Re: Alta Vista

J. Michael New (MICHAEL.NEW@NRC.CA)
Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:24:26 -0500

D.L. Richardson reveals:
>
> > Also, I agree that a private agency doesn't have much power on a
> > national scale, but one could have a lot of power over individuals
> > if used seditiously, i.e. the way the CIA might use it. Information
> > is power.
>
> All of this is starting to sound like debate material for the
> annhiliation of the FC archives ;> The more I think about it,
> the more paranoid I get. Crikies, folks. In 100 years, long
> after I'm dust, someone may be fiddling around researching a
> historical book on the evolution of cyberculture, etc, and they
> may just happen to fall across this post...and laugh?
>
> Who knows.
>
> I think I might write and post a "message to the future".
> Sort of an electronic time-capsule piece. actually, it'd
> be an interesting FC project...sort of like an introductions
> thread with a purpose ;>
>
> - Deb (thinkin')

What a great idea! Kind of like a time capsule. Although you could
do this with a book too, I think the electronic medium is better for
it because of the search engines. You could put the phrase
"the year 2046" in a few places and "time capsule" and other phrases
to perk the ears of the future's search dogs.

How about creating a special email repository, so that you send a mail
to a particular person in the future (such as yourself)? In the
message would have to be the person's name, birth date and place;
essentially enough info to find that person in 10 or 50 or 100 years.
If the person were no longer alive, it would send it to his or her
next living descendant, or sibling, etc.

The repository would sit around with these messages, and each day it
would mail off those messages set for that date (probably a lot of
"Happy Birthday" messages). Perhaps there could be some way of taking
your message back, to avoid embarrassing situations (erotic anniversary
greetings being sent to your ex, who is now your boss, etc...).
The repository would have to be around for a long time, and be able
to convert all the messages into the medium of the day.

Mike

----------------------------- _/ /\/\ /\/ ----------------------------
J. Michael New Michael.New@NRC.Ca
Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Institute (613)991-4371
National Research Council of Canada home: (613)230-7783
"Star Trek transporter: the ultimate Cut and Paste"
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