RURAL-URBAN-INTERNET MIGRATION

Guest Writer: Milliscent Maduagwu

Image Credit: brainsolis

The internet has totally changed the way we do things. It has accelerated the speed of the jet age; fast banking, fast shopping, fast communication, fast marriages... It has just generally increased the speed at which the earth rotates around its axis

Although this same speed hasn't been without its hiccups. The NSA scandal, Wikileaks revelations, and multiple attacks from hackers have made us rethink our stand on this great invention. An invention that has really come a long way, and has been developed by so many minds.

The first idea for the internet is credited to Leonard Kleinrock after he published a paper entitled ''Information flow in large communication nets'' on May 31, 1961, and from that time many other great minds have contributed in making the internet what it is today. People like; J.C.R Licklider, Robert Taylor, Elmer Shapiro, Steve Carr, Steve Crocker, Jeff Rulifson, Ron Stoughton, Paul baran, Thomas Marill, Lawrence Roberts, Barry Wessler, Charley S. Kline, Ray Tomlinson, Vinton Cerf, Robert Kahn, Yogen Dalal, Carl Sunshine, Bob Metcalfe, Danny Cohen, David Reed, John Shoch, Paul Mockapetris, Jon Postel, Tim Berners-Lee... Just to mention a few (hahah) that's a really long list right? That really tells you how far the internet has come, and how far it can still go.
 

Image Credit: foxnews

Someone said in some years to come we will be downloading food, cars, and other things. A study done recently shows that 1 out of 5 real shops are closing every five years due to the rise of online shopping and e-banking! When we also think of the rise of the popularity of smart phones, tabs, and similar gadgets, you'd agree with me that, that study isn't far from correct.

But then, critics of the internet will ask; wouldn't this 'speed download virus' make the world lazy? Everybody will just sit down downloading instead of moving around for things...think of the health implications? Rise in obesity, no exercise, etc. Wouldn't it also increase the level of theft?--hackers and virus makers--what if we all migrate to the internet and everything crashes? (Lol) so many things to consider right? Economists even claim that the internet is a bubble that will soon burst! And that all these big companies and billionaires that are making so much off advertising might soon loose it all.

Image Credit: holytaco

Well, without the internet I wouldn't be communicating with you right now. So, even though it could all turn around and crash on us, I don't think we should stop. Who wants to still send letters through post offices and wait for 3 months for a reply?--i.e if the letter doesn't get missing on the way--when I can do it in 3 seconds from my smart phone? They say speed kills... I just hope that saying doesn't apply to the internet.

 ABOUT OUR GUEST WRITER 

Milliscent Maduagwu is an OAP at Nigeria Info Fm, and she shares her thoughts on happenings in the society on her blog Raising the Standard. you can follow her on twitter @millionscents