This is an excellent book....
Focusing on the invention of the telegraph, it reveals volumes about the way in which the contemporary society we can see around us has evolved hand in hand with technological innovation. Three centuries prior to the advent of the world wide web, the telegraph was the first invention to 'shrink the world'. At at time when the British Empire was living its heyday, it suddenly became possible to send word of important information and notable happenings vast distances in a matter of seconds. Prior to this, the speed at which such news was able to travel was limited entirely by the speed of its messenger; be it by foot, horse, train or boat.
The world is constantly evolving and the human species' penchant for social interaction is part and parcel of this. The technology which has driven change throughout history has more often than not been inspired by our desire for ever speedier methods of communicating and devouring information.
As Tom Standage perceptively points out, each and every generation feels as though they are living at the very cutting edge of technology and global phenomena. It is certainly true that in a way, the seemingly sophisticated ability which the internet has given us to communicate and receive information at lightning speed feels almost superhuman. It has undoubtedly created a lifestyle which is worlds apart from that which we lived a mere twenty years ago. Patterns appear to retrace themselves throughout history and it is interesting that this change has occurred in the midst of a second wave of empire building.
The process by which some countries were able to develop faster than others began far in history, at the time when international interactions first began. The majority of which were rather unfriendly. This process truly feels as though it is now coming to a head; there is no nation which is not intimately affected by its global associations. 'Sovereign states' do not stand alone financially, but rather rely on a complex flux of manufactured goods, raw materials, human labour and social capital. Some people are all the better off for these interactions but these crafty few are literally sucking the wealth from the hands of the remaining billions.
In my mind, there is no doubt about the role in which modern communication has taken in accelerating this process and ultimately, the interconnected nature of the global village has led to all manner of the most abhorrent social and environmental injustices. However, as with all elements of this material world, there is an inherent duality. A rapidly burgeoning assortment of people are now harnessing the power of the internet for positive and creative change. Never before has there been such a forum for sharing ideas and forging connections between groups of like minded individuals. It may just be the 'cutting edge' illusion from which every generation suffers, but I do believe that here we have a chance to change. Revolution is possible, indeed it has already begun, and I think that technology has a big part to play.
