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 What are some ways (corporate and otherwise) that these technologies can be used? What are the benefits of these technologies to society? Be specific. Is there a "dark side"? Make sure to include your opinion of the way these technologies might evolve in the future.

    As Clive Thompson wrote, "I know people who use Skype for virtual closeness, leaving a video channel to their spouses open all day long while they work." Technology is improving our quality of life by allowing us to perform "magic." In Thompson's scenario, the spouses are each given a crystal ball which lets them see each other from miles away. 

    And it's not just Skype. YouTube allows everyone to create content with their personal style, Twitter and Facebook allows its users to connect with each other virtually, and streaming services allow people to broadcast live. Technology is shrinking the world because what used to take months for a letter to reach another country, now takes seconds for an e-mail to send. 

    This also gives rise to many business opportunities. For example, something that the Oregon branch discovered can transmit that knowledge overseas to London in a matter of seconds. According to the article, "Eight business trends to watch," new media creates a myriad of paths towards business. As the writers noted in 2007, "these systems are becoming interconnected through common standards for exchanging data and representing business processes in bits and bytes." Hosting a podcast, for example, is now a viable business whereas it just wasn't possible decades prior.

    Unfortunately, the advancement in technology isn't just purely a blessing. On Facebook, for example, information that is shared will be collected. Using that information, ads can be tailored to the user which many consider a giant breach of privacy. Even if ads were unimportant, there are users that collect information to use for their own benefit. Terry posting a photo on Facebook could create so many problems for him, but he would most likely be unaware of these "behind-the-scenes" issues.

    I don't think this breach of privacy will improve in the future. As companies create more strategies that rely on personal information, it will only get worse. I have a feeling that everything will eventually be mediums for advertisement. If you ask Siri what 2+2 is, she'll respond "4, sponsored by NASA."



"Leaving ‘Friendprints’: How Online Social Networks Are Redefining Privacy and Personal Security."     Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/leaving-                    friendprints-how-online-social-networks-are-redefining-privacy-and-personal-security/

Manyika, James M., et al. "Eight business technology trends to watch." McKinsey Digital,                            https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/eight-business-                   technology-trends-to-watch

Thompson, Clive. "Clive Thompson on How YouTube Changes the Way We Think."                                   Wired, https://www.wired.com/2008/12/st-thompson-15/

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