In
1996, internet connection speed was incredibly slow
and it seems interminable to load an online video. Worse
still, it cost more than US$102 for the service provider
charges per month. Hence, internet was not used widely.
Ten years later, a robust connection by cable allows
internet access at speeds of 5-15Mbs for just US$99.
That’s 23% less for cable services that features
internet speeds an incredible 17,000% to 50,000% faster
than 10 years ago. Thus, people would start subscribing
for Internet access as it is now cheaper and much faster.
In addition to this, most schools around the globe started
having Internet connection in their computer labs as
they believe it is an efficient educational tool. Moreover,
countries like Singapore, for example, have set up Wireless-Fidelity
(Wi-Fi) networks at several public places to allow laptop
users and people with Wi-Fi enabled
laptop
users and people with Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones to
access the Internet at anywhere and at anytime they
want to.
For example, in the United States, California, Philadelphia,
Anaheim, Wisconsin, Madison and several other cities
and towns have free wireless Internet access. Google
and Earthlink have also made a deal to provide free
wireless Internet access for the whole of San Francisco
city. Some analysts speculate that ten years into the
future, Americans will be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi services
in most states in USA. In the following year, airlines
are also going to set up Wi-Fi services onboard. This
spells doom.
As there are so many ways to log onto the Internet,
more and more people will get exposed to the Internet
and they would slowly become addicted to it as seen
from Grohol’s Model of Pathological Internet Use.
