Next10 and global community

The Next 10 Years: The global community

What is this technology?

This is not so much a technology, more of a universal social change.  Technology is making this phenomenon a reality but it is the action of  humankind harnessing this convergence of technologies that is strengthening and expanding the global community.

This article explores how how technology will make this happen,

What will happen?

We are already seeing the framework of a global connected community, most overtly visible through massive social media neighbourhoods.  Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo and a host of other social communities are allow people all over the globe to connect electronically with long lost friends, expand their existing friendships by meeting people from their extended group and meeting people with whom they have no prior contact but share a common interest.  Google Groups and similar community boards are the modern day equivalent of social clubs.

The providers of these vast social networks will wax and wane based on how well they interpret their users' needs but the infrastructure is here to stay.  Niche players will continue to arise out of nowhere and they will build new communities before being pounced on by a fat cat market-leader, who will absorb these groups, thus broadening the reach of  these 'uber-communities'.

These global groups will increase enormously in volume of members and in the amount of data they wish to share.    The infrastructure required to satisfy this massive increase in bandwidth and storage requirement will be provided by shinier and brighter internet.  (LINK).  Developing nations will also reap the benefits of an expanded internet and will introduce large volumes of candidates for the connected community.

Communities will comprise every section of society from the individual user to the largest corporate looking to leverage the massive audience to buy services and products.

Academic institutions, empowered by the reach of the world wide web and access to a true global community will focus on offering on-line based education to students far beyond the physical campus.  The best of these centres will successfully establish a global undergraduate and graduate roll that brings the opportunity of academic excellence, regardless of where the student lives.

High definition video and crystal clear audio will allow you to partner with others for group chats, concerts, shared movie viewings or anything else that you have in common.

How will this impact society?

Opting out of this worldwide community will become virtually impossible unless you choose to switch off from the modern world.

Retail shopping will become part of the social media infrastructure and your ability to buy goods and services online will require you to be a member of the community group.

Your likes and dislikes, interests and passions, your purchasing habits and your political affiliations will be components of the complex profile that follows you within this community.

Your ability to protect your anonymity will be largely eroded as you will be barred access to most services unless you are prepared to identify yourself as bonafide real person.  That's not to say that you will be exposed or vulnerable.  Successful communities will provide much stronger, versatile security that allows an individual to welcome most advances from legitimate sources and to effectively block nefarious intruders.

Your social community profile will be a true reflection of your real life personality and you will guard your online reputation with the same determination as you do your real life dignity and reputation.  The power to ostracize a disreputable person, group or company lies with the community so all members will need to be vigilant and careful in their online actions.

You will no longer be limited to communicating through message board type posts or low-frame video streams.  The shiny new bandwidth-crazy internet will allow you to interact with as many of your community people as you desire through worldwide video conferencing that pulls in as many or as few people who want to participate.

If you don't want to be branded a slob, you had better get dressed and tidy the kitchen before you welcome your virtual friends into your home !

What supports this prediction?

Reverse engineering the human brain