The Raw Material of the Future

The implications of the information revolution have been and will continue to be vast. However, they have also – at least so far – been primarily technological. It is true that our lives have changed considerably since the widespread introduction of computers, but there has been little that has been really revolutionary in the true sense of the word. We have used computer hardware and software to automate what we already do – to speed up processes, reduce error rates and minimise costs – but not to change our lives in a profound sense. Our cars may have on-board computers, but we still use them to get around; our fridges have circuit boards, but they still keep food cold; our factories may have robots, but they still weld metal. We should, perhaps, be less amazed at what we have achieved than what we have not even begun to attempt.