Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Can Moore's Law Unwind Tribalism?

A lot of Earth's troubles these days take shape as conflicts between modern countries and such old-style governments as the harsh monarchies in Southeast Asia and the the tribal governments in the Middle East. Power is hard to let go. Holding power for centuries makes it seem natural to hold. Incredibly poor people slave for the incredibly wealthy. Naturally, they are revolutionaries.

Can we sell these people cellphones? With cameras and internet access? What would happen then?

Cellphone prices are cut in half every two years, thanks to Moore's Law. Even the poorest will someday have Blackberries. When people so gather, how can tyrants survive?

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