Zyobot
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Post by Zyobot on Aug 15, 2018 21:55:23 GMT
In the 21st Century, we see technology advancing at truly breakneck speed. Cell phones, self-driving cars, primitive AI and whatever else Silicon Valley & Friends are churning out are just some of the engineering marvels existing in today's world.
But among these miraculous technologies, one stands out in particular: the internet. Whether it's Googling information or posting your latest selfie, this hyper-connective global communications network is taking the world by storm in ways that not even our parents could've imagined when they were young. If current trends keep up, then I can only imagine what else the human race will come up with.
So, how do you believe the internet will turn out in the future--whether in the near or distant one?
Will we move from big data centers and cell towers, to thorough decentralization? Is it possible that just about every technology, from fridges to tables, will be connected to it? Could I be right about internet censorship becoming unenforceable within my lifetime?
And what will the STEM experts, historians and other academia of the future say and write about its evolution leading up to their time period?
Thank you in advance, Zyobot
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 16, 2018 14:42:41 GMT
In the 21st Century, we see technology advancing at truly breakneck speed. Cell phones, self-driving cars, primitive AI and whatever else Silicon Valley & Friends are churning out are just some of the engineering marvels existing in today's world. But among these miraculous technologies, one stands out in particular: the internet. Whether it's Googling information or posting your latest selfie, this hyper-connective global communications network is taking the world by storm in ways that not even our parents could've imagined when they were young. If current trends keep up, then I can only imagine what else the human race will come up with. So, how do you believe the internet will turn out in the future--whether in the near or distant one? Will we move from big data centers and cell towers, to thorough decentralization? Is it possible that just about every technology, from fridges to tables, will be connected to it? Could I be right about internet censorship becoming unenforceable within my lifetime? And what will the STEM experts, historians and other academia of the future say and write about its evolution leading up to their time period? Thank you in advance, Zyobot Can this website answer some of our questions: What is the future of the Internet?
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kyng
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Post by kyng on Aug 17, 2018 21:54:34 GMT
I think this depends pretty much entirely on what happens with mobile devices. Do they continue to become faster with larger screens? Or do they stay pretty much as they are now, but become cheaper and more widespread? If it's the former, then I expect we'll see a reversal of current trends. "Mobile-friendliness" will become less important, as mobiles become more like PCs, and more suited to doing serious internet stuff. Perhaps we'll see a return to web styling that actually looks good on a PC, as the 'minimal for mobiles' design trend goes out of fashion. On the other hand, if it's the latter, then we'll probably see an exacerbation of current trends. People ditch their expensive PCs for cheaper mobiles, and continue gravitating towards a small set of social media sites (like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat), because that's what works best on today's phones. The internet becomes a much smaller and simpler place, where the spirit of discovery that defined its early days is completely dead . (Just as long as this place still exists )
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Zyobot
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Post by Zyobot on Aug 20, 2018 20:49:38 GMT
I think this depends pretty much entirely on what happens with mobile devices. Do they continue to become faster with larger screens? Or do they stay pretty much as they are now, but become cheaper and more widespread? If it's the former, then I expect we'll see a reversal of current trends. "Mobile-friendliness" will become less important, as mobiles become more like PCs, and more suited to doing serious internet stuff. Perhaps we'll see a return to web styling that actually looks good on a PC, as the 'minimal for mobiles' design trend goes out of fashion. On the other hand, if it's the latter, then we'll probably see an exacerbation of current trends. People ditch their expensive PCs for cheaper mobiles, and continue gravitating towards a small set of social media sites (like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat), because that's what works best on today's phones. The internet becomes a much smaller and simpler place, where the spirit of discovery that defined its early days is completely dead . (Just as long as this place still exists ) I'm saddened to think of that possibility. Not that I can call myself an expert (I'm less than amateur, in fact), but I like the Wild West of the WWW and hope for it to stay that way indefinitely.
In recent months, I've come across talk of a decentralized internet--one that overcomes centralized infrastructure, middlemen, data-stealing, censorship and/or oversight by specific entities--corporate or government. So far, I don't see the latter doing much about this (experimental) enterprise, nor any meaningful opposition to this specific thing. This will change within the next couple decades, I assume.
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kyng
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Post by kyng on Aug 22, 2018 21:35:24 GMT
Yeah, so do I. I much prefer it over the corporate, centralised internet of today. Oh well, just as long as there are plenty of forumers, bloggers, and other hobbyists who care enough to keep at least some of the 'wild west' feel alive .
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Zyobot
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Post by Zyobot on Sept 12, 2018 11:48:46 GMT
What's in store for the Decentralized Web movement? I know it's being discussed in tech circles right now, any thoughts on its feasibility in the real world? Backing its infrastructure and preventing the government from interfering will be hurdles, for one thing.
What about the concept of multiple internets springing up? That could make regulation harder as well.
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spanishspy
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Post by spanishspy on Sept 12, 2018 22:10:33 GMT
We're definitely moving towards both an internet of things and the possibility of different national internets. China is trying to make that a thing and I can see other authoritarian states adopting it, and liberal states too if the trend towards authoritarianism continues.
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Zyobot
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Post by Zyobot on Sept 14, 2018 18:09:41 GMT
We're definitely moving towards both an internet of things and the possibility of different national internets. China is trying to make that a thing and I can see other authoritarian states adopting it, and liberal states too if the trend towards authoritarianism continues. From what little I know, current disputes about how to run the global Infobahn (i.e. EU and Article 13) might make different national internets into a thing. I wonder, though, if the multiple internets possibility could go in the opposite direction, such as the creation and usage of various "Othernets" in order to subvert government control. Any thoughts on a totally decentralized one(s)?
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spanishspy
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Post by spanishspy on Sept 14, 2018 18:46:27 GMT
We're definitely moving towards both an internet of things and the possibility of different national internets. China is trying to make that a thing and I can see other authoritarian states adopting it, and liberal states too if the trend towards authoritarianism continues. From what little I know, current disputes about how to run the global Infobahn (i.e. EU and Article 13) might make different national internets into a thing. I wonder, though, if the multiple internets possibility could go in the opposite direction, such as the creation and usage of various "Othernets" in order to subvert government control. Any thoughts on a totally decentralized one(s)? I don't see how national internet and 'othernets' would contradict - in which case the latter would be used to subvert the former. I can't see world governments allowing something completely decentralized.
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Zyobot
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Post by Zyobot on Oct 12, 2018 14:16:12 GMT
From what little I know, current disputes about how to run the global Infobahn (i.e. EU and Article 13) might make different national internets into a thing. I wonder, though, if the multiple internets possibility could go in the opposite direction, such as the creation and usage of various "Othernets" in order to subvert government control. Any thoughts on a totally decentralized one(s)? I don't see how national internet and 'othernets' would contradict - in which case the latter would be used to subvert the former. I can't see world governments allowing something completely decentralized. Could a decentralized internet(s) potentially form under their noses, to the point where by the time that governments get around to addressing that technology, it'll be too late to disallow it? Despite the fact that it exists now, the Decentralized Web movement doesn't seem to attract much negative attention, let alone government scrutiny (yet). Of course, that may soon change.
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spanishspy
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Post by spanishspy on Oct 12, 2018 22:28:02 GMT
I don't see how national internet and 'othernets' would contradict - in which case the latter would be used to subvert the former. I can't see world governments allowing something completely decentralized. Could a decentralized internet(s) potentially form under their noses, to the point where by the time that governments get around to addressing that technology, it'll be too late to disallow it? Despite the fact that it exists now, the Decentralized Web movement doesn't seem to attract much negative attention, let alone government scrutiny (yet). Of course, that may soon change. I can see that happening - no government can control everything. Society is simply too complex.
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Post by alternatehistoryfox on Nov 25, 2020 3:33:35 GMT
Could a decentralized internet(s) potentially form under their noses, to the point where by the time that governments get around to addressing that technology, it'll be too late to disallow it? Despite the fact that it exists now, the Decentralized Web movement doesn't seem to attract much negative attention, let alone government scrutiny (yet). Of course, that may soon change. I can see that happening - no government can control everything. Society is simply too complex. That isn't the case anymore, as we've been developing some rather impressive programming to learn from humans. Not only that, we're going to get 'Smart Dust' sensors soon, which would kill privacy and provide a lot of data points for the programming to use. It should also be noted that information and memetic warfare is now becoming a major thing, and would likely lead to more authoritarian restrictions on information and news in the future.
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