THE FUTURE OF INTERNET-FACILITATED
COMMUNICATION
By Eric C. Talaska
AN INDEPENDENT
Department of Communication Dr. Rob Wicks
RESEARCH
PAPER
University May, 1995
of Arkansas
THE FUTURE OF INTERNET-FACILITATED
Our .lives are becoming
effected
COMMUNICATION
more and more everyday
by the growth of Internet
communications.
communications
when compared
revolution
any other means of communication. communication
is a cultural
to the efficiency
phenomenon.
This new form of
is uncensored
bi-directional
form a mass communication
well educated
Publishing,
It is also a
that selects
age 18-40 audience
are left to wonder
is between
no difference. replace
and accessible.
a
(Future
1995).
Most people difference
of
That means that Internet
human behavior
well-off,
It seems to be a
about what the
the Internet
Until something
it, the Internet
and cyberspace.
better
is cyberspace
There is
comes along to (Elmer-Dewitt,
1995).
To help clear things up, here is a list of the terms that the Internet
is called
capitalized?):
(who really knows what
cyberspace,
the Metaverse, the Virtual
the Web, 0
the Datasphere,
Frontier,
should be
the Cloud,
the Electronic
the Final Frontier
the Matrix, Frontier,
of Electronic
J
Communications, Superhighway. professional
the Infobahn, The Internet
and technical
and the Information
seems to be the best choice
writing
even though all of the
above eleven other names refer to the same thing. appear.s that the name Internet corne.
will dominate
It
for years to
in
•
2 There has never been a communication as the Internet
that is better
network
than one-way
as large
communication.
Never before have there been so many people communicating the same way at the same time. redefining
the way in which
communicate
million
has 19 million
in all of Europe,
.11 million
Specifically, computers
the Internet
to
in more
to Phillips "online",
(1995) 6.4
in all of Asia, and
and South America.
There are
per 100 U.S. citizens. is composed
of 2.2 million
in 135 countries.
Maybe comRrehending one million
to sort out the statistics
the growth will be easier.
increase
Internet.
And according
growing
billion
to Dyson
at a 10-15% increase
cheaper
(satellites,
fiber-optic
still do not understand.
is
of users per month.
means of electronic
and more capable
citizens."
(1994) the Internet
environment
in size due to the combination
computers,
is a
people will be on the
Dyson also says that this bioelectronic exploding
above.
There
per month of "new electronic
By the year 2000, one-half
software
people
users
.92 million
computers)
It may be difficult
rapidly
According
computer
in all of Central
32 PCs (personal
for humans
who have access to at least electronic
(E-mail) on the Internet.
North America
are
on the Internet.
there are 30 to 40 million
than 160 countries mail
it is typical
by communicating
Currently
More and more people
communications lines) working
is
of faster
storage,
improved
channels together
in ways we
3
As a bioelcronic
environment,
Dyson,
is more of an ecosystem
exists
everywhere
fiber-optic
than a machine
there are telephone
lines, electromagnetic
The way in which function
will drastically
is a Moore's
of the microchip
change
no guarantee
more reliable
and lines Nobody
that the processing 18 months.
up forever.
the Internet
are likely to happen
strands.
to be used in the network That's
homes can become
systems
recorders
for world-wide
(camcorders)
broadcasting
of
right, with the use of fiber-optics,
broadcasting
that telephone
optic interactive-TV
stations.
companies
networks
Quittner
(1995)
will build their fiber-
- a multi-billion
dollar
that could take a decade or more to finish. this high bandwidth
to be used
in the future
publishing,
interactive
internetworking
for multimedia multimedia
is likely
data base
technologies
will fuel
the next stage in the "self publishing"
revolution
1994).
press,
Everyone
by
That will allow for a wider bandwidth
in turn will allow home camera
Because
is
such as the
fiber-optic
effort
There
to be faster and
of copper wires of telecommunications
predicts
power
If the law is
replacement
creations.
is
in the future.
Many predictions
which
cables,
and satellites.
cables
at least every
we can expect
coaxial
it
will be made, however.
of that law holding
mostly correct,
says
because
in many ways.
Law that states
doubles
wires,
waves,
all of these waves,
certain how and when the changes There
the Internet,
wired owns a printing
(Duffy,
and soon
4
enough a radio and TV station
(Srangelove,
For the same technological the future oÂŁ music, of the Internet. cyberspace service
music will bypass other words,
cables
1995).
is in the hands
of music
in
of Compuserve's
online
worth of CD-quality
music via
direct to their recordable
As a result,
the middle man:
the consumers
the record
this technology
of copyright
of fiber-optics,
rock'n'roll,
the music will go directly
Before
question
an album's
telephone
(Rapport,
consumer.
especially
will allow subscribers
fiber-optic CD drive
advantages
This next generation
to download
1994).
of the
company.
In
from the band to the
becomes
widespread,
law has to be resolved,
the
according
to
Rapport. The Internet democratic controls
because
is nonproprietary
(open) and rabidly
no one owns it, no single organization
it, and it is literally
lawless.
That should
remain to be the case in the future no matter how many problems
will result
According
to Dyson
prohibit result,
from the lawless
expansion:
broadband
households
democracy
the best means a hybrid
Dyson says that such a hybrid cable's
of conduits,
Dyson says a cyberspace
cyberspace
of it.
(1994), the federal government
the interconnection
That would prevent
nature
however.
to the next generation
network
network
accessible
Also the phone companies
As a
will emerge.
is superior
to another
have broadband
of
of coax plus fiber.
"pipes" are in two-thirds
(and easily
may
because
of American one-fourth).
fiber.
5
A hot debate exists done about pornography the making
about what should
on the Internet.
called the Communications
in jail, to send "obscene,
indecent"
forms of communication
to Quittner overhaul
There
Decency
It would make it a crime, punishable years
or should not be
Act of 1995.
up to $100,000
and two
lewd, lascivious,
filthy or
on the Internet.
According
(1995), it is part of an omnibus
the telecommunications
is a plan in
policy
bill that would
for the first time in
over 60 years. Quittner the cloned
asks a very good question
networks
network
such federal
Frontier
the amendment indecency
computers?" Foundation
jurisdiction
ignorance
whether
of more than 50,000
and 30 million
the Electronic
vast
"How do you control
Exon amendment:
decentralized
Mike Goowin, in Washington
face stiff challenges 1995).
counsel
for
says that
"is grounded
Communications."
(Quittner,
a
interconnected
of the Internet
of Internet
means
about the plan and
in a
The plan and
in defining
exactly
Many people ponder
or not is is time to start "civilizing"
what
over
the
Internet. The Internet will become and legal affairs. "appearing" county
in North Carolina,
before judges without
courthouse.
departments
Already
the center for governmental
In North Carolina,
and services,
of its penal systems
making
are
the trip to the
most of the state1s
its public universities
are built on the Internet:
other states and countries
prisoners
and parts a trend
are sure to copy.
.j
6
The Internet Postal
Service.
780,000
is becoming The Postal
employees,
well become
more efficient
Service's
and a $50 billion
"roadkill"
(1994) calls the Internet's The Postal Service's compared
annual budget may very because
heterogeneous
the Internet
and receiving
is now dubbed
to the Internet's
(Ratan,
what Bowman
sources
of data.
as "snail mail" 1995).
However,
both mail routes are about equal in reliability. Internet
will surpass
and computing Because circles
with
the Internet
manufacturing
is relatively
components
improved
it has the potential
and commerce.
efficient
software
It will be a medium by which
hold conferences, (Barthrope,
and
to revolutionize
will buy, trade, make contacts,
information,
Maybe the
capabilities.
the globe,
companies
in reliability
u.s.
40,000 branches,
on the Internet
is a much faster means of sending
than the
1994).
discuss
exchange
designs,
Many corporations
data and
and find believe
that the Internet will be the primary
driving
economic
That should prove to
growth
in the 21st century.
be the case because used as a shopping The Internet
the Internet
is trending
force for
towards
being
mall. is a marketeer's
dream because
they know
exactly how many people have looked at each part of their advertisements
(Future Publishing,
simply oversee
the effectiveness
More companies
will enjoy putting
1995).
Advertisers
of their Internet their products
World Wide Web, a new part of the Internet.
ads.
on the
can
7
With the goal of revolutionizing habits,
some programmers,
businesspeople
researchers,
are working
present
bankers,
on new Internet
want us to make electronic convenience.
our money spending
payments
systems.
hackers,
security.
1995).
for the Internet
thieves,
to the commerce
use of cryptography: The Internet information companies,
to expand
and other assorted
The solution
the backbone
is destined
also make
security
a major
enterprises.
Internet
to gain an edge in an increasingly
business
world.
the completion advanced
the Internet grows unlikely
in upgrading (Greenwald,
strategic
competitive
function
as commercialization However,
in of
it is
will ever make a large investment since no one owns or oversees
it
1995).
There may also be a revolution Internet
catches
on enough.
teachers
located
remotely
cooperative
commerce.
are using the
(Cronin, et. al., 1994).
the Internet
is the
More
intelligence
especially
that any company
(GNN,
may be the next major phase in
of the competitive
organizations,
it open to
problem
of electronic
and internationally,
The Internet
that have made
mischief-makers
to become
tool for commercial nationally
and
due to the
It is a great irony that the protocols it possible
They
with more comfort
That will be a huge challenge
state of Internet
and
learning
interact with diverse
in education
Through
if the
its use, students
form each other can engage
experiences. cultures
Students
and in remote
and
in
will be able to locations.
.J
8
Behavioral (Bailey, cost
patterns, 1994).
"virtual
values,
The Internet
libraries"
researchers
to research
unavailable
to them.
convenient
and beliefs
will be examined
also offers a variety
that will enable students
for data that might otherwise
continue
of interconnected
difficult
to be the world's
computer
for the poor people
networks
in society
access gap. libraries,
Internet
connections
post offices,
Competition
between
allow the less affluent and telecommunications
suppliers
affordable industries
the Internet connection
proclaim
into
places.
may be a long time before worse,
simply cannot
the schools afford
and
as the computer (Ratan,
1995).
be able to learn to use
even if they could afford a computer
or if they do have access
No one
will lower prices
access,
But how will the less affluent
and still be
that may close the
will emerge
and other public
service
biggest
to access?
knows for sure, but there are some trends
channel:
be
than most libraries.
collection
American
and
It will at least be much more
Will the Internet
matters
of low
and
to the Internet?
that problem
is solved.
that need computers
It
To make
the most
them and at least seven million
homes do not have the basic Internet
access
a telephone.
Again, the future ever catch up. apartheid",
is not clear as to how the poor will
To further
Internet
when they install
intensify
profiteers
fiber-optics
this
"information
select richest
neighborhoods
and other expensive
Internet
9
channels.
That is a process
In today's
Some people
between
the knowledge
society
because
the Internet
is fragmented
the Internet
to society
Communication
today.
relate
stranger
of the backyard
our "virtual neighbors"
however
visual
(Rapport,
Another
problem
it is still in
the Internet's
showcase
for
overall
and
1995).
of its use as a globe-circler. Internet,
pressure
pollution
will be reduced,
home.
into "mouse potatoes"
because
it remains
will continue
benefits
to outweigh
away from crowded
society
the disadvantages
As more people use the
on the highways
time will be expanded,
Many of
it is slow, cumbersome,
It seems that the Internet the advantages
only call
1995).
by the Internet.
and infuriating
development;
of Internet
we can really
(Hughes,
are turning
is with the World Wide Web:
Some
over the electronic
fence
that seem to be hypnotized
further
the largest
to the nature
For example,
a faceless
imagry
That is
to enhance
(at least right now) of the Internet.
unpredictable,
gap
divide
as such.
is designed
gap is probably
other threats
equivalent
fear that the Internet's
and
among everyone.
The information
one another
by race, politics
rich and the poor will further
an ironic fate because
disadvantage
"cream skimming."
society we are divided
sexual prejudice.
communications
called
will be alleviated,
people will be allowed or dangerous
to live
urban areas,
and people will be al~owed
air
family
to work at
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