Full Text: The Future's So Bright...

Brown: Perhaps in a way we are both teenagers, since from my perspective the future is also a giant leap into the unknown where we both hope freedom and responsibility--responsibility for a sustainable world--will reign supreme. Indeed, last year I was part of a workshop called "Information, Silence and Sanctuary" that brought technologists, humanists and theologians together to ponder the consequences of the information overload we are all experiencing. We should have also invited you!

There are a couple of points I might choose to differ with you. First, the Net is enabling us to build and maintain dense networks of friends and colleagues that stretch the globe. When I stepped down from running Xerox PARC I left behind one of the world's best infrastructures I could ever imagine. Yet now three years later and self-employed I have access to library resources richer than ever, have colleagues now scattered all over the world and have an immensely rewarding life--partially because of the new kinds of connections the Net has provided me. Yet still, speaking personally, I was hesitant to even enter this discussion until we had met f2f. So I certainly agree with you in the profound need for not letting the virtual replace the physical--but let's also recognize that there are many creative ways that it can augment it.

The other point refers to your comment on mass media. Yes, much of mass media has sunk to playing to the lowest common denominator of our society. But digital tools and the Net have enabled many more of us to make and distribute our own independent movies and documentaries that address core issues of society. We also have an emerging blogosphere that is certainly acting as a new kind of watchdog over mass media and opening the door to new forms of participatory democracy. Thus, we now have much more powerful ways for you and your generation to give voice to your vision of the future and to organize social movements to push for the kinds of values you care about.

O'Brien: I'll be honest: when I first read your response I was at a loss at how to reply. This was until New Year's. New Year's Eve I spent the night at a friend's house. The next morning we all woke up and were obviously just tired lumps, with the intention of just sitting around and being lazy all day. We spent the entire day playing board games, sitting and chatting, playing cards, charades, you name it. I looked at the clock and next thing I knew it was 9:00 pm. Where did the day go? To a fun-filled time bonding with my friends.

I was thoroughly impressed that my friends and I spent the entire day without turning on the television once or even resorting to video games. And to be honest with you, it was one of the best times I've had with my friends in a while.

The next day I went to another friend's house, just to hang out. I found myself sitting scrunched on the coach with my four friends glued to the T.V. No one was talking, no one was bonding, creating good memories.

Two of my friends were locked on MySpace, sending comments to their friends, and another friend was sitting in a chair texting. I couldn't help but be a little upset, that a group of my friends couldn't just hang out and talk, and just be together.

Once again, while technology is an amazing development, the people of the world must learn to find balance between the real world of people and relationships and the cyber world, time consuming and overpowering.

P.S. Mr. Scientist....is "blogosphere" really a word?

Brown: It is very true that the digital world must involve new social practices before its true social and civic power can be realized. Sounds like you had a wonderful New Year's and you and your friends were totally living in the moment. On the other evening, though, your friends, though physically present, were not really there. They were probably staging tomorrow or whatever and not fully being present for themselves or for you. As you said, one of the challenges we all face today is maintaining a balance between the physical and the digital (pardon the expression) but actually the balance is between "the now" and tomorrow and "the here" and elsewhere.

You are way too young to realize this, but this is nothing new. Wait 'til you are married and see what it is like to talk to someone who is only half there - no digital devices involved! We all zone out from time to time. In the past people complained about the emptiness of small talk at cocktail parties. It is the same as your friends using MySpace and texting while talking to you--only they are little bit more obvious about it. Next time, tell them to put the damn thing away and to turn off the tube. 20 years ago my girlfriend and now wife made me throw out the TV and it has never returned.