- Image by delusionalcubsfan via Flickr
The age of portable data has arrived. From the first carved-stone tables, through papyrus and on to silicone the amount of information available at the touch of a finger is staggering and growing daily.
There was once a time when for an argument to be ended someone might need to call someone else, or find another way to contact this certain reliable expert on a given subject.
For instance if Bill and Harry are having a friendly discussion over whether it’s been 101 or 102 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the pennant, they might have to rely on their mutual pal Sarah to settle the matter. This means if Sarah isn’t right there in next to them they are going to have to call her or go to her or have her come to them.
This same discussion played out today would eliminate the need for Sarah altogether. Instead, it would be a race to see who could use their smart phone/netbook/tablet faster to access Wikipedia.
This same sort of access to information plays out in more significant and determined ways aside from ending friendly discussions or even heated arguments. From research, to pure science, to entertainment and so on information has become the modern medium of exchange between the masses. It binds and unites more and more people across the globe daily, and while in some cases it extends the phobias, bias and negative nuances of a certain culture, it just as often breaks down barriers.
Information, unmitigated and free-flowing is the cure for so many of the modern human’s hang-ups. In many ways it always has been the answer, but until this modern age of the computer information was not free or easy to access. In those bygone days Harry and Bill needed access to Sarah. Now, because of the computer they’ll need something else to argue over.
