The Internet has changed...

I came across this Times article on the changes the Internet has undergone some major changes over the years:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/remembrance-of-message-boards-past/

To that commentary, I'd like to add that the Web is starting to look more and more like television. People speak of "cutting their cord" with the cable company and watching television online. Even Netflix has gotten into the video streaming business. That being said, I wouldn't count television out quite yet. HDTVs are still selling and you can often get perfectly good programming for free using an antenna.

The emphasis on message boards back in the 90s is well-noted. In many ways, Facebook and other social networking sites seem to have replaced that element online. Still, it doesn't seem like the biggest killer app. Despite all the naysayers, email is still with us. Likewise, Amazon and eBay continue to be a powerful retail forces online. Perhaps what strikes me the most is that the Internet is becoming so ubiquitous. Getting back to television, owning one of those in the 1940s was a big deal. In a more modern era, having a computer back in the early 1980s was pretty neat too. It makes me wonder what the next big tech innovation will be.

Recently, I saw a Chevy Volt driving down Northern Blvd. It's basically an electric car with a gas engine when needed. Hey, a car that doesn't need to run on gas sounds pretty futuristic. The government is also offering tax credits to people who purchase a Volt. Car Talk (public radio at its finest) also tested it:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/driving-notes/

Who knows? That could be the next big thing someday. Until next time, catch me in the library.