In my little neck of the woods, everyone is fretting over the future of the newspaper. But the data indicates the biggest impact of the Internet is on the time spent with the television screen. Print reading is stable, radio listening is a little off, but TV viewing is down significantly as Internet use increases.
Into this discussion in recent days went Bill Gates, who needs no introduction. He's predicting the future of TV will be the Internet --- that the over-the-air, cable- and satellite-delivered channels will be more readily provided online (or via its derivatives). His presentation to the Northern Virginia Technology Council was partly a pat on the back to Microsoft, but also insightful on the emerging technologies and their likely interactive qualities --- tablets, surfaces, and so on to make our lives easier. He's also being tough on the U.S. government, noting that some the best and brightest propelling technology can't get work permits and have to go elsewhere.