|
Steve, if you think the abundance model is limited to the digital creative arts, you haven't seen anything yet....
Trend 1 - ever cheaper solar power. What happens when everybody starts dropping off the grid? And they do it because it's become far cheaper, long term, that being on the grid. (What do power companies do?)
Trend 2 - digital printers. What happens when it's cheaper and easier to (re)build your gadget with your digital printer. (Will gadgets become Heathkits all over again?) Maybe not, but...a completely customized gadget done to your taste? A real possiblilty.
Trend 3 - Cheap robotics. Robotics is about where PC's were in 1974. It'll take longer to progress than PC's did, but if you think they'll be limited to factories and big corporations, you'll be wrong. (Coming someday - Robocook, who cooks just as fine of meals as a resturant. Or a robot that can repair a car. Or a group of 3-4 that can build a house.)
Trend 4 - (This one's almost here) Robotic controlled tranportation. (Look ma, no driver!) This one's being worked on by Google and it's already being tested on the roads of California and Nevada. They expect to have it released to the public in 5 years.
All these trends have one thing in common, they lead away from the mass consumption paradym. Buy and throw away may be scandalous 30 years from now. You see than (in a sense) in the digital media today. People who buy (as opposed to those who rent) don't throw their digital goods away. It'll come in handy someday, doesn't cost anything further, and takes up a tiny amount of space...
|