented reality is the going to be the next big thing before eventually leading into realistic virtual worlds and the like (perhaps Caprica offers a decent vision on how this might look in a near-future human society?)

yep, Caprica does offer some insights and I tend to agree, Internet will indeed become amalgamation of real life and virtual reality, how far will this take us, its hard to guess, but Caprica certainly did get some good ideas upfront.

Read Snowcrash and Neuromancer.

[jjf3]

This is assuming that the internet WILL definitely evolve exponentially. Does Moore's law apply to the internet as well? Can people really get bored with it in 20 years? It doesn't seem so science fiction to assume that something different and better that we haven't even dreamt up yet will replace the internet making it entirely obsolete or pointless to use. The basic fundamentals of the internet have remained to the everyday user pretty much unchanged. The user doesn't see the evolution of the internet like we do. They don't understand why the internet is ten times as fast as it was ten years ago (that's an understatement). They see the same stuff, email, video, and news. They don't understand how big YouTube is. That's what the majority of users on the internet use it for. Social Networking is the first big major change the internet has undergone, I think since Google! So the internet is pretty basic and lacking compared to the rest of the technology world. Some say Social Networking is the tip of change for the internet, but what if it's the end? What if there's nothing new after social networking has reached its climax? After all, how exciting will status updates be in twenty years?

[Craven]

Main trait of Internet is resilience. It will last as long as humanity unless there's some kind of apocalyptic disaster.

[jjf3]

Ray Kurzweil and those who support the Venus Project as well, think that technology, particularly the internet, will soon become an integrated and internal part in society. But will it?



With technology evolving so rapidally the only ones who will be able to understand it will be the programmers, nerds and hackers. Since nerds and programmers are really hackers at heart, what does that mean for society in general?



Do those who support the Venus Project expect that hackers won't try to penetrate their systems and give unlimted free food to all those on their facebook and leave the rest starving? Even though these hackers take down systems for fun or the good of society in their own twisted views? They even do massive hacks enough to gain media attention. (Wikileaks & Anonymous)



In the TV show Sliders one depiction of where the world might be heading is the idea that society might split up into two sepearte groups. (We already see this in American Politics). One group will want to live off grid, one group will want to embrance technology to the point where its impossible to tell if they are more human/machine. I think that this is one of the best overlooked depitictions of the future.

I don't think you need to force someone to use technologies if they don't want to. They may have a hard time functioning in society, but they can still live how they want.

[OrbitalResonance]

What does the above post have to do with the internet? In terms of the Venus Project, im sure there will be sufficient security personnel warding against malevolent entities. Anyway, the internet will continue to evolve. it is an extremely useful thing for which society will suffer if it were suddenly taken out.

[jjf3]

How do you think the venus project will all be connected??? The internet!!!!!

[sirhotalot]

Ray Kurzweil and those who support the Venus Project as well, think that technology, particularly the internet, will soon become an integrated and internal part in society. But will it?

The internet is already an integral part of our society.

[jjf3]

It's not internal.