What does the future hold?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 |
posted by Sue Heuman |
Many people smarter than me have already made predictions for 2010 and beyond. Still, as we begin a new decade, I can’t help but contemplate the next 10 years. So, here are some things I’d like to see:
Moving beyond the written word – our current preoccupation with the written word (newspapers, articles, blogs, tweets, etc) will give way to interpersonal dialogue on a common level. “Chats” will actually involve speaking with other people. Simultaneous language translation and video links will allow these conversations to take place around the world.
Everything on the computer – you know that 50” TV screen you just bought? In the near future, it will connect directly to your computer and traditional broadcasting as we know it will cease. All shows will be pay-per-view, downloaded so that you can watch them when you want. That also probably means the end of TV advertising. The shift toward individual control will continue in a big way, and I believe consumers are willing to pay for it.
Journalists will have a different role – Instead of working for newspapers, TV and radio, journalists will be independent contractors posting stories to their own websites, and people will subscribe directly to the journalists covering news and issues important to them. Again, this is a shift toward consumer control (my news, my way); a change from organizational control (traditional media) where editors decide what news appears each day, and the prominence given each story. Again, provided on a subscription basis, will this mean the end to advertising?
Ok, so the point of this wasn't to actually try and see through the crystal ball. (And, apologies if some of this stuff is actually under development!) The point is to try and imagine the future for media and communications, given that I believe we are just at the beginning of a revolution in how, when and where information is shared.
What do you think the future holds? And, what will it mean for companies and organizations who are trying to get their messages out?
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