The Pew Internet and American Life research project has issued another report on the the future of the internet with predictions that by 2020:
- Virtual reality will enhance worker productivity
- Tech ‚Äúrefuseniks‚Äù will emerge as a cultural group, living “off the network”
- People will continue to disclose personal information unknowingly, albeit for some personal benefit
There are other insights as well including the continued social inequalities and 46% agreed that the benefits of greater transparency of organizations and individuals would outweigh the privacy costs and 49% disagreed.
Here’s a video clip of Lee Rainie from Pew discussing the findings on the Lehrer NewsHour show.
The whole idea of a sub-culture emerging that lives “off the net” seems a bit sci fi to me. But then when I think about it, the few times I’ve taken internet-free vacations, it has been very refreshing. However, my business is very much tied to the internet, so there’s no off-network plans for me unless I change what I do for a living.¬† Hmmmmmmm.
