When one looks at where the internet was ten years ago, one can see that it has quickly progressed to being involved in every part of our lives. No longer does one need paper newspapers, magazines, TV guides, or phone books. Communication with other people has been simplified, and sped up. No longer does one need to remember anyone’s birthday-simply input it to one’s email’s calendar, facebook, or any number of other websites, and it will remind one. One doesn’t have to leave the house to shop, get food, or to see people. One can talk with someone and see their face while thousands of miles apart. If the internet has entangled itself so much into everyday lives so that one can do almost anything online in only a short amount of time, it will surely grow in leaps and bounds in the next ten years.
Within the next ten years, the internet will no doubt continue along its path of increasing conveniency and of bringing the rest of the world imminently closer. It will probably continue to have a few dominant sites, such as Amazon and Google, while smaller sites struggle for success. The dominant sites will become stronger, and find ways to attract more people. For instance, they could make themselves more user-friendly, and offer more than they currently do. Textbook sites could enlarge to sell any books, sell school supplies, or open to other countries and languages. It will become more widespread to do schoolwork online, and will be more accepted as a legitimate way to learn. More office-work will be accomplished online, from the convenience of home. Physical things will become obsolete such as calendars, planners, alarms, notepads, pens, cookbooks, and phonebooks. TV will become more obsolete, with the internet providing what you want whenever you want it. More lawsuits will come up involving copyright, infringement, the legality of tracking where you are, etc., and there will be more government control over what is done online.
The internet has changed our lives, and will continue to do so. Those who think they can ignore it and carry on with life as they always have will be left in the dust and will no longer be in the loop.
