What Would It Look Like

Let’s picture this for just a second. A world where we have managed to get 65% of the world population on the internet. What exactly would that world look like? How would we shop? What would we buy and sell? Who would do the buying and selling, and how we these processes be carried out?

The Impact of technology can be seen in the far reaches of the globe. Let me start with a little (well not so little) city called Lagos, Nigeria. In 1999, I would go to my mother's office after class and i discovered this lovely contraption called the internet anew. I had used it a few times but had no real reason to be on it. Mom created my first email address for me, and I immediately discovered chat rooms, online games, and tons of information at my disposal. Not too long after, Cyber cafes began to sprout up. People were going to offer internet services at a cafe for an hourly few which would allow individuals to look up whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Now naturally when you give people such opportunity, the first thing some people run to is www.#%(&%)$#^).com to watch whatever kinky videos they could find. Most people with an email address have received an email from a Nigerian prince or princess whose parent died and needs to move millions out of the country and will give you 40% for helping him/her move the cash out of the country. On the other side of the coin are people like me who started to look at colleges, applied, reserved accommodation, were notified of my admission and began to plan my trip to LSU using the internet. Now the internet business is an avenue for significant growth as telecommunications companies are now offering a wide range of services to consumers at prices previously unheard of. Cybercrime is thriving, as is the use of this technology for legitimate, innovative and practical uses.

Now I am talking about a city of a few million people. A heavily urban area with its high rises and slums. Now imagine spreading this technological innovation to the monk in Tibet, or the Inuit in Alaska. The aborigines in Australia or the pygmies of southern Africa may not have any use of the tech now. But think about the potential we hold in our hands simply by using the internet. The ability to connect, learn and experience other cultures at the click of a button. The exposure to a wealth of information and diverse cultures would serve all those involved. For some it would be like rediscovering fire. What magic that would be. The internet has a long way to go before it becomes truly a widespread tool across the globe. The possibilities however are endless and are truly a marvel to fathom.