Computers and networks isolate us from one another. A network chat line is a limp substitute for meeting friends over coffee. /…/ While the Internet beckons brightly, seductively flashing an icon of knowledge-as-power, this nonplace lures us to surrender our time on earth. A poor substitute it is, this virtual reality where frustration is legion and where—in the holy names of Education and Progress—important aspects of human interactions are relentlessly devalued.
We may smile and laugh at this PoV from 1995 as much as we like. But these lines in the final paragraph should make us aware of the price we may have paid to come to our current state of the web today. And, let’s be honest here, there definitely IS room for improvement.
I wonder if my UX profession alone may be able to improve upon the current situation or if this would be something society, politics and the economy collectively would have to work on – together.
And while we’re at it we may also start a debate on what really defines „Value“ today. Is it still monetary only? Is it the value each one of us contributes to society? And how would that be measured?
Society continues to fragment as we speak. It is dear time we start finding and focussing on our common values, goals and aspirations.