One of the things that science fiction writers got wrong, was how computers would develop. Most of them thought that they would become ever bigger, and we would all interact with one via a terminal.
Yet, the opposite came to be. Computers became not only ever more powerful, but they also become smaller. And although with the advent of the Internet, it could be argued that in the essence each of our computers connected to it acts like a terminal, they didn't become just a terminal dependent on a central computer to operate.
Computers have become so small, that in our smartphones and tables we got truly portable computers that we can carry around with us all day long to do much more than many science fiction writers, scientist and engineers could have even imagined even a few decades ago.
Its both interesting, and a bit scary, how much data we don't only have access to with smartphones, but also how much data we generate while using them. In a way, we all have become content creators at some level. Yes, most of the time we consume content, but we also create some by modifying in some way the content we share with others.
Media has become truly interactive, allowing people to become active participants. So much so, that people expect to be able to participate in some way each time they come in contact with any content they come across. Media has truly been democratized, though I still see it the whole thing being in the process of maturing. While in some ways, some artist and content creators have figured out how to manage the whole thing, there is still plenty of room to actually improve and to make it work better for everyone involved.
Though we are in living in a world no one fully predicted, we are getting better at making the best out of it. One of the best things about it, is that it has truly made it easier for more people to actually have a hand in making of a better world. Now, we not only make sure that those who are only in stay in, but also give more people the chance to have a say on it.
