Everything in today's world is run by the internet in some way. Given the rapid growth in the field of computing, one expects there to be much more interaction between people and the Internet in future. This interaction is already blurring the barriers between humans and the Internet. Savvy users have mixed feelings for the future of Internet revolution that is taking off fast.
Speedier bandwidth is becoming common (using 56 Kbps modems and telephone lines seems painfully slow). Everyone is expected to have real-time link to anyone. Once that happens, "the concept of who is online and who is offline will melt away," says Bradley Horowitz, Yahoo's director of media and desktop search.
Anyone can see that conventional devices and skills are disappearing or many seem to have been put on hold. Internet is changing the way people work, share knowledge, entertain and or socialize. There will be better and much wider media coverage. No matter what, people will keep making more money from Internet innovation in a variety of ways: more information in any language (real time language translation will be available), more and efficient searching and more focused marketing.
Threats of new kind are appearing on the other hand. Service disruptions, viruses, security and privacy, the web's vulnerability and lack of robustness have all become issues of enormous importance as the role of the Internet is growing in the global economy and the society. Even spam that used to be a minor irritant has become a hazard that costs heavily. Monopoly of the control of the Internet (who will control the Internet, International Telecommunications Union or ICANN?), no access available to an overwhelmingly large majority, affordability, censorship and levels of education are a few more serious problems.
What is more, in developed world, where power plants, nuclear reactors, satellites, camera's, sewage lines, and subways can easily be crippled by well placed viruses on the Internet. Bombs will be pushed to the wayside when the Internet becomes the strongest and most powerful destruction tool known to man. It's a sad thought, but it is a very real problem. "In his book The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It, Zittrain warns of a possible cyber 9/11, referring to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Such an attack, he fears, might prompt governments to curb the accessibility and openness of today's Internet, a move that would undermine, the creativity - what he calls the generativity - of the network."
What people think is the future of the Internet? For those who are interested, there is an online interesting time study by Elon University and the Pew Internet and American Life Database. "More than 10 years have passed since this research project began, so the database is full of predictions made in the early 1990s. The researchers intend to continue the study into the future, to judge the success of the predictions. I suggest everyone should read those predictions because they are not only a meaningful peep into the future of the Internet but some are also funny and humorous read."
A personal survey of the Internet savvy Internet users in Pakistan revealed mixed response like elsewhere in the world. Every respondent agreed that the growth of users' base has stabilized and will now grow in scope and significance. More concerns will shift from conventional to Internet based practices. More people and organizations will place their vital interests online. Some of the responses could have important implications for policy makers and other stakeholders in our country.
The Internet has become a powerful medium for the Internet users to raise and discuss political and or social issues and gather public support all over the world. But "Pakistan politicians and their parties have yet not stated using the powerful medium of the Internet. Reason: majority of the population in Pakistan is still not online," says Professor Hashim Sher Khan, "it will take some time to build online political platform and culture in this country."
Spending millions of rupees to bring Internet everywhere has hardly shown any significant achievement in Pakistan so far. "Overall, we do not know if it is a useful business investment," says Mubarak Ahmad, Manager Marketing in an international company manufacturing cables. Dr. Faraz Ahmad, an educationist thinks, "The Internet is at a turning point and the changes are big enough in nature to warrant huge investments in Pakistan even if we can not cite any example of huge returns purely from Internet technologies. We simply cannot remain oblivious of what is happening in the world."
Beyond Internet service provisions, application service provision, grid computing and other shared applications are new ways to meet some or almost all aspects of Internet needs in Pakistan. Information Technology Professor Zafar Zaidi says, "These concepts have come a long way since they first came on the scene in the late 1990s in the more connected world. The idea of virtual cooperation and application sharing is a solution to many problems in Pakistan. These computing practices will take start in Pakistan soon. It has to."
Similarly, the concept of telecommuting has been in existence for some time, "the Internet technological available today are making it possible to practice it more productively. The trend has steadily grown over the past two decades in the world. The local job market, however, has traditionally been tight. "We might see telecommuting trend taking birth in corporate Pakistan in future," says Professor Zaidi.
"The best use of the Internet can be in education sector. The integration of Internet in teaching can be very fruitful in country like Pakistan where educational is yet not affordable for everyone. In future, students as well as teachers will become meaningfully familiar with the use of Internet. At least that is one hops for," says Hadi Imam.
When asked, Sajida Javed, an informed housewife and mother of five who is concerned about the seedier side of the Internet said, "I have to monitor what my children do while online. Allah willing, in ten years hey will be grown up and I will not be worried for what they are doing on the Internet."
As more people discover the power and value of the Internet for commerce, communication and entertainment, the role of the internet (and the challenges) will grow in Pakistan. Meanwhile, all stakeholders should build the infrastructure and take extensive confidence-building measures for use of the Internet.
Link:
Samples of predictions made by participants in Elon University and the Pew Internet and American Life Database Study
http://www.elon.edu/predictions/RecentSubmissions.aspx