Elon University

A vision for the future

This is one of nearly a thousand foresight statements shared by people from around the world. To return to the Voices of the People home page or to refine your search, click here.

Name: Rob Dickey

Bio: Internet user, teacher of society studies, reader of alt history, armchair futurist

Area of Expertise: Pioneer/Originator

Topic: Community/Culture

Headline: Rivers that tie, but divide

Nutshell: Internet and similar ICT will tie distant peoples while dividing neighbors

Vision:

Like rivers, Internet and similar information/communication technologies are a stream of information and goods. St. Louis became a seaport, yet Illinois and Missouri were divided, all by the same “mighty Mississippi.” Today we see young people who “chat” online while sitting side-by-side. Commonalities and “best friends” will be found online, while geographic proximity becomes largely irrelevant. Local governments and social groups fade while pan-national functions soar.

Date Submitted: November 26, 2013

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