Inspired #8: In Closing

As the semester comes to a close, there were a lot of things to reflect on in policy that has helped me see issues from new angles. The rise sophistication of Internet technology will lead to question about privacy and online identity rights. Some will bring up the Bill of Rights. Others will point at the number of attempted hacking of government and corporation computers. Nonetheless, the Internet still provides a place for sharing like no other invention before its time. You can find videos, jokes, news, keep up with friends, and chat, all on Facebook alone. I find it amazing to think that it was not long ago that I was using dial up with the cliche dialing noise that sounded like you were losing service on a cell phone today.

How about those cell phones? The computer abilities on them are quickly catching up to those of laptops. While they cannot execute large software, you can still do all of your Internet surfing on there and share content like you would at your desk computer. It may be a little arduous to use at times, I see that it has passed the Internet in the touch screen user interface which more computers are using, including the ordering machines at Sheetz! If will not be long until nearly all devices are on a network, called cloud computing. This will create a new interactive web atmosphere where even greater potential for exploitation exists. Throw in virtual reality that will be mainstream use in chatting and video games, and you have a future where the web will dictate a sizable portion of everyday life. Conference meetings in virtual reality or at least Skype with a camera will become the norm.

Then there are a plethora of other daunting foreign policy topics. Each in some way has this utter doomsday scenario it seems. But, that might also have some bias in order to push policy through. The main point overall though is how unpredictable the future is. The best we can do is strive to create programs now that will maintain a stable livelihood of the country and attempt to repeat it such that people always live well. Is that not what policy is ultimately about anyway? Trying to make life better, safer, and with less effort? It is quite possible many different sides of an issue will be enacted as policies themselves at some points in our lives, only to be repealed by legislation advocating the other side. In ways, it is cyclical in nature but always interesting to watch unfold.

In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone for a good semester full of discussion, reflections, thoughts, and viewpoints. I personally like these type of discussion-based classes.

Have a great winter break!