I Share Therefore I Exist

I share, therefore I exist A Prospective into Human Interaction in the Digital Era

the future of communic ations

humanit y has seen a big progress in the

last years, the population has raised rapidly, to the point that in the 1970s, it was known that the population was growing so fast that 75 percent of the people who had ever lived on Earth were currently alive. The technological advances have been thought an equal dramatic change, since a considerate amount of the population is now “connected“ by the world wide web.

The amount of data or information we have created since the internet came to existence is immense and experts say “it has barely started“. Nobody doubts the positive impact of the digital revolution, but like many other aspects in life it’s a double edged sword.

We seem to have a natural reaction to drift apart from each other since nowadays many societies don’t require as much cooperation thanks to advance machinery working for us. Now that we are spending more time in the digital world we have a sense of control over our interactions, we can filter more and edit what we project to others. This behavior creates a dependence to constantly share what we do, where we party, who we hang out with, where do we go for holidays and then we wait the others to reply in some way.

Technology might destroy what we consider being social, for better or worse it will completely change, people fear that we lose our humanity on the way of progress, but perhaps that detachment is what it really means to be human.

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CHAPTER 1 10

The Internet

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The Wired World

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Expansion Worldwide

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The Digital Era

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THE GRE AT E XPANSION

CHAPTER 2

Generation Z

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Y and Z

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Shifting Behaviors

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From Data Trails to Collective Intelligence

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From Singular to Mosaic Identities

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The Distortion of Intercommunication

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The Millennials

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A NEW GENER ATION

CHAPTER 3 48

Hyperconnectec

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The Virtual World

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The Virtual You

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The Struggle of Omnipresence

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REDEFINING THE SELF

1 r e t p a h c

THE GREAT EXPANSION

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I share—therefore I exist

Tablets have become a very popular device.

The Digital Era

this period in human history is identified

by the shift from traditional industry that the industrial revolution brought through industrialization, to an economy based on information computerization. The onset of the Information Age is associated with the Digital Revolution, just as the Industrial Revolution marked the onset of the Industrial Age. During the information age, the phenomenon is that the digital industry creates a knowledge-based society surrounded by a high-tech global economy that spans over its inf luence on how the manufac turing throughput and the service sector operate in an efficient and convenient way. In a commercialized society, the information industry is able to allow individuals to explore their personalized needs, therefore simplifying the procedure of making decisions for transactions and significantly lowering costs for both the producers and buyers. This is accepted overwhelmingly by participants throughout the entire economic activities for efficacy purposes, and new economic incentives would then be indigenously encouraged, such as the knowledge economy.

“The information industry is able to allow individuals to explore their personalized needs, therefore simplifying the procedure of making decisions for transactions and significantly lowering costs�

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I share—therefore I exist

The Internet

the internet has increased options for

lateral communication and reduced the need for mediators; creating different types of relationships, and increasing possibilities for major social change.

The Internet has grown so rapidly and become indispensable so quickly that it can be hard to remember that it is still a fairly new medium. Most Americans use the Internet daily for personal and increasingly for business purposes. Children are growing

the growing importance of digital media to

up with online activities as a second nature.

Americans’ daily lives.

Even in rural and lower income communities,

A Pew report sought to decide whether

opportunities for Internet usage are spreading.

increasing Internet usage would make indi-

According to an analysis by eMarketer, in

viduals more or less intelligent. About 42% of

2010 the average US customer spent 11 hours

the respondents felt that individuals would

per day interacting with major media, and a

be affected negatively with a “thirst for grat-

ComScore survey found that in January 2012

ification and quick fixes”, while 55% felt that

the average US Internet user spent 36 hours

Internet users were “learning more and they

online during the month. These figures reflect

are adept at finding answers to deep questions,

The connected world.

in part because they can search effectively and access collective intelligence via the Internet.”

Social media is having a huge influence on changes in the way people communicate today. The explosion of options include blogs in which any person can choose to write about any topic, and collect followers who are interested in what they have to say, and microblogs like the immensely popular Twitter, in which users can write any thoughts they wish to

News have become both more abundant and irrelevant. Quantity has become more important than quality in the last years.

Chapter 1: The Great Expansion

share within a 140 character limit. Wikis such as Wikipedia are information sites i n which the content is posted and updated by the users, rather than any given organization.

Multimedia sites like Youtube are also hugely popular; in this case any individual can choose to post videos on just about any topic they choose, to be shared with any user in the world. Finally, social networks such as Facebook have provided completely new options for people to socialize, by creating

“ Users can send each other public messages, private messages, or instant messages, and can even group their “friends” into different levels depending upon the amount of information the user wants to share”

individual profiles that can be used as a digital scrapbook, photo album, journal, and communications portal.

Users can send each other public messages, private messages, or instant messages, and

fluff, and increasingly commentary disguised

can even group their “friends” into different

as news. Some people feel that news outlets

levels depending upon the amount of infor-

may be conspiring to highlight certain stories

mation the user wants to share with that

that get played over and over, while giving

person. Companies, schools, charities, and

little time to competing stories that certain

other organizations have joined in by creating

corporations or political organizations want

pages that users can “like” or “recommend”.

to bury, in this way swaying public opinion.

Another major change has been in the way

Sometimes in order to gain a full understand-

news is communicated to users. The advent

ing of events, it is necessary to obtain news

of 24 hour news programs, first on television

from a number of sources.

and now on any number of web sites online, has changed in some ways the very content of news programs. As there may not be sufficient “hard” news of interest to fill all of these media sites 24 hours a day, there is repetition,

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I share—therefore I exist

Benjamin R. Barber (born August 2, 1939) is an American political theorist and author.

perhaps one of the most important results

of the communications options available via the Internet and increasingly mobile devices that have Internet capabilities, is the increasing use of lateral communication. Benjamin Barber discusses the affect new media is

social changes. Members of the Occupy Wall

having on democracy, in that “the Net offers

Street and similar groups have used emails,

a useful alternative to elite mass communica-

instant messages, social media, and mul-

tion in that it permits ordinary citizens to com-

timedia sites to communicate plans and to

municate directly around the world without

publish photographs and videos taken using

the mediation of elites.” Barber states: “Integrated systems of computers and the

their mobile technology to group members and the public, in some cases avoiding police

world wide web are “point-to-point” technol-

in order to continue their action, or getting

ogies that promise direct lateral communica-

evidence of their struggles to the public in

tion among all participants and thus offer an

spite of traditional media being prohibited

unmediated horizontal access (“immediacy”),

from the area.

and entail the elimination of overseers and

In the past year, even more breathtaking

middlemen, of facilitators and editors, of and

examples of the power of communicating

hierarchical, busy-body gatekeepers. The virtue

via the Internet were seen in what has been

of immediacy is that it facilitates equality and

called the “Arab Spring”; protests that took

egalitarian forms of horizontal communication.

place in countries such as Egypt and Libya in

Representative democracy favors vertical com-

which the citizens successfully demonstrated

munication between “elites and masses,” but

and committed civil resistance to oppressive

strong democracy (as I argued in my book of that

regimes. In spite of governmental attempts to

name fifteen years ago) prefers lateral commu-

censor the Internet and keep organized media

nication among citizens, who take precedence

from filming the protests, social media was

over leaders and representatives.”

successfully used to organize protesters and

New media on the Internet have increasingly

get their stories out to the watching world.

been used to bring groups of like-minded people together, sometimes resulting in major

Chapter 1: The Great Expansion

“ The Net offers a useful alternative to elite mass-communication in that it permits ordinary citizens to communicate directly around the world without the mediation of elites.”

communication plays a role in all digital

by better and easier-to-use tools. Communi-

exchanged between living species. Technically

cating with random strangers through Cha-

speaking, even plants and fungi communicate

troulette didn’t quite make it, but who knows

with each other.

what will happen with Airtime.

What sets us humans apart is the speed at

We have always used communication to

which our means of communication develops

convince or even make other people do what

and innovates. Technology has been helping us

we want. Improved communication technol-

to communicate easier, faster and more often.

ogies help us to do that quicker and on a

We’re now at a point where we’re “always on”

larger scale, hugely influencing the next divide

and panic sets in when we temporarily lose the

between the haves and the have-nots.

ability to communicate – for example when we lose the data connection our mobile phone.

As with all innovation the direction we innovate is a combination of what is technically possible and what is socially desirable.

Technological developments determine the possibilities, but our needs determine which technology will actually break through and remain a facet of our life. Morse code, Telex, Fax, iMode, WAP and ICQ have all been replaced

High speed has become part of our society, probably since the industrial revolution. Since then it has only been increasing.

Where will this lead us?

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I share—therefore I exist

Chapter 1: The Great Expansion

The Wired World Living in a wired world, telecommunications eliminated the barriers of time and distance.

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a notable share of americans say the

internet is essential to them. Among those internet users who said it would be very hard to give up net access, most (61% of this group) said being online was essential for job-related or other reasons. Translated to the whole population, about four in ten adults (39%) feel they absolutely need to have internet access. Among those most deeply tied to the internet, about half as many (some 30%) said it would be hard to give up access because they simply enjoy being online.

There is considerable debate about whether online communication through email, messaging, or social media has strengthened or weakened relationships. Internet users’ own verdict is overwhelmingly positive when it comes to their own ties to family and friends: 67% of internet users say their online communication with family and friends has generally strengthened those relationships, while 18% say it generally weakens those relationships.

Interestingly enough, there are no significant demographic differences tied to users’ feelings about the impact of online communication on relationships. We could say that all this different groups agree with the dual nature of online communications, both a great and positive revolution and a course that will deteriorate our relationships with others.

Chapter 1: The Great Expansion

“The world wide web is both a blessing and a curse, it has radically shaped the world into a more cohesive unit of information, but we might lose what we consider humanity on the way.

We are drifting apart from the need of being present to interact with others.

Or perhaps, that is a very human thing to do, just the next manifestation of what really is being a human.�

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over the last five years , technology has

long distance phone calls are unnecessary

been rapidly changing and expanding in every

for anyone with a computer, a webcam, and

field imaginable. Smart phones are now capable

a speedy Internet connection.

of acting as standalone computer devices that can take pictures, search the Internet, send

“While it might seem the technology of today has reached its limits, that the technology it is still actually spreading its proverbial wings. Only twenty or so years ago, personal of today has reached computers were becoming small enough and affordable enough for families to buy them for its limits, it is still home use. Since then, the world of technology has shown no signs of slowing down and prac- actually spreading tically every device available today is somehow tied to computer technology. its proverbial wings.� emails and text messages and yes, they even

make phone calls. While it might seem that

It seems hard these days to fathom the

original size of computers and how small they have become in the last ten years, but within the last five years they have become even smaller and somehow more powerful and faster than ever before! The Internet allows people to connect with family, friends, and work colleagues from across the globe in the push of a button. Communication options have literally exploded in the instant avenues of text and video based chat as well as the near instantaneous method of email. Gone are the days where one had to post a letter and wait a week or more for a response and

Chapter 1: The Great Expansion

3 BILLION PEOPLE have access to internet nowadays.

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I share, therefore I exist

Expansion Worldwide Africa 9.8%

Oceania 1%

Europe 19%

Asia 48.4%

Americas 21.8%

in 2014 , nearly 75% (2.1 billion) of all

internet users in the world (2.8 billion) live in the top 20 countries.

The remaining 25% (0.7 billion) is distributed among the other 178 countries, each representing less than 1% of total users.

China, the country with most users (642 million in 2014), represents nearly 22% of total, and has more users than the next three countries combined (United States, India, and

Japan). Among the top 20 countries, India is the one with the lowest penetration: 19% and the highest yearly growth rate. At the opposite end of the range, United States, Germany, France, U.K., and Canada have the highest penetration: over 80% of population in these countries has an internet connection.

Chapter 1: The Great Expansion

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WORLD WIDE WEB

2 r e t p a h c

A NEW GENERATION

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I share—therefore I exist

The Millennials

the term millennials generally refers to

the generation of people born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s. Perhaps the most commonly used birth range for this group is 1982-2000. The Millennial Generation is also known as Generation Y, because it comes after Generation X — those people between the early 1960s and the 1980s. It has also been called the Peter Pan or Boomerang Generation because of the propensity of some to move back in with their parents, perhaps due to economic constraints, and a growing tendency to delay some of the typical adulthood rites of passage like marriage or starting a career.

The publication Ad Age was one of the first to coin the term “Generation Y,” in an editorial in August 1993. But the term didn’t age well, and “Millennials” has largely over taken it.

But the terms basically mean the same thing.

Millennials have been characterized in a number of different ways. On the negative side, they’ve been described as lazy, narcissistic and prone to jump from job to job. It would be appropriate to ask, how many young people have been rewarded for minimal accomplishments (such as mere participation) in competitive sports, and have unrealistic expectations of working life.

Chapter 2: A New Generation

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one 2012 study found millennials to be

more civically and politically disengaged, more focused on materialistic values, and less concerned about helping the larger community.

The trend is more of an emphasis on extrinsic values such as money, fame, and image, and less emphasis on intrinsic values such as self-acceptance, group affiliation and community.

They have also been described in positive ways. They are generally regarded as being more open-minded, and more supportive of gay rights and equal rights for minorities.

Other positives adjectives to describe them include confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living.

There is a spirited, if not tiresome, debate about whether Millennials are self-entitled narcissists or open-minded do-gooders; surely the truth lies somewhere in-between. Generally, however, there does seem to be more of an emphasis on the self than in previous generations, one reason why this group has been called Generation Me. By 2020, members of Generation Y will continue to be ambient broadcasters who disclose a great deal of personal information in order to stay connected and take advantage of social, economic, and political opportunities.

Even as they mature, have families, and take on more significant responsibilities, their enthusiasm for widespread information sharing will carry forward.

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I share—therefore I exist

“Millennials use social media and text on their cell phones significantly more than older generations.”

an aspects that distinguishes the millennials

ladder. However, they desire a good work-life

is that they’re extremely “connected.” Pew

balance, and, to sate their desire for a fulfilling

found that Millennials use social media and

job, they’re also frequent job-hoppers, frus-

text on their cell phones significantly more

trating employers with low retention rates.

than older generations. Unsurprisingly, they

Like many generations, the Millennials have

found that Millennials are also more likely to

had several seemingly “defining moments.” In

view technology in a positive light.

addition to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, they

Politically, Millennials were among Barack

experienced September 11 and the shootings at

Obama’s strongest supporters during the

Columbine and Virginia Tech. However, unlike

2008 presidential election (66 percent voted

the Boomers with the Vietnam War, there has

for him). They are also less religious than older

not been a clearly unified or radical reaction to

generations were when they were younger.

these events. What research has shown is that

Demographically, Millennials are larger and

although Millennials are generally more willing

more ethnically diverse than previous gen-

than older generations to sacrifice liberties

erations. According to Pew’s report, they’re

for security, they also want the United States

also more accepting of interracial marriage.

to take a backseat to the United Nations in

Because employers are especially interested

international problems. September 11 taught

in understanding the profile of a Millennial,

Millennials that life is short, prompting them

several books also explore the effects of the

to embrace ambition and reject “business

generation on the workforce. Author Ron

as usual”

Alsop of the Wall Street Journal found through research that Millennials are largely seen as entitled and narcissistic. But he finds that Millennials’ self-confidence is likely a product of highly involved (“helicopter”) parents who vehemently encouraged the importance of self-esteem. Alsop also finds that Millennials, although good team players, are particularly ambitious, seeking constant appraisal and lightning-fast promotions up the corporate

Chapter 2: A New Generation

“ September 11 taught Millennials that life is short, prompting them to embrace ambition and reject business as usual�

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Generation Z

as the generation that inspired countless

think-pieces eases out of the public eye, marketers are honing in on the next wave of consumers: Generation Z. These folks, born in 1995 or later, make up 25.9% of the United States’ population, contribute $44 billion to the American economy and differ from their predecessors in a few key ways.

While Millennials — a.k.a. Generation Y — grew up alongside the World Wide Web, Gen Z is growing up with social media. This shapes everything from their academics to after-school activities, with more than half of Gen Z using YouTube for research projects and a third collaborating with classmates and watching lessons online.

That said, not all social media is the same to Gen Z. As the average Facebook user gets older, more than 25% of 13- to 17-year-olds left the network in 2013.

Instead, Gen Z favors Snapchat, Whisper and Secret — ephemeral and visually engaging platforms that cater to the youngsters’ eight-second attention span.

Gen Z shares the entrepreneurial spirit of millennial innovators: About 72% of current high-schoolers want to own their own businesses, and 76% hope they can turn their hobbies into full-time jobs.

Chapter 2: A New Generation

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“Gen Z shares the entrepreneurial spirit of millennial innovators�

gen Z is a generation that knows no limits

to online commerce. And while they can purchase nearly anything online and have it delivered to their door 24 hours later, they already understand the magnitude of purchasing a home warrants a more sophisticated, customized and personal approach that transcends technology. While not surprisingly, 95 percent of these Gen Z future homeowners believe they will take key steps in the home buying process online, a 59 percent majority believe they will undertake the search process for their future home with help from a real estate agent. A mere 19 percent believe they’d purchase a home online, while 81 percent believe they are likely to use a more traditional method, such as working with a real estate agent, for the actual transaction.

Although Gen Z has several years ahead of them before they speak to a mortgage broker or real estate agent, these years are shaping the path that will take them into the next phase of their lives. Their dreams are rooted in knowledge, and they are primed better than many previous generations to achieve their goals, positioning them, for what I we believe, to be called the next great generation.

“The biggest impact on the wo to all human knowledge. T world currently could well be or China. Enabling that pers him or her — will have a pro opment of the human race. C available worldwide, and edu Academy will be available to huge impact on literacy and more informed and more ed

orld will be universal access The smartest person in the e stuck behind a plow in India son — and the millions like ofound impact on the develCheap mobile devices will be ucational tools like the Khan o everyone. This will have a numeracy and will lead to a ducated world population.”

—HAL VARIAN Chief Economist for Google

I share, therefore I exist

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Y and Z GEN. Y

BORN BE T WEEN 1976 AND 19 9 4

GEN. Z

BORN BE T WEEN 19 95 AND 2 012

Workforce Millennials will comprise the majority of the work force by 2025.

2020

2025

Baby Boomers

2030

Gen. X

Gen. Y

2040

Gen. Z

Chapter 2: A New Generation

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Adept Researches While Gen Y grew up with technology, constantly adapting to new trends, Gen Z has born with the tools to self-educate and find information.

33%

20%

Driven Workers

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Watch lessons online.

The access to resources has given the new generations more possibilities to be self employed.

Read books on tablets

73%

32%

Work with their classmates online

of high school students want to star their own business.

The Online Economy Gen Z will spend great part of their time in the internet, this will be the ground for new businesses consisting in the creation of online content.

41% of Gen Z spends 3+ hours a

day on computers for non-schoolwork related activities.

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Computers allow immediate interaction with the world

Shifting Behaviors

human identity, the idea that defines each

It would be a world where such devices could

and every one of us, could be facing an unprec-

enhance our muscle power, or our senses,

edented crisis. It is a crisis that would threaten

beyond the norm, and where we all take a

long-held notions of who we are, what we do

daily cocktail of drugs to control our moods

and how we behave. It goes right to the heart -

and performance. Already, an electronic chip is

or the head - of us all. This crisis could reshape

being developed that could allow a paralyzed

how we interact with each other, alter what

patient to move a robotic limb just by thinking

makes us happy, and modify our capacity for

about it. As for drug manipulated moods,

reaching our full potential as individuals. And

they’re already with us - although so far only

it’s caused by one simple fact: the human

to a medically prescribed extent.

brain, that most sensitive of organs, is under

What has the Web made in the past 25 years? What has it destroyed? That list could

threat from the modern world.

Unless we wake up to the damage that the gadget-filled, pharmaceutically-enhanced 21st century is doing to our brains, we could be sleepwalking towards a future in which neuro-chip technology blurs the line between living and non-living machines, and between our bodies and the outside world.

Robotic arm.

go on forever — but, what will it create or destroy next?

Chapter 2: A New Generation

Google glasses will become every day devices integrated in every aspect of people’s lives.

wireless devices are embedded in every-

thing—including us; cameras record activity in all public spaces; databases catalogue our online moves; massive data centers allow our information to be sorted and understood in new ways; the physical environment changes as “the Internet of things” and “everywhere” applications are widespread; projection of digital material is possible on all kinds of surfaces; immersive, invisible, ambient net worked computing makes us available to more people in more ways; software exhibits human-like thinking; and a direct brain-to-computer interface is possible. These are just some of the future scenarios predicted by experts, as documented by Pew Internet & American Life Project surveys and other current research.

These advances can be expected to generate both positive and negative effects and lead to considerable social change.

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From Data Trails to Collective Intelligence

apps like google maps , yelp and four -

square have imposed an ever-expanding layer of data over physical spaces. We’re not the first species to do that, Bray pointed out: Ants use pheromones to communicate and create trails to food sources for other ants. Our use of data-driven services is helping us develop a similar collective intelligence among humans.

In the future, how might we navigate places by the graffiti of data trails? How might we recall our past experiences, or those of our friends, with a place? How can we build a single place that gives us access to this network of data, instead of requiring the use of separate apps for traffic, food, reviews, images and thoughts from friends?

“Our use of datadriven services is helping us develop a similar collective intelligence among humans beings”

Chapter 2: A New Generation

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From Single to MultiThreaded Narratives

ne x t , will see shif ting modes of con -

versation. For instance, take a photo of a row of people holding champagne classes in a chauffeured car. Most of the people would be looking at their phones, seemingly entirely disconnected from each other. But, they would actually have conversations with each other on their phones, checking into the “WinoWagon” on Foursquare and commenting on photos others in the car had just posted to Instagram.

Online connectedness, is making our conversations more complex and multi-threaded. It’s also capturing and sharing the narrative of group experiences in a different way.

In the future, how might we use multithreaded narratives to generate entirely new forms of content? How might we provide ways to navigate or map multiple narrative threads, or be able to see the impact that one conversation has on another? Another challenge, too, is overcoming the feeling of disconnect we can experience when conversations transcend time and medium.

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From Singular to Mosaic Identities

lastly, we know how the web is shaping

and fragmenting our sense of personal identity.

For example the selection of cartoon-like avatars to represent and — in the case of one 18-year-old online poker player, who went by the name of “Grandma Rose” — misrepresent ourselves in virtual environments. He pulled up a boy’s handwritten list of potential screennames, featuring names like “The Dunkster” and “Punk of Funk,” alongside names he labeled “stupid:” “Eskimo Man” and “Loaf Man.” He also showed two photos of teenage girls who were rated equally attractive on an online rating service. But the girl playing a guitar in her photo got far more messages than the girl who simply submitted a head shot, Bray said, because the photo with the guitar told a narrative.

The web is replacing the idea of a singular identity with mosaic identities, in the future, how might we allow for better feedback loops about how others perceive and engage with our identities? How could we ensure that we are not subjected to a complex identity management? It could become a crisis.

Chapter 2: A New Generation

“ The web is replacing the idea of a singular identity with mosaic identities, in the future, how might we allow for better feedback loops about how others perceive and engage with our identities? �

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Chapter 2: A New Generation

“We are slowly prioritizing what we share in social networks over building our own personality. The digital world allows more control over what we want the other to see from us, we can edit who we are with ease using the social media, what causes detachment from the responsibility of truly shaping our character. Since more people are doing It, changes our perspective of what is ”acceptable”.

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The Distortion of Intercommunication No Face to Face Interactions The internet might stop the need to achieve face to face communication with friends and the family.

Inactivity People will spend most of their leisure time sitting at one place in front of their computers, increasing the possibilities of gaining weight.

lb Waste of Time

The web gives a million of excuses to waste time, procrastination is very common, the amount of activities one can do through a computer has become noise that decreases concentration and focus in specific tasks. This will only increase, specially for people born in the coming future.

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Anonymity Remaining in anonymity has risen tons of negative aspects of human nature, like exposing more intolerance than ever before. People usually make use of their freedom of speech to express, in some cases, ignorant opinions of others, resulting in racism, homophobia, sexual harassment and bullying.

The Internet of Things A global, immersive, invisible, ambient networked computing environment built through the continued proliferation of smart sensors, cameras, software, databases, and massive data centers in a world-spanning information fabric known as the Internet of Things.

Wearable “Augmented reality� enhancements to the real-world input that people perceive through the use of portable/wearable/ implantable technologies.

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REDEFINING THE SELF

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The Struggle of Omnipresence

the struggle of being present with the

important people in our lives will only intensify by 2020. While people love technology and know that it has expanded the amount of connections they can have and strengthens certain relationships, It is also true that by 2020, the idea of turning off technology is going to be the equivalent of trying to stay dry when you are underwater. And relationships require uninterrupted time. They require being present. They require attention. And the

attention activities, and interactions that is

more immersive our world will be by 2020, the

at fault here. For the majority of internet users,

negative result of this constant interruption

the net is unlikely to help them foster signifi-

with people we truly care about will be only

cant social relationships, and as it grows ever

harder as we are pulled in even more direc-

more central to our lives, that’s unlikely to

tions. It will be the ultimate test to see if we

cease.

can give our relationship what they truly need to grow. Time. Uninterrupted.

While the Internet has enabled people to keep richer relationships alive over large

The internet – and in a larger sense, the

distances via tools like IM and videoconfer-

harried, multitasking-dependent modern

encing, they also find themselves deluged with

lifestyle – doesn’t generally foster the kind of

gumption traps and triviality, which can reduce

deep social interactions necessary for serious

the amount of time and energy spent on deep,

relationships. There are exceptions, of course:

face-to-face relationships. On the whole, the

witness the success of online dating sites. This

internet has made relationships richer, but it

isn’t to say that social relationships necessarily

is in no way a replacement for real-life physical

require face-to-face interaction. Think of the

interaction.

great relationships of old carried on through postal mail correspondence. Instead, it’s the Internet’s encouragement of an existence marked by distracted, ‘continuous partial

Chapter 3: Redefining the Self

“The idea of turning off technology is going to be the equivalent of trying to stay dry when you are underwater.�

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the br ains of multitasking teens and

of awareness in the face of persistent and

young adults are “wired� differently from

pervasive tool extensions and incursions into

those over age 35 and overall it yields baleful

our lives. Is this my intention, or is the tool

results. They do not retain information; they

inciting me to feel and think this way? That

spend most of their energy sharing short

question, more than multitasking or brain

social messages, being entertained, and being

atrophy due to accessing collective intelli-

distracted away from deep engagement with

gence via the internet, will be the challenge

people and knowledge. They lack deep-think-

of the future.

ing capabilities; they lack face-to-face social skills; they depend in unhealthy ways on the internet and mobile devices to function. In sum, the changes in behavior and cognition among the young are generally negative outcomes.

Technology will be so seamlessly integrated into our lives that it will effectively disappear.

The line between self and technology is thin today; by then it will effectively vanish. We will think with, think into, and think through our smart tools but their presence and reach into our lives will be less visible. Youth will assume their minds and intentions are extended by technology, while tracking technologies will seek further incursions into behavioral monitoring and choice manipulation. Children will assume this is the way the world works.

The cognitive challenge children and youth will face (as we are beginning to face now) is integrity, the state of being whole and undivided. There will be a premium on the skill of maintaining presence, of mindfulness,

Chapter 3: Redefining the Self

53

Technology addiction will be a visible condition in a younger age group.

Kids will grow in a wired society which could represent an obstacle rather than a opportunity for learning and social interactions.

“They do not retain information; they spend most of their energy sharing short social messages, being entertained, and being distracted away from deep engagement with people and knowledge.

They lack deep-thinking capabilities; they lack face-to-face social skills; they depend in unhealthy ways on the internet and mobile devices to function.�

54

I share—therefore I exist

Hyperconnectec

technology experts and stakeholders were

From portable internet, to wearable second reality.

2011. The sur vey question about younger

fairly evenly split as to whether the younger

users was inspired by speculation over the

generation’s always-on connection to people

past several years about the potential impact

and information will turn out to be a net

of technology on them.

positive or a net negative by 2020. They said

If your future devices were continuous,

many of the young people growing up hyper-

your control over all your devices, and the

connected to each other and the mobile Web

continuous digital world they could open for

and counting on the internet as their external

you, could Expand exponentially.

brain will be nimble, quick-acting multitaskers who will do well in key respects.

At the same time, these experts predicted

You switch between multiple screens. When you leave your old screen it stores “where” and “who” you are, then turns off. Your new

that the impact of networked living on today’s

screen recognizes you, turns on, retrieves

young will drive them to thirst for instant

“where” and “who” you are, puts you “there.”

gratification, settle for quick choices, and lack

It is truly automatic.

patience. A number of the survey respondents

All sorts of things are in front of you — with

argued that it is vital to reform education

you. They could be people, services or places.

and emphasize digital literacy. A notable

They could be apps or software, digital content

number expressed concerns that trends are

(books, TV shows, movies, music, recorded

leading to a future in which most people are

videos and more), games or live video from

shallow consumers of information, and some

events worldwide. They could even be other

mentioned George Orwell’s 1984 or expressed

devices and sources you control remotely.

their fears of control by powerful interests in an age of entertaining distractions.

Your digital life will always be on, always open, always yours. You’ll live in your “Shared

These findings come from an opt-in, online

Planetary Life Spaces”. You combine anything

survey of a diverse but non-random sample

into the digital “shared space” you want to

of 1,021 technology stakeholders and critics.

inhabit, until you switch to a different one.

The study was fielded by the Pew Research

Then switch again.

Center’s Internet & American Life Project and Elon University’s Imagining the Internet Center between August 28 and October 31,

Chapter 3: Redefining the Self

55

“In your digital life you can walk through a beautiful new dawn. Or your own action movie sequel.”

in fact, it ’s so real that your

“ shared

spaces” move with you across your screens, and become one of your realities. It’s the digital world you choose, where you can live. Always ready for you to use in whatever ways you want. Technology is about to move much faster and converge with entertainment, until life is entertainment and entertainment is life.

(Or dare I say it, your lives.)

In the Expandiverse, you will become used to your chosen digital realities being displayed and processed without effort. Multiple screens, multiple identities and multiple transformed video, audio and music feeds will simply appear and you will appear in them.

In your digital life you can walk through a beautiful new dawn. Or your own action movie sequel. With you as both one of the directors and one of the stars.

You can make any or all of your digital world’s outputs visible to anyone you want. What is still called “publishing” or “broadcasting” can be accomplished in a multitude of ways with a multitude of outcomes. You are the publisher.

You are the broadcaster. You are the digital reality creator.

56

I share—therefore I exist

The virtual world will allow people to “edit” their lives.

The Virtual World

you choose your private or public audiences.

They can use your creation, or appear in it.

surpass the physical world’s limits on our personal futures? What if the best knowledge,

Or you decide to be the audience and appear

tools, resources and opportunities to succeed

inside your digital world. Much of your life is

could be delivered as part of what we do every

already you-centered. Next your digital life

day, as we use our screens? Everyone could

will let you become the person (and people)

become able to perform as well as the best

you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

in the world.

For example, Expandiverse technology

Then, with a universal interface, everyone

includes a workaround to death. Since medical

could run their entire Expandiverse from

science can’t extend our lifetimes to hundreds

everywhere. It won’t matter whether you’re

and thousands of years, the Expandiverse

in Silicon Valley or a small village in Africa.

offers multiple identities. Would you consider

Yes, you will be a global person who connects

enjoying multiple lives in parallel? This won’t

everywhere. And yes, the whole world and its

be for everyone, but for those who can’t get

best knowledge and resources will be local

enough out of one short life, it could be their

to you, at your fingertips, under your control.

ticket to more lives and a better way to be

Is it time to Expand today’s limited devices,

alive. In the Expandiverse your life is truly

and Expand today’s limited world? Should we

yours. Construct reality to enjoy what makes

begin the journey into a digital world where

you truly happy for your fleeting moment, or

everyone could choose to be their best and

create an identity and enjoy it for a “life” time.

greatness could be normal? It’s a road with

Your digital life is a real life. Wherever you

a destination beyond buying the newest cool

really are. For billions of people all across

device, then straining against its limits.

the Earth, yesterday’s world isn’t succeeding

As our digital world grows, devices will have

well enough or fixing problems fast enough.

to Expand until your devices can serve you

Isn’t it about time that your reality was

totally. This won’t happen overnight. But it’s

yours, continuous and under your control? We

time to start realizing that it will happen.

don’t have this now. But in the Expandiverse,

Unlike any generation before in history, we

all bets are off and all your digital lives are on.

know how to design and build our dreams.

Something else Expandiverse technology

Expand your mind, and expand your future.

offers is called Active Knowledge. Could we

Chapter 3: Redefining the Self

“ Unlike any generation before in history, we know how to design and build our dreams. Expand your mind, and expand your future.�

57

58

I share—therefore I exist

The digital versions of people will be more than alternate identities, they will represent the life they want, the life that they can control better.

The Virtual You

virtual behavior may even affect real-

being studied at Stanford now). “The most

world health. Stanford graduate student Jesse

stunning part is how subtle the manipulations

Fox randomly assigned avatars to 75 volun-

are and how difficult they are to detect,” says

teers and divided them into three groups:

Bailenson, “but how much it affects real life

one group watched their look-alike avatars

later on.”

run on treadmills for about five and a half

Of course, the effect could potentially work

minutes; another group saw their virtual coun-

both ways — for good or for bad. “In a therapy

terparts lounge around; and a third watched

setting, we could use these virtual environments

avatars who did not look like them, but were

to get people to become more confident,” says

of the same age and sex, run on treadmills.

Yee. “But they can also be used in advertising

A day later, Fox found that participants who

and as propaganda.”

watched avatars of their own likeness exercis-

Before I entered Second Life again I upgraded

ing had themselves exercised an hour more in

my avatar to much cuter dimensions. This time

the intervening 24-hour period than people in

I found myself conversing with people instead

the other two groups. (It’s worth noting that

of logging off. I was more outgoing. Next, I’m

the volunteers were all Stanford undergrad-

considering giving my avatar a cottage by the

uates, who were likely more active and fitter

sea and a job doing charitable work. Maybe

to start than the average adult.) “What I’m

some of the positive vibes will rub off into my

hoping to find out by picking apart these mech-

real life. I’ll let you know how it works out.

anisms is what motivates people and why this works,” says Fox. “If you are energized by seeing yourself run, maybe you can put an avatar on the bottom of your computer screen for five minutes and it would persuade you to go to the gym.”

The possibilities are — virtually — endless.

Inhabit buffed-up versions of yourself to lose weight, cuter versions of yourself to gain confidence, or older versions to start putting money away for the future (that last one is

Chapter 3: Redefining the Self

59

“Man is the o that refuses to

only creature be what he is” —a

lbert c amus

Bibliography

50 Surprising Facts About The Internet buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/50-surprising-facts-aboutthe-internet

The Future of the Internet pewinternet.org/topics/future-of-the-internet

This Is How The Internet Is Rewiring Your Brain huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/shocking-ways-internetrewires-brain_n_4136942.html

The Millenials are Coming cbsnews.com/news/the-millennials-are-coming

Generations X,Y, Z and the Others socialmarketing.org/newsletter/features/generation3.htm

What You Should Know About Generation Z businessinsider.com/generation-z-spending-habits-2014-6

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by Steve Matteson, Type Director of Ascender Corp Exo 2

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print and bind Chums Design and Print chumsdesignandprint.com chumsdesign@gmail.com Tel: 415.399.3834

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