#6. What were some of the predictions made by Frances Cairncross regarding communication technology. Discuss at least 5 predictions.
Death of Distance – according to what was discussed, with the uphill growth of technology today, distance would someday be irrelevant. Business deals with participants in different countries today are made successfully through the use of video conferencing (means of Skype, or any other chat applications), families away from each other can use the same technology to relive ties, shipment from any part of the world at your doorstep through the different cargo systems nowadays. The world today had almost everything we need at a touch of a button. Also with the emerging technology to bring about a new generation of travel vehicles, mobile devices and better connections, distance, therefore, is not a threat, nor a factor for hindering growth or success in whatever aspect anymore.
Deluge of Information – deluge is such a strong word, yet in the years to come, there would be more inventions, more terms that would come about, and more meanings given to words. There is always new information to learn, knowledge is ceaseless. As what I have learned during the discussion, there is no excuse for being dumb these days for almost everything you need to know is accessible on the web.
The Inversion of Home and Office – I for one am amenable to working at the comfort of your home. But this is not the core idea, although the trend of work from home is fast becoming an in-thing. The fact is, due to easier transactions done through the internet, and if your company has a web-based system, it is somewhat like your house now is a place for work while your workplace is now your potential social site. The loss of concept between work and home is somehow due to the emergence of new technology today.
The Proliferation of Ideas – basic concept of this is any idea, anything under the sun you can have it broadcasted and have it seen by millions. Be it a simple picture that you took today, any information you learn from your cooking class, what techniques to used in your Muay Thai class, name it, share it. The generation today of web-enhanced people can share any ideas on the web. These ideas cause the sprout of new ideas. Thus, forming an unending chain of ideas. This prediction is somewhat related to the Deluge of Information, thus ideas and information can easily proliferate due to the many means of acquiring knowledge and the tools to do so too. With the easy multiplication of these ideas, newer inventions are soon to prosper.
Improved Writing and Reading Skills – the same as I’ve written above, there is unending learning in our lifetime. The people in the future, as this prediction states would be better equipped with basic knowledge and information such as writing and reading skills. This is somewhat also related to another prediction, the Rise of English – having this booming need to study the English language, people all over the world are now embracing and adapting to the reality that English is really the Universal language. That everyone needs to learn how to understand the language and learn how to speak the language. I believe with the raising percentage of people having been able to successfully learn English would bring about improved communication through improved writing and reading skills.
