from freelanceswtich.com

I pulled both of my hamstrings last week and my legs aren't feeling that great; so I stayed home all day today; and I worked all day. I had my Springnote stuff going on one side, Open Web Asia prep on the other, on top of all my blogs.

Here's the thing. I was home all day and I probably talked to something like 100 people, either through Skype, MSN messenger, Google Talk, email, blog comments, Springnote, Facebook, phone, SMS, and the list goes on. And I think I'm actually more tired than physically working in office with 10 teammates. Oh, and the people I talked to today are in L.A., New York, Boston, Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, London, and Seoul.

This is what the Internet means to me. It's got some ontological and existential meaning in it. The Internet gives my existence a meaning. It proves that I'm alive to those that are in different time zones.

Like in the cartoon above, sometimes it puzzles me. I just wanna ask the person on the other side, whether on messenger or blog comments, "how can you be so sure that the person you're talking to is the person you think you're talking to?" Of course, it's possible to deceive someone even if you physically meet him or her; but the Internet makes it even more difficult to detect.

I believe that the online and offline realities must come together some time soon. This should be applied to collaboration as well. Communicating in non-physical space never can be as effective or rich in meaning as face-to-face communications, but we've just gotta find a better way for this.

The latest report in Korea says 99.9% of teens use the Intenret and something like 98.7% of those in their 30's. The way we communicate with and find meaning in each other is completely changing. We actually might be getting dumber. But, it's just the way it is.

How will this new technology be mixed with the Asian spirit and values, which have always valued harmony and co-existence over individualism and independence. Surely, you'll get a better picture at this at Open Web Asia next week.

This post isn't necesesarily about the digital generation in Korea, but the ever changing landscape in humanity in general, I guess. Or, I'm just very tired and don't really know what I'm talking about. ;)

So, with that, good night, folks!