"An Introduction to the Information Age"

Manuel Catsells explains the new era and how technology has transformed the way people live and rely on things today. Computers and technology have completely changed ways of life. With such networks such as facebook and myspace people get get in contact with each other so easily. With all of these new webs everyone can have a say. They can comment, be heard, and voice their opinions through the internet. Castells calls this the New Age, which is a ton of optimism and opportunity for people.
A very interesting fact is that in today's way of living, in six months people acquire more information than anyone did in their entire life in the 18th century. This is because of all the computers, televisions, and prints outs such as daily newspapers. The speed of the global economy and finance has also changed. It has gotten much faster, it's much easier and quicker to transport trillions of dollars from one place to another through technology.
There is a model called the grid. This is simply dots of networks connected by lines. It is the new model of the information age. It represents capital, information, and knowledge. This grid simply shows how many is everywhere within the grid and can transport very easily. Every area within and connected to this grid has money. It is very rare to be off the grid, so most cities in the world in this new age, even the poorest have internet access. Where there is internet access means there is money and capital as well. Even if some people are off the grid and doing their own things to live, urbanization and capital will overcome and absorb these peoples land, all of this land keeps expanding with capital and technology. This is the process that ever expands and ever colonizes the city and everything keeps growing together. To read deeper about Castell and his network society thoery click this link http://www.geof.net/research/2005/castells-network-society