Dear emmalee,
It is difficult to determine, from this point of time (end of 2002),
what are the major development for the whole decade of 2000-2009, or
even for the last few years - some development take time to be
recognised for the importance they have - like Freud's "Dream
Interpretation", which was published at 1900 (technically at 1899),
but only by 1909 became widely known and discussed.
However, several things can be already determined, at least for the
time being, as mark stones for 2000-2002.
The first even, which influenced everything - technology, fashion,
media, and of course politics, society and economics - was the attacks
on the WTC and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. This attack changed a
lot in the attitude towards internal security, it changed the current
technologies and the money spent on them; the collapse of the media
system just after the events (including telephones) is also something
that would be studied, technologically as well as media-wise. As I
said, this even influenced arts and fashion. Fashion became very
"patriotic" and arts engaged itself with the sentiments that have
risen after the attacks.
The "Anthrax" affair, that emerged in the midst of the
post-September-11 era, symbolises another important
social-technological development: the danger of unconventional
warfare, demonstrated not only with Anthrax, but also with the current
crisis in Iraq, with sales of weaponry in post-USSR, and other
aspects.
Almost without notice, another important technological and societal
development occured: the first "commercial" flights to space, with
millionaire paying to be astro/cosmonaut. This is probably the first
small step, so to speak, in a big space wrap.
Two trends of the 1990s continue in this period. The first is the
Internet. Who remembers that in 1991 we didn't know BBS from BBC?
Today, if you're not online, you're not part of the world of
information, for many people. This trend would probably continue, and
since the economic and social development depends more and more on the
communications-infrastructure, whom who has the best one wins, while
those who have none - stay further behind. That means, that while the
US might continue to prosper, some Third World countries would not
even be on our radars - because they are not connected or reported -
until some horrible plane hijacking monsters would emerge from there.
That is related to another trend. The 1990s found the US in an
immigration wave of engineers and information specialists from all
over the developing world (the poor countries). This socio-economic
trend is expected to continue, despite the September 11 attacks, which
reduced the trust in many foreigners, mainly Muslims.
Another development, hopefully, would be more preservation of the
environment. With current natural disasters on one hand, and no major
environmental policy in the US, that might be a little far-fetched.
However, the current situation probably "demands" policy, before it's
too late.
All of these developments have to do with another important
development: the world is pretty much one unit, concerning the
influence of global events on the average citizen, and therefore, I
guess that in 10 year time you wouldn't ask about the US - because
you'd understand that the developments are global, even if they have
different effects in the local level.
See also my search terms and the following sites:
2000 "important developments"
2001 "important developments"
2002 "important developments"
PAMELA MENDELS , "The Leading Issues of '99? Wired Schools and
Accreditation" New York Times, December 29, 1999
<http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/12/cyber/education/29education.html>
I think that answered your question. However, if you need any
clarifications, please let me know. |
