Only Connect

"Only Connect" -- sounds like a quote from Web 2.0 marketing materials, or from a social network analysis guru, or from a network weaving coach. Definitely a quote from this century... right?

Nope.

That quote is almost 100 years old, and it is from E. M. Forster, the author of a prophetic short story -- "The Machine Stops" -- written in 1909. The short story foretells the internet in a most amazing way. The Machine is the pervasive communication device/network between all living spaces/apartments beneath the surface of the planet.  People live below the surface because of an environmental disaster above ground.  

Two main characters in the story -- a mom and a son.  The son longs for F2F contact, while the mom enjoys The Machine and makes a living doing lectures, which are delivered like podcasts and conference calls.  She has a "crackberry withdrawal" in one passage where she panics becasue she is away from The Machine and her messages are mounting. The "call center" for The Machine is a laugh. The fear of The Machine is not.

Tonight WCPN 90.3 FM in Cleveland broadcast an adaption of the story for radio. WCPN will re-broadcast the excellent show Monday, November 19th @ Noon eastern time.  You can listen live to WCPN.

Interviews with the creators of the radio play are also available.

Enjoy!