Predictions from 1900

An interesting read of how they thought the future might evolve - from 100 years ago:

"Prediction #10: Man will See Around the World. Persons and things of all kinds will be brought within focus of cameras connected electrically with screens at opposite ends of circuits, thousands of miles at a span. American audiences in their theatres will view upon huge curtains before them the coronations of kings in Europe or the progress of battles in the Orient. The instrument bringing these distant scenes to the very doors of people will be connected with a giant telephone apparatus transmitting each incidental sound in its appropriate place. Thus the guns of a distant battle will be heard to boom when seen to blaze, and thus the lips of a remote actor or singer will be heard to utter words or music when seen to move."

More here:

http://bunchofnerds.com/2008/10/retro/predictions-for-the-year-2000-from-the-year-1900/

The next 5000 days

This is a great, thought provoking talk by futurist Kevin Kelly, as he talks about what he envisions the next phase of the Internet might entail.

Mob Rules

A presentation given at Web Directions South, Sydney Australia, September 28 2007. This is an excellent presentation (series of 4 yuotube vids) on how mobile phones are effecting today's society - well worth the time taken to view, as it's a massive eye opener:

http://www.webdirections.org/resources/mark-pesce/

Over 1/2 the worlds population is now using mobile phones!!! Think about print, radio and television, landline phones.... or any other technology. Does it even come close?

What happens next?

This is happening right now.

What happens next?

(social) Network Science

The ABC aired a great documentary on the emerging science of Network Science a couple of weeks ago. The documentary was called "How Kevin Bacon cured cancer", but contrary to the title - it focused more on how small the world is becoming, how little effort it is to contact an unknown person on the other side of the world, and how the hubs of society are conduits that keep everything running.

Awesome viewing, approx 45-50 mins - download it here.