Information Systems into Wisdom Systems (continued)

The matrix of three columns and four rows gives us 12 cells. In astrological jargon, these are the 12 "houses" you've heard about. Let's take them one by one in answering the question "What is the future of information technology?" This "hororary chart" was cast at 12:40 PM on March 3, 1996 at a longitude of 91 degrees 57 minutes and 45 seconds west. The latitude was 41 degrees, 0 minutes, and 31 seconds north. (Yup, you can check the results!)

OUTER VALUES (THE FIRST COLUMN)

First House (Dharma) In the future computer technology is applied much more appropriately than now. It no longer competes with human labor and brain power for jobs, but instead serves them, complements them, and gives them leverage. Technological advantages have been decentralized. They serve popular interests making life easier and more efficient for all. The technology is taken for granted and is much less noticeable than now. This latter point has an analogy with the history of automobile technology. Whereas early drivers had to know about spark and choke settings, and risked breaking an arm while cranking an engine, today we don't need much knowledge at all about how a car works. We just turn the ignition key. We take the car for granted and pay no heed to its technology. Requirements for an "interface" to our automobile technology almost vanish. Likewise for our computers.

Second House (Resources) The family unit is strong again, served by having more time together and easy audiovisual communications when apart. The family lives a healthier, more advanced stage of development based on individual desire for this. Family togetherness is not based on habits of social restrictions and pressures as was the case historically. The sense of family is extended to encompass the world. A sense of family and equity among nations begins to be firmly established.

The local production and preparation of food becomes more intimately integrated with family and community life. Computer network sharing and the spread of efficient production techniques and health information plays a major role in this trend.

Third House (Hopes/Desires) Computers play a vital but less distracting, less obvious role than they do now. Computers are a relatively transparent part of our social nervous system, more subservient, much easier to use, powerfully important, but less noticeable, more like telephones. We notice each other more than we notice the technology we use to process information and communicate it to each other. This occurs in spite of advances in artificial intelligence we can hardly imagine now. Computers become the communication center for the masses.

Fourth House (Awareness) "Smart" functionality of all kinds simplifies and supports our needs, and supplies our comforts. Computers are ubiquitous servants, just like the computer in your car's electronic ignition uses a computer letting you ignore tune-ups for at least a hundred thousand miles. We have much more leisure time at home. Travel needs are vastly reduced on every front, both business and pleasure, local and long distance. Basic needs like energy and shelter derive from much more locally self-sufficient economic systems. This reduces freight costs and increases global production enormously per unit of energy expended. Travel and freight costs become cost-effective in a global, ecological sense, i.e., in the service of long-term quality of life for the total population.

INNER VALUES (THE SECOND COLUMN)

Fifth House (Dharma) We have much more time to raise children, contribute personal guidance to them or others, and express individual creativity. Business investment is better informed and supported with accurate, up-to-date information and analysis. Sharing of creative output for the guidance, entertainment, and inspiration of others is global in scope.

Sixth House (Resources) Global games and competitions are profuse and intense. Other games are cerebral in nature, like chess, but they do not displace physical sports. On the contrary, physical sports information and entertainment is more accessible to everyone, along with an expanded world arena for these events in terms of who will want to compete with whom.

Business opportunities increase enormously. But the higher the degree of success, the more one must have a true winning edge to maintain it. Fame will be less a matter of good fortune, more a matter or the cream floating to the top.

Disputes and debates on every topic will be many, often heated and intense. Competition for massive public attention will be far fiercer and more difficult than now, while smaller audiences will be commonplace. Relative ease and wealth in life will be much more readily accessible to all, however.