Internet

Internet changed the world.

Though it's difficult to image how it changed the world because it exists so close to us, it has actually changed the world and moreover, it WILL change the world.

What's the most significant impact of Internet? Email, which enables us to communicate wherever we are, or Facebook, which connects people with same interest in all around the world?

Of couse they did and will.

But what I think is most important is that with internet, everybody in the world can have same opportunity of access to the information, especially in education.

For example, I am listening to Harvard University lecture on "iTunes U" freely. On youtube, there are infinite source of study. Research papers of top investigators are uploaded online.

This realizes the fairer competition.

In the past, only rich people could have high level education.
Winners and vested interest holders tried to monopolize the information and that was the source of their competitiveness.

Thus the richness was fixed throughout several generations.

But it will change to some extent.

I would not say Internet completely eliminates the information gap.
I would not say Internet realizes complete fair competition.
Surely, in the world, there are still people who can't have internet access.
I think Internet has problematic aspects. such as cyber bullying or cyber addiction.
And I do not think everybody has to have internet access and get involved in global competition.

However, I would say that Internet makes the situation a bit better than before. At least for those who want to compete on global market.

New technology is about how to use it.

With appropriate use of Internet, we can open a new viewpoint, I believe.