Actualizing “virtuality”: making new “americas”

It’s not that new. Long distance communication started with the mailing system and actualized by long distance travel beginning with ships. They made virtual connections possible, although it all took time and money.

These outdated methods to connect created the countries in the American continents and accelerated their growth by using electricity, railways, the telegraph and phones: all new connection technologies that actualized the virtual intent to explore, expand and profit.

Today, the time and cost have dropped. Even 20 years ago a voice call to another country cost the same as a good meal. Now you can video call nearly for free. This possibility to talk face to face immediately rids the need for mail or transport and makes it possible to make new connections everyday with anyone, anywhere, anytime on broadband.

A revolution in technology but the human culture has yet to catch up because we really don’t know how to make the most of the new opportunities. Why? Lack of trust and our need for order poses the biggest barriers.

It took over 200 years for the USA to develop into today’s behemoth of cultural activity that still puzzle older cultures. Technology gave US citizens new ways to live together while the cultural systems had time to adjust.

If the types of technology that created the Americas is free, we have the potential to make new multi-national americas all the time, based on common interests, history, intentions and any new abstract human endeavor. But this technology has not solved the problem of our psychological need for privacy, order and rest.

Culture does not have much time to catch up so it does feel chaotic and stressful. We are looking for solid ground in a virtual world.

My first 7.9 earth quake experience was in Tokyo that shattered my dependence on solid ground. But the building I was in swayed for longer than the tremor and somehow absorbed the collateral damage.

Technology made by humans coped with the tremors. Humans also make cultural adjustments. Will our culture adjust to make the best use of the potent technology to create new americas? How long will we muddle through the virtual messiness before creating new solid ground? Let’s give it a try.