New Communications- are they revolutionary?

The Death of Distance-
Cairncross touches on the fact that communicating internationally has become cheaper not to mention ten times easier than years past. With the shift towards a global economy, this change is absolutely revolutionary. A phone call from the US to China that would typically take forever and also be quite costly can now be replaced with direct contact over the world wide web. This form of communication "simplicity" has perhaps eliminated some jobs, but has nonetheless increased efficiency for industry and commerce that is much needed in the business world today.

Rebalance of political power-
This "revolution" has really manifested itself as of late in the use of the internet (particularly YouTube) to make direct contact with political candidates. The men and women running for and holding office have before seemed to be somewhat untangible without going through levels of bureaucracy or inside connection. Now, as we see with the YouTube debates, Presidential candidates are directly responding to the questions and concerns of we, the little people. These responses are not through standardized letters sent out to constituents thanking them for their concerns and promising change. These candidates are give a world stage to give responses and opinions thanks to media like CNN, YouTube, and other facets of the 24 hour news reel machine. In place of the system in which information is filtered down after being cleaned up and packaged nicely for the american public is a new system in which the American public is in constant demand of new, current, truthful information.

Increased mobility-
The mobile revolution is one that some would say trumps all others. The fact that a college student may bring his or her laptop computer to class and access the internet to find examples or complementary information to lecture material is an astounding concept. Nearly no one is without some form of mobile communication these days, if not multiple forms at one time. GPS systems, PDA's, cell phones, and wireless web have made our lives easier because the neccessity of being stationary is no more.

Hey there! it's me, Taryn