We are currently living in an age where information is widely available, being shared, and changing the face of the world.  Through Facebook we've seen the suspected Boston bombers captured, the Arab spring take hold, as well has the first photos of a new child.  This will continue for some time.

In the next 50 years we will see more applications try to protect our privacy, passwords will fade away for a new security mechanisms, and non-private data being shared in greater numbers.  Cable providers and TV stations will need to change how they deliver stations.  Most programs will be available online, including sporting events.  You will be able to choose a service where you can select what stations you want to subscribe to.  You will also be able to choose whether it has commercials or not.

"Books" will be able to be rented from a library, free of charge.  Books will no longer have the presence they currently do.  They will be in an electronic form.  The device to read it on will be paper thin and inexpensive. A student will be able to get this e-reader and contain a full backpack of books.  As the new semester or school year stats, all books can be delivered to the e-reader.

With all this freedom of information, and consumer choice, there will be a darker side.  Some people will take advantage of the freedom of information and use to exploit it.  Some of it will be in the form of trying to charge people for information that is already free, others will modify information.  As the world shifts, some Governments will crack down on which information gets shared.  In the next 50 to 100 years it will give the citizens of those countries more freedom.

However, in the next 200 - 300 years, governments will try to control more and more of that information.  We will see mergers between neighboring countries in an effort to try to control this information.  They will spy, persecute, and restrict the rights of their citizens.  There will still be countries that are "free", but even those will be in jeopardy   People will give up their rights for free information in an effort to protect their country.

Countries will be classified into two categories   One will be those with "free" information, and the other will be those with restricted information.  Of course, during this all there will be cyber warfare, and even physical warfare to control which country has which view of information.

In the next 1000 years, the people with "free" information will let it slip more and more until it is equal amount of information as the restricted information countries.  Once that happens, a one world government will be formed to control information.

Of course, this is only a theory.  I do believe now is the greatest time of information availability and share-ability   However, there are some scary signs if governments start trying to control what information they have access to and what we as citizens have access to.

Please share your thoughts.

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