If you take a few moments to think about internet technology, you will realize that technological advances have come a very long way. It is amazing. Where has technology taken us? Many places.

The fact that technological advances have tripled within the last 40 years compared to the 40 years before is astounding. While some of these advances may have made distractions at work (I’m guilty) a little more prevalent, it has also opened up the workplace to exciting new ways to conduct business and think about new ways to reach the consumer.

Of course, one of the major advances in the workplace was the everyday usage of the Internet. Although the Internet has been around for decades, it only became a workplace necessity in the 1990s. This is when companies realized that they could much more quickly-and cheaply-reach their target audience than through other traditional media sources.

Even more amazing, technology continues to move outside the traditional office or home environment into more powerful and full-featured mobile computing devices. BlackBerries, iPhones and Windows Mobile devices are showing a trend toward bringing the experiences we are familiar with on a desktop computer and putting them in the palm of our hands. With better devices and technology, other things have to keep up as well. The biggest breakthrough will be in increasing the speed of mobile access to the Internet. In the future, the all-encompassing network of wireless broadband Internet access will rival what we experience today in our wired offices and homes, which will allow users for a more sophisticated browsing experience.

I think in the next 5 years or so, the internet will be looked at as commonplace. Everyone will be connected to everyone else at all times. Perhaps if I take a little bit to think about the future, I  can probably guess that watching TV on the internet will be almost as common enough to not require a local cable service. Most of the shows I watch are broadcast online, sometimes better looking than watching it on cable television and I think more and more people will realize this and it’ll be quite popular. That would mean better innovations and better services on Cable companies’ parts.

It is a never-ending story of internet and the technology behind it, and I am anxious to see the best of it. However, I am an optimist. There are those that are not so anxious and for good reason. We all know that with better technology going into internet and other things, that problems arise and individuals find loopholes, and hackers have that better technology to do “bigger and better things.” There is a not-so-pretty  side of things unfortunately, but we will coupe, and time will tell.

To read a good book about this topic, I recommend  The Future of Internet and How to Stop It  by Jonathan Zittrain and it talks about a lot of interesting topics and ideas. Check it out at your local library or buy it online!

As companies rush to “go green,” determining the right approach to creating effective Web-based communications that capture the spirit of environmental conservation is crucial. This year, astounding amounts of consumers have switched to energy-efficient light bulbs and have traded in their SUVs for Priuses, only to make yourself sit and wonder. Is going Green the latest fad, or the future? I would say both.

In 2006, a movie, done by Al Gore in “An Inconvenient Truth” ushered in an unparalleled era of environmental awareness. The next thing you knew magazines published green issues, actors spoke out about reducing carbon emissions (Leonardo DiCaprio, The 11^th Hour) and musicians rocked out on stage (Live Earth). Large tech companies (Apple, Miscrosoft, Google) have become aware and have given us products that are “environmentally friendly,” but what will it take for us to become more environmentally aware?

It is very difficult to change a large culture. How long have word been spreading about the earth falling apart because of us? Years. It is not until recently that musicians, celebrities, news, companies, and more are pushing a great deal of effort. Not to mention your local stores such as Walmart, who started recently designing products that are more environmentally friendly.  I think those contributors are starting to make an impact now.

Let us take a brief look into the future. I think where we are going now, and with a few of us becoming increasingly aware of our environment, I am going to take a guess at what is likely to come as far as using tech and going green. Physical security systems, such as the magnetic ID cards people use to enter and exit buildings; will increasingly control things like lights, heat, and other energy-related building functions. There are a few ways companies due this now by using motion detectors to turn on lights when a person enters and exists a room, but this will be a little better.

I think more companies will construct wind turbines or solar panels, or a wave-driven power generator. Giant companies like HP have moved to build out a major solar power installation in San Diego. Google is investing millions into alternative energy development. Once the big dogs do it, everyone is likely to follow. Could the green tech movement finally kickstart paperless office? We will see, but surely, there will be ways of better managing ink and paper in an office or home. Green homes will be the wave of the future. More and more homes are becoming self-sustaining dwellings that save the money in our bank account as prices rise.

Finally, what we use more often these days will see a change for the better. Computers are power hungry goblins, unbelievably, and very little households turn their computers off at night. Manufactures know this, I think we will begin to see better, more efficient computers that will save some money.