"At the Cutting Edge of the New Frontier of Cyberspace"

Article Title: "At the Cutting Edge of the New Frontier of Cyberspace"
Author Names: Craig Lock and Bill Rosoma

Line Space: 65 characters
Category (key words): Internet, www, technology, trends
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"AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE NEW FRONTIER OF CYBERSPACE"

"The next information revolution is well under way...It isnnot a revolution in technology, machinery, techniques,nsoftware, or speed. It is a revolution in CONCEPTS."n- Drucker, 1998 n
"Money is what fueled the industrial society. But in theninformational society, the fuel, the power, is knowledge.
One has now come to see a new class structure divided bynthose who have information and those who must function outnof ignorance. This new class has its power not from money,nnot from land, but from knowledge."n- John Kenneth Galbraithn
"The future belongs to those who apply knowledge withninnovation and resourcefulness to find new paths - innbusiness and in life." n- Craig Lock and Bill Rosomann
INTRODUCTION:

In this short piece, as we "pioneer in the field ofncyberspace", I'm sharing a few thoughts on the place ofntechnology in these early days of the "Knowledge Economy",nwhich may be of interest. My thoughts apply to my littlen(and "adopted") home country of New Zealand in particular,nbut I believe the basic (very over-used word!) PRINCIPLESnapply world-wide.

Bill Gates once described the "Information Age as the "WildnWest of Cyberspace." A few years ago, he also said therenwould be two kinds of businesses in the year 2001: 1. thosenonline and 2. those out of business!

What is knowledge?

"He who receives an idea from me receives instructionnhimself, without lessening mine; as he who lights his tape
at mine receives light without darkening me." - ThomasnJeffersonn
We are becoming ever-more a "knowledge society" - with thenrapid diffusion (big word!) and exchanging of huge amountsnof information daily. This makes the sheer volume ofnknowledge difficult to absorb.

A few personal thoughts... I believe NOW is an ideal momentnin history to look with fresh eyes at the kind of society wenwant to create, in a world, where knowledge is replacing thenold sources of wealth and power as the driving force in thenworld's most successful societies.

In recent years we are seeing "little" New Zealand's rapidntransition from a pastoral to a knowledge economy (andnsociety), as we are fast "catching and riding the knowledgenwave". I believe it's more "an age of wisdom" in sharingninformation world-wide through the amazing power of theninte
et.

Businesses MUST "get with the times" and respond bynembracing the enormous international opportunities offerednby the Internet. It's either ADAPT or DIE ("a slow lingeringndeath").

I believe that we should be finding new paths for social andneconomic development. New Zealand's economy and society neednto be driven far more by knowledge, technology andninnovation than in the past. I feel we need to urgently seekna STRATEGY for this "NEW KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY" that we arenliving in. We should "forge, mould and hew a knowledgensociety out of the old by catching this immensely powerful
Knowledge Wave"... then riding it like the giant waves fromnthe winter storms at Waimea Bay in Hawaii - to the absolutenbest of our individual abilities.

Here in far-off New Zealand (near the bottom of the world),
I believe we have an excellent foundation to be extremelynsuccessful in the global economy. However, we must movenspeedily ahead to be a far more "knowledge-driven" economy;notherwise we could become "also rans" in thenultra-competitive global market place.

I truly believe that many New Zealanders have not yetnrecognised that the Internet is the modern equivalent of then'freezer ships of yonder', that revolutionised our economynlast century. As we enter the twenty-first century, the
Internet will be our 'key vessel' for reaching globalnmarkets from these far-off "sleepy shores".

In doing this we WILL find new paths for social and economicndevelopment. Knowledge is replacing the old sources ofnwealth and power, as the driving source in the world's mostnsuccessful societies. We must become a "knowledge exportnplatform"...and that is the vision for my little business,
Eagle Productions based in provincial NZ.

In effect, we are creating wealth through thencomercialisation of ideas. We are utilizing to the fullest,nthe amazing creative potential of the human IMAGINATION tonreach the world.

"The "digital divide": In the future there will be anwidening gap between those with the skills in the newntechnological age and the "not so well off", those "poo
souls", who have not put in the effort to aquire or updatentheir computer and technological skills. It is a matter ofnusing our resources wisely in this "digital age."

Here in NZ I believe, we need to be driven far more bynknowledge, technology, innovation and renovation. The firstnstep is transforming the innovative spirit that allows wen"Kiwis" (New Zealanders) to turn no.8 wire into innumerablenuseful tools around the farm, into a commercial operation.
It's simply a matter of "sharpening the pencil" of NewnZealand's focus from agriculture to e-commerce.

Refocussing existing economies and enhancing existingnproducts (traditional, such as agriculture and horticulture)nthrough adding value via the world wide web. Utilising thenbest of the old, yet with the hope and optomism of the "newnworld".

USE Information Technology with all the amazing powers ofnthe world wide web . With the web and e-mail, we must alwaysnkeep technology in perspective - by using it for 'ease ofncommunication at the click of a mouse', to make our livesneasier and market products and services around the globenefficiently and cheaply in the early days of this "New Agenof Wisdom"!

Each individual has a responsibility, a great opportunity,nto utilise their utmost potential to gab this "moment innhistory", this "heartbeat in ete
ity".

Make technology WORK FOR YOU -: for your (and your family'sngood, your business and especially your country.

It's the spirit of its people that makes a country, anyncountry, great...son nbuild not walls, but bridges.

Eagle Productions (NZ)

It is not what your country can do for you, but what YOU canndo for your country."n- charismatic former US President, John F. Kennedyn
"The spiritual is stronger than any material force, thoughts rule the world." n- the great and inspirational American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emersonn
"The nations that will be successful in the informationnrevolution may be large or small, and are unfettered as tonhemisphere. Assuredly, however, they will have invested innthe critical information, computer. social and Internetninfrastructures." (McGovern, 1998)

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."n - Jonathan Wintersn
"Dropped out in Godzone": A tale of the author's adventurous first four years in a New Zealand provincial town, with many humorous incidents. "Dropped out..." is available at: http://www2.webng.com/write
z/books.html

Hard copies and e-books - fiction and non-fiction:nself help, personal growth, inspiration, travel, humour, nnovels and money books.

All proceeds go to needy and underprivilileged children - MINE!

"Another good thing about being poor is that, when you are seventy your children will not have declared you legally insane in order to gain control of your estate."n- Woody Allen

P.S: Don't worry about the world ending today...nit's already tomorrow in "little" scenic and tranquil
New Zealand

This article may be freely, published electronically or in print. n

Don't worry about the world ending today...nas it's already tomorrow in little scenic and tranquil New Zealand