A little history, part 2

Early in the 1980's (pre-internet days) there were sites that existed online known as Bulletin Board System or BBS's. They were run on personal computers that were connected to phone numbers that were usually devoted to accessing the BBS only. You had to dial up to these sites using a modem and once you connected (not always a sure thing in those days since the number of concurrent users wasn't very high) you could navigate a text menu to find software to download or forums to post messages to other users - a sort of public email system at that time.

I would have to run software on my home computer then dial a phone number using a phone, once the dial tone changed I would have to place the phone receiver into a pair of rubber cups that were on top of the actual modem. Then the modems became more useful and faster as the years went on, losing the rubber cups and connecting directly to your home computer and eventually being integrated inside the computer on a card.

AOL came along in the early to mid-90's and we got on board here at our home around 1994-95. There was a time when AOL was our only access to the Internet and you had to use the AOL interface at all times - even when accessing early web pages.

Now most of us have broadband connections to the Internet that allow us to email, surf, blog, share videos and photos, access our medical info, play games, check our bank accounts, pay bills, read the news, buy practically anything for sale and even watch TV shows - all at speeds unheard of only a decade ago.

Who knows what is coming next? I expect more wireless connections available freely to anyone anywhere in the next few years, easier setups to allow Ma and Pa to hook up anything they need to use online regardless of their level of computer skill and all of your key personal information eventually stored on or inside of your body.

I know there are people that aren't sure that last item is a good thing but think about how much key information you have to carry around either in a wallet, purse or even your memory? How nice would it be to have all of your account numbers, medical info/history, usernames/passwords, phone numbers, appointments and dates available in a chip that is attached to you somehow that isn't easily lost or stolen?