Warnings are out that we should brace ourselves for GREAT CHANGES – online! If you think digital has disturbed your life over the last decade – its going to be nothing in comparison to the next 2-3 years! Evidently we have only felt the impact of about 5% of the digital revolution so far - the other 95% is still to hit. No job unchanged; no life undisturbed!
How do we begin to make the change without the pain?
For almost a decade parents have been observing their digitally enabled kids completely engaged in their computer games – and more recently – addicted to their social network connections. And many have indulgently said of their offspring ‘They spend all their days on the computer…I’ve no idea what they are doing….’ As if the digital world of the kids is unrelated to the real world of their parents who are out there earning a living.
There have been exceptions; when the printer has needed fixing or the new smart phone has required programming. And it has been rather cute that the kids know what to do
But suddenly we have broadband. And a millions apps. And a digital revolution that is gathering speed and sweeping all in front of it ……
And there has been a change in status. It’s now the kids who are in the know; the world is out of order.
This is probably the first time in modern history that the younger generation has the powerful skills – while the adults feel that are falling behind……. ‘I cant do twitter, I haven’t got a Facebook account, I’m not a gamer! …… I’m out of the loop’.
Interestingly its the young – and the old – (the grandmothers who want to keep in touch with the young) – who are on the trip to tele-heaven. But there are thousands in the middle who feel entirely left out – who have become anxious about work and play and power. You can feel the apprehension in the air…….
And we need to put a lot more time, energy, resources – into getting communities up to speed (and reassured) in the age of the digital revolution.
Living and shopping
Shopping will never be the same again. Not even for clothes! We are supposedly about 12 months away from having our own
holograms – size, shape, colouring etc. so we can see how we look in them in different situations. If you don’t want your hologram lingering around however, you can always try the VIRTUAL DRESSING ROOMS that have been launched by a retail chain in the UK.
Will our shopping malls be recycled and become green residential areas – or turned over to organic farming in the interest of food security? These aren’t idle speculations – they are likely possibilities…… along with Bitcoin – the new virtual currency that can replace money!
What’s real any more?
