Each age has its pin-pointed passions and pursuits. If the eighteenth century heralded the revolutionary march towards 'liberty, equality and fraternity', the nineteenth and twentieth centuries made spectacular strides in science and technology and waged a relentless war against hunger and disease.
The twentieth century witnessed the gradual demise of colonialism, as also the sudden collapse of communism, and thus ushered in the dawn of freedom for many an Asian and African country, along with the sweet-bitter dose of market economy or globalisation. In order to feed the fires of crass consumerism and commercialisation of concepts, excessive exploration and exploitation of both human and natural resources became the hallmarks of the closing years of the twentieth century. Standing at the threshold of the new millennium, one can foresee the triumphant trinity-Information Technology, Communication Revolution and Entertainment Extravaganza, calling the shots and ruling the roost.
From pigeons carrying messages or information to dare-devil human couriers, to telephone (both traditional and cellular), wireless, hot-line to website, internet, e-mail, e-commerce, so many expressions and innovations have not only joined our daily lexicon, but also have enabled most of us to acquire all types of information and entertainment without making the least possible bodily movement.
When Alfred Marshall propounded the innovative concept of perfect competition, nearly a century ago, he had no knowledge of the Internet. Without information, both the buyers and the sellers were at their wits' end as to how they could benefit in the absence of requisite information on prices. Now all that one has to do is to go to the right web-site and collect the information right on the screen. No doubt, Internet is a new technology like any other. But it encompasses the whole economy and is not industry specific.
In the entire gamut of information and communication, human history is dotted with successes and setbacks. In the domain of entertainment, mobility of artists and sophistication of stage and its set-up were handicapped by time and space. In the past, whenever natural calamities struck any part of the world, information about the tragedy reached the rest of the world much later.
For want of quick communication systems, relief and rescue operations were tardy and tedious as a result of which many precious lives were lost. With satellites orbiting the planet earth, and in some cases even satellite stations established in space, the images/pictures of happenings anywhere and everywhere in the world splash across in moments. If satellites have revolutionised information and communication, they have also helped run TV channels round the clock. With information technology gaining ground every moment, and communication network omnipresent, the world of entertainment could not afford to lag behind. In fact, the youths of today is as much dependent on information, communication and entertainment, as they rely on their common sense, intelligence and discretion.
The varied vistas that information technology, communication network and entertainment extravaganza are going to unfold will determine the tone and temper of the times that lie ahead. Though equal partners, yet information holds the key to shape and sharpen the paradigms and parameters of future trade and commerce, education and management, space research and human welfare.
There is no denying the fact that the road to scintillating successes that the trio is going to tread in the years to come is beset with pitfalls and potholes as well. The triumphs of technology also carry the risk of their falling into evil hands of anarchists, sadists and nihilists. So far, the spread of the web has been predicated on the notion that global connectivity is a good thing. And perhaps it is. But surely there is something seriously wrong with an international network that can be so severely damaged, if not paralysed, by a single geek (a knowledgeable and obsessive enthusiast) sitting in a cybercafé in some down-market area of some less developed country.
In the same vein, in the communication world also, the underworld dons, drug pedlars, narco-terrorists, criminals and others of similar breed, can hold the civilized societies to ransom by operating from jails, their hide-outs and other safe havens. In the name of entertainment, pornography, blue films, indecency, obscenity, violence and vulgarity are some of the most disastrous distortions that are being shown, both on the big and the small screens.
Information Technology is a buzzword, both in contemporary content and context; let's not make it a bad word. Communication network connects us with the rest of the world; let's not allow it to fall into the hands of criminals of any hue. Entertainment extravaganza relieves us from everyday stress and tension; let's not degenerate it into an abject affair. | |
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