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Internet and Culture Essay

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Internet and Culture

Imagine a world where geographic separation does not inhibit the social or economic mobility of people. A place where cement roads are obsolete and unnecessary and the information super highway is the only road you need to know how to navigate. Information technology becomes the glue and nails that binds our (global) society together. Development becomes a matter of installing fiber-optic wiring, cellular towers and satellite launching. World Bank projects change from road building to wire laying. Now imagine a world where there is no electricity, telephones, computers, roads or other mediums of transportation other than legs and feet. Communication exists on a face-to-face level and nothing more. An individuals’ …show more content…

Within first-world nations, the change has been happening slowly over many decades. The developed institutions within these nations have been able to modify their own methods in order to be in congruence with the new world of networks. However, undeveloped nations (and especially rural parts of these nations) have not been making the slow transformation towards the soon-to-be technologically dependent network society. Therefore, conversion towards the network society is easily seen. The questions that remain to be answered are, can these people-previously unexposed to high technology-adjust to the dramatic changes in economic and social organization. And furthermore, is it feasible and beneficial to take away the focus from physical infrastructure development (roads, buildings, telephone wires) and implement technological infrastructure?

The fact is the world is trying to move past the restraints that create inefficient business and communication. Information technology provides a means to move beyond the slow and financially consumptive methods of doing business. The network society is the framework in which these practices can be implemented. As time goes by, technology is becoming more and more a fundamental component of living in this world. Unless a given society, community or business stays on the forefront of technological innovation, it will be left behind, only to grow further and

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