Historically the Internet has been around since the 1960s. Since 1994, the digerati of users has grown from approximately 13 million to more than 300 million globally. Shortly it will incorporate holographic technology. Looking beyond, it will become ubiquitous and as elusive as air, as it morphs into our biological make-up!
Culturally, within its brief lifespan, the Internet seems to have engulfed our very beings. In the 2.0 world of social media, we are now on the Internet more than we watch TV, and sometimes more than we sleep, drink, eat or work. So can you possibly imagine how we will live without it? And even more mind-boggling: What on Earth could possibly replace it?
HOLOGRAM TECHNOLOGY
Holographic storage has been the dream of scientists for 30 years. Glen Sincerbox, a data storage expert for IBM has worked on holographic memory since the early 1960s. Holographic science is now being used to record holotechnology DVDs over a hundred gigs of memory. Future generations may store as much as a terabyte (1000 gigs), when holographic technology melds computer games, internet access and television together.
HOLOGRAPHIC TELECONFERENCING
Today, teleconferencing has taken a major step forward in transferring hologram images of people. Think of the first time we witnessed George Lucas’ imaginative hologram of Princess Leia in "Star Wars.” Similarly, if a business executive in the States was to conference his boss in London, all he has to do is command his computer to contact that particular person: "Computer, call the President in our London office." And voila, the President will be sitting across from him as if he were right in the room. On the other end, the President will experience the same immersion connection. During the recent election coverage, CNN developed this same hologram technology to beam an image of the news correspondent Jessica Yellin from Chicago into CNN’s Atlanta newsroom.
HOLOGRAPHIC COMPUTERS
In the movie "Minority Report" starring Tom Cruise, we get our first glimpse of what holograms will look like as computers. No mouse, no keyboard, just virtual screens and your hands at the controls. When this movie was released in 2002, this futuristic technology was thought of as pure Hollywood fantasy. Less than 7 years later, however, engineers have developed a similar computer. By sensing hand movements, Microsoft’s TouchLight devices allow users to physically grab hold of files displayed on a holographic screen. The software giant, together with its partner firm Eon Reality is aiming to have desktop versions of the computer available to PC users within the next 2 years.
THE INTERNET OF THINGS
What will the Internet be like 10 years from now? By 2020, as appliances, vehicles and buildings start going online, there will be more “things” on the Internet than people. Internet-enabled cars and airplanes are coming online, and smart houses are being built every day. The "Internet of Things will allow sensor-enabled physical objects, such as appliances in your home, products Internet of Thingsin a store, cars on the road to virtually talk to one of another, the exact same way humans communicate on the Internet. With this advancement almost every object in your home and work environment will eventually be interconnected with a unique IP address, whereby you will be able to make your coffee, and pick out the clothes instantaneously, with a simple mouse click.
THE INTERNET OF YOU
The introduction of programmable, nanoscale machines will extend the Internet to things the size of molecules that can actually be injected under your skin, leading to Internet-enabled people. Yes, humans will eventually replace the Internet. More and more of the world’s information will be accessible immediately and from virtually anywhere. In an emergency, our health records will be available for remote medical consultation, complete with specialists and perhaps even some remote surgery.
Futurist, David TowAccording to futurist, David Tow, by 2040, humans will be attached to a people-centric sensory web- tracking device where movement and behavior will be recorded via embedded sensors and micro processors. David Tow Image By 2050, children will be neurologically rewired as the interactive Internet becomes an invisible part of our physiological make-up. From this period forward, humans will live out most of their waking and even sleeping moments in cyberspace as human and computer intelligence are seamlessly co-joined in a Matrix-like fashion.
Matrix
Toward the end of the 21st Century, Web 5.0 will emerge as a global sentient network of networks, incorporating artificial and human intelligence and resulting into a form of global consciousness. Genetic mutation will still occur but no longer will it the physically fit who will survive, The combination of modern medicine, sentient intelligent technology and a virtual cyber reality will now insure that the fittest MINDS inherit the Earth. And a new species will emerge! A species I call HOMO DIGERATUS!
Digital Man
So, from holograms to Internet-people, many of us will witness these transformations in our life-time. The question is will be accepting of these changes, or will we go kicking and screaming in the dark night! Time will tell. Stay tuned.
