The Future of Internet Facilitated Communication

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

mail

annual budget may very because

heterogeneous

mail

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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