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This question addresses fears often felt by the modern man. While most will agree that computers are an integral part of our life today, their subtle intrusive pervasiveness should not be overlooked. Many already envision a utopian global info-government while others secretly wish for an economic meltdown of epic proportions and a soothing return to Mother Nature.

The sheer size of the Internet infrastructure and the volume of electronic waste produced globally each day speak for themselves, not to mention the rising carbon footprint of the digital information industry. We seem to be stuck in an uncharted territory somewhere between the old industrial world and the new promised land of digital freedom from human limitations. There is unimaginable power at mankind's disposal yet most seem to suffer from an embarrassing lack of understanding. Perhaps, then, it's not strictly about having computers or not.

We should rather ask, "Are we making good use of computing power?"

It's not the hardware at all. Computers are tools and as such they should be used to promote global well-being and efficiency. Metcalfe's law states that the value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users, not to the fanciness of the network itself. Today's world is still split in half, undergoing major economic and social changes, and only a quarter of our planet's inhabitants use the Internet. This means that we are exploiting at best only one sixteenth of the web's potential.

It's about people and their attitude. Globalization is in full swing and a global network is a must to manage and prevent the collapse of the system, but what really counts is the purpose that it serves. This network could be used to spread information and knowledge, to train people and help the development of a sustainable global culture that could provide the necessary common ground for dialogue while preserving each group's identity. And it could just as easily (much more easily, actually) be exploited by greedy companies to reap juicy rewards at the expense of the world's poor, or something along that line.

The Bottom Line

Not only are computers necessary today, they are crucial for the continued evolution of society. Intertwined as they are with recent world events, it would be impossible to simply let go of the whole network at this point. What the world needs is a new understanding of the Internet and a thorough and serious evaluation of its potential.

Learn more about this author, Nicholas Rosso.
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