I think the information 'assembly line', once housed in a building not unlike a factory assembly line, has become widely distributed, and, as the tools have become inexpensive, is increasingly in the hands of what I would call serious amateurs as opposed to professionals. There is an emergent phenomenon here, I think - I also think the consequences of this shift will be profound.

I've called this 'The New Age of Letters' in columns I've written in the past couple years. In the 16th and 17th Century, the world's first information network - postal service - began to operate. For the first time in history, educated people with interesting ideas could communicate reliably and affordably, allowing them to refine and build upon the work of others. It was no accident that The Industrial Revolution followed hard on the heels of this network's rise, in my opinion.

In the 21st Century, a very large group of educated people are using an instantaneous and inexpensive global network to exchage ideas. If the effect on society of the Industrial Revolution was any indication, the Information Revolution will likely create change on a scale unprecedented in history. This is the beginning of a long essay I'm writing, and hope to post, soon...
Comments 1:59:51 PM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures