Came across an interesting blog post on baekdal.com the other day entitled "Where is Everyone?".  The article explores the historical trend in information sharing from local community, through newspaper, radio, and TV, to the Internet and our current social networking trend.  What was interesting was the author's theorization that we will very soon see a point where all communication moves directly from source to end target, elimating the "middle man". 

I'm sure the phenomenal growth of Twitter had a lot to do with this notion . . . as we are now able to obtain information directly in real time from eyewitnesses, manufactures, retailers, professors, doctors, city hall, or our favorite rock star -- whatever our interest is -- without a lot of digging or waiting.

Baekdal's accompanying diagrams show to what extent, and for how long, each media form has dominated over the years.  A noteworthy trend for me was that each successive form of media seems to hold its position for a shorter period, and to a lesser degree, as technological advances leap forward and render the earlier form less significant.

I think the theory is on the right track in terms of a trend in information sharing being more toward direct distribution, but as many of the commenters pointed out . . . few have been able to predict the future of communication or the "next big thing", for the simple reason that we are always basing our assumptions on current knowledge of existing technology.  We don't know what technology will exist ten years from now and can't begin to foresee it or prepare for it.  We just have to closely track what's happening around us and respond to it as best we can . . . as has happened with the swift transition from websites to blogging to social networks to micro-blogging, and whatever's next.

While I don't necessarily agree with all the conclusions reached in the article, (for one thing, I don't see all current forms of media becoming totally obsolete within the next 5-10 years), I support the idea that the information we receive will be far more highly targeted and customized to our individual needs than at any time in history. 

Agree or disagree, for me the piece certainly helps stimulate thought on where we are headed with the information revolution we are experiencing, and how it is likely to affect the real estate industry in years to come.  

Any other thoughts on how information will be relayed in the next 5-10 years?