I was watching a small documentary by Ericsson called “Networked Society” where one of the speakers mentioned we were in the “lightbulb era of the Internet”. This compares to the time when the lightbulb was invented, yet people didn’t yet realize all the things that could be done thanks to electric power. Today, this scenario holds true to broadband connection. How many things can we really do thanks to always staying connected to a high speed broadband connection?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7cuatm_bqw&feature=bf_prev&list=LLZQHthYQV8BaY5gfNIDBoZw&lf=mh_lolz]
The video even includes a tweeting plant. Yes, even plants can be smart now. Bury an open source internet connected leave next to your plant and it will tell you when it needs to be watered via Twitter. This particular example may seem ridiculous but it has major agricultural implications. It’s not just about artificial gene mixing and reinvention, is actual, real time information of what you can do for crops to yield more produces.
In a networked society, people need not undergo the same Henry-Ford-like line of education. 11-year-olds are now self-taught to come up with apps, products and even small businesses. How could anyone even dream of doing that? Time had to go by in order to open books, read what was “right” for each age and have due-time maturity.
Education is not about grades anymore. Education is about connectivity, about the infinite possibilities derived from curiosity, will and broadband connected devices. Instead of educated people in developed countries, there’s a networked society.