High Speed Net Access Defining College Life

peter303 writes "Todays LA Times has an article on how high speed InterNet access (defined as 10 Mbit ethernet in your dormroom or 100+ times T-1/ISDN/fast modem) is revolutionizing college life: such things as routine streaming video and free long distance phone calls. It is creating a generation of "speed-junkies" that is affecting college admissions, employment and housing decisions, and propelling consumer demand for high bandwidth pipes. " Bandwidth convinced me to move on campus. The lack of bandwidth nearly kept me there (despite paying like 4x as much as I did simply renting a house nearby). Its very true.

Comments

Other implications

[generic-man]

Just think about what will happen when broadband access is as widespread in the "real world" as it is in corporate/educational America. Free, high-quality phone calls and videoconferencing. Lightning-fast transfer speeds. Industries such as the long-distance telecom industry are already changing to meet this demand. Notice how phone rates are trending towards a flat rate per month plus nominal charges for calls.

Of course, free stuff isn't always "free" -- there are ads, and antiprivacy crap like monitoring your web usage. I wouldn't be surprised to see legislation about that in the next three years.

Re:high speed reclusivity

[Kintanon]

studies are beginning to point towards a relationship between time spent on the 'net and a loss of mental or physical well being ... from experience, I can attest that high speed access in a college environment is like a drug -- you've got your gamers, your chatters, your pr0nners, etc. etc. etc. and the newfound freedom of college seems to encourage abuse of this access ... is society as a whole headed for trouble, or, worst case scenario, a disaster, when the day comes that people prefer electronic contact over personal/physical ... ?


Many of us despise day to day contact with most of humanity in any case. I recently closed my brick and morter bank account because I can't stand dealing with the tellers. I hate having to talk to people on the phone if I don't know them already, and I have no desire for personal contact with random strangers. I've met quite a lot of friends on the net who I later met (two of whom now live with me and my GF in our new house) and liked. I find it easier to communicate through this medium than through the telephone, I can communicate adequately in person but I don't prefer it. And yet I have a fairly healthy social life, it's just that I have time to focus on doing ONLY what I want to do and with whom I want to do it. I don't have to deal with the stupidity of clerks or the inane questions asked by losers I run into on the street. The few mass social contacts I have are at things like conventions or M:TG tournaments where I know the people all have at least one interest in common with me.
I really don't think there is anything wrong with preferring electronic contact to personal/physical....

Kintanon

New Tech Reclusivity - blast from the past

[jabber]

You know what, I just don't know about that Christopher fellow.

He used to spend time with us here in the market place, but ever since Guttenberg invented printed books, he's become a recluse.

He just sits there, burning perfectly good candles at night, reading and mumbling about 'feeding his head'.

You know, I don't think he's even bothered to plow his field this season. Surely, these books are the work of the devil.