yesterday's measure of a man

The traits and qualities we, as a society, will value in people tomorrow will be drastically different that what we value today...sort of. The qualities we will want in ourselves and our children are changing...

Thousands of years ago, the measure of a man was vastly different than it is today. However, I am sure the ability to relate to others, a sense of humor and a general resourceful were as respected then as they are today.

Today's man is most identified with what trait? Intelligence? Smarts? Genius?

Is that the defining mark of a successful man?

People that are smart often like to point out that they are smart. Often by the ability to recall facts. Know things about stuff (that sounds smart, don't it?), and be able to understand concepts quickly.

These traits will be useless in tomorrow's world. Think about it. These traits will be as useful as the ability to spell is today...

Gordon Bell, a researcher at Microsoft that is based in the bay area (I didn't even know the company had a research center here..show's how smart I am...), is showing us what the not too distant future will mean for human intelligence. The man, for the past 30 years or so, has had his memory outsourced to a computer, called the mylifebits project. (Fast Company November 2006) It's brilliant. Every email, saved. Every vision, photographed. Every document, scanned. Every conversation, recorded. All of it archived and accessible via computer. He can free us his mind for creative problem solving.

The true mark of success in the future?

The ability to think creatively is what will be one of the most desired traits of the future. The artists will decide our fates. Those that can socially network. The people that are least like machines...

Mr. Bell (a great character in The Paper Chase..."You're all a bunch of PIMPS!"...great line)...anyway...getting back to Mr. Bell, it will be a matter of time where your life experiences are stored on your home server. All memories. Nothing will be forgotten. Draw up any photo. Any memory. Any thought that was recorded. You will have access to all the information that has ever been thought, written or conceived.

How does one survive in such a world? How does one compete?