Changing the way you communicate

It is not called Information Communication Tech-nology for nothing. The world of computers and the Internet is slowly coming to self-recognition, as a communications tool. Even though the number-crunching and byte-exchanging tools that we take for granted now were invented to track aircraft and decode encrypted enemy communications, the mathematics and hardcore science is taking more of a supporting role to facilitate bigger, better communications using multiple media.

Mathematicians will still spend hours in front of their machines – but only to come up with more efficient codecs and safe communication protocols to power the multimedia revolution that's effecting big social changes through the little box that sits on our desktops. Last week, Google bought YouTube.com for 1.65 billion US Dollars.

Against a backdrop of many debates that were sparked off by the deal, there lies one very noticeable fact-that the Internet is slowly but surely becoming a multimedia phenomenon in the true sense of the word.

Take the story of the 'Free hugs' campaign that was started by Juan Mann in the streets of Sydney, Australia and 'The sick puppies' – a rock band that barely had a crowd of more than twenty people for their gigs around town. Simon Moore, the band's lead guitarist and singer saw Juan and his 'Free hugs' campaign which he recorded on his video camera, and later dubbed with their song 'All the same'. Simon posted the video on YouTube last September and in a phenomenon that surprised even YouTube, the video was viewed by hundreds and thousands of people every day, launching the 'free hugs' campaign and the little known Sydney rock band into world attention.

The control of mass media that was regulated by government ministries and dominated by American Idols and Sirasa Super Stars, pay TV and Blockbuster movies is being handed now to the masses themselves. With the advent of broadband internet to the average household, people are equally interested in watching Crissy's video diaries and Dave's worldviews on Internet sites such as YouTube, as they are about that latest movie release starring Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry. Blogs take freedom of the press and freedom of expression to the next level – offering a mode of expression equally available to every individual and a media platform that is not cluttered with political pressures, corporate influence of profit interests. Bloggers don't get sacked from the Internet for writing what is on their mind – at least there haven't been any such cases reported so far!

In the broader scheme of things, the Internet – at least the parts of it that I just mentioned – is a good example of how Technology can be used to further the principals of democracy in places where the freedom of expression and access to information is restricted by governments, or as a result of corporate interests. It is therefore ironic that the poorer nations of the world where such personal liberties are most threatened are also the places where technology has not yet been made available to the masses.

Computers and Internet access is still a luxury and privilege that is inaccessible to the vast majority of Sri Lankans. Perhaps it is time to think about how we can take this technology to those who would benefit from it most, in a meaningful and equitable manner.

So if you have an interesting video posted on the web, a catchy blog or your own thoughts about how the Internet is changing the way you communicate and meet new people, write in to technopage@gmail.com and share your story with us.