Bigthink - User Ideas Feed

Semantic Web - the fabric of the future, not the future itself

Bigthink — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:33:56 +0100

I agree completely that the semantic web is the future of web technology. However, as to the future of the internet as a whole, it is more prudent to talk about how it will be used, and what it will mean, rather than its technical structure. A semantic web will allow for computers to handle much of the day-to-day data analysis, bureaucracy and trade that is currently carried out laboriously by humans. This will lead to huge efficiencies in many areas of life, making everyone wealthier, and making any tasks involving processing or sifting through data extremely fast and simple. It also will make possible semi-intelligent computers with access to and understanding of the whole internet.

People don't need others to TELL them what to think

Bigthink — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:59:42 +0100

: I completely disagree with your proposition. I would ask you to back up your argument that before the internet the general teenager had high artistic and cultural tastes. In fact, before the internet people's absorption of culture was generally limited to whatever was on the 5 TV channels that evening - mass produced media with the lowest common denominator. The internet allows all youngsters to make their own mind up about what kind of media they enjoy. This allows them to find their own niches, in a way that simply was not possible before. If you look at the research (Chris Anderson's "The Long Tail" is a good book to start), you'll see very clearly that more and more the younger generation are moving away from mass culture and into niches, where they may express themselves culturally to a far greater extent.

Broadband's just the start

Bigthink — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:54:31 +0100

: The online world is become more and more a part of all of our lives, in so many ways. Broadband however is just the start. I believe that within 20 years we will all be able to have ultra high speed wireless connectivity wherever we are the world, on most of our applications. When this comes, hard drives and installed programmes will become mostly pointless, as we'll be able to stream any application or knowledge direct to any gadget we want.

Re: Re: Who are today's business leaders?

Bigthink — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:37:08 +0100

: I would agree that Buffet is a great business leader, but only with regard to being a brilliant long term investor. However, I believe that the people who who have really shaped our world in recent times have been the entrepreneurs who have been willing to take risks and put themselves on the line to build their ideas and dreams into reality. Much of the new wealth that is being created in the world comes from these entrepreneurs - both modern technology entrepreneurs, and also small-time entrepreneurs in the third world using their own initiative to build wealth through trade and business. Who are your favourite entrepreneurs, and why?

Re: The world should implement a Single Global Currency by 2024.

Bigthink — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:13:41 +0100

: Unless our society changes dramatically, a single currency will simply not be possible. Single currencies are only possible in areas which have a similar level of economic growth, and where free movement of goods, labour and capital balance out growth differences. Take Europe as an example - the Euro does okay, but countries can still get into trouble when their growth levels differ from the majority, as in this case they would normally set a different interest rate to adjust. Italy is a big example. Through having a generally poor economy, corruption and bad politics, their economy has seriously stalled. Because it's growing much slower than the rest of the Euro area, it's finding it very difficult to cope (it needs a low interest rate to stimulate the economy) - there has even been talks of it having to drop out of the single currency, although I doubt that will happen. The U.S.A manages to do fine with the single Dollar for a few reasons. Not only does it have complete free trade and free movement of labour between states, but it also has a unified language and culture, and broadly similar laws. Thus, free movement of labour is more of a reality than in the E.U, where most migration is from poorer countries to richer, and there isn't yet very high levels of labour between the main E.U countries (although this is present), mainly because of big language and cultural differences. Thus, capital and labour flows all America to largely balance itself out. Unfortunately, the world is very, very far from getting to a state where a single currency is possible. We would first have to see the complete development of all third world countries, and complete free trade and free migration everywhere in the world for a significant period of time before global interest rates would be possible. I believe that this could well happen one day, however I would suggest that we're still 200-300 years from that stage. However, it could happen faster - new wireless and renewable technologies are allowing poor countries to leap frog the need to build infrastructure, going straight to mobile phones, wireless technologies and de-centralised power generation. If Africa manages to get over its corruption and tribal differences then this could happen much sooner.