Good luck it is. Hopefully, I will be graduating next year, and the possibility of having my first real job interview is just across the horizon. It will probably be more terrifying than the interrogation that I underwent for my on-the-job training (OJT). With a regular job interview, much more are at stake; my career, my dreams, my expectations. Corporations and their living minions will be facing me like hungry suited sharks, wanting to get chunks of information from me as if I am an alleged criminal.

The terrors of the interview are real. In fact, it is now more real than any employee-to-be could imagine. Now, managers can get answers to questions on their job applicants even before the interview actually happens. And this is possible because of the thing that is ever-present in all my posts: the Net.

Ok, You Caught Me.

The ‘Net’ or ‘Web’ can now be used by managers in the words’ plain meaning: something used to catch stuff. (Fish and insects are the usual catches.) Through the Internet, employers can get significant and trivial information about possible co-workers, without needing to face them personally or by phone. If the supervisor knows how to search the Net, he or she can basically get the information from any site with the identity of the person of interest. It may be from a hate blog made by a former girlfriend of the applicant, where he is said to be a two-timer and an inconsistent lover. Social networking sites, such as Multiply and Facebook, are also good sources of information for the manager. The manager may have a glimpse of how creative and computer-literate future employees are by looking at the design layout of their profile, or how articulate they are by the comments and blogs that they post on their and others’ pages. Any particulars that can be read, seen, or heard through the Web can be “caught” by the employer, which can then be used during the actual interview of the candidate. If the data present in the Web are sufficient to ascertain the liability of an aspirant, then the company can immediately reject or disregard the application, instead of meeting him or her in person and just waste time and effort.

Am I Toast?

This method certainly gives companies an easy way of dealing with applicants, but it gives a heavy burden on soon-to-be employees. Because of “online applicant research,” job seekers can no longer just fool around Friendster or scream and rant in Blogspot. They must now be more careful of everything that is ‘them’ on the Web; profiles, memberships, discussions, etc. A single negative feedback of a person on the Internet can be read and understood by interviewers as a bad sign. In short, online criticism and reputation can be really seen as reality; the problem is whether that online identity is generally negative or positive.

It is up to future workers to maintain a constructive and appropriate identity online. I probably would not sweat and shake so much during a serious interview if I am certain that I have nothing to be afraid of; which means I am confident of my identity in both the real and cyber world. Whatever the employer sees online will reflect one’s image at actual face-to-face interview, which is why everyone, even those who are already employed, should take care of their reputation online. Good reputation results in boosted confidence and increased chances of getting hired. It’s as simple as that.

…“Thank you Ma’am,” I respond to the HR Assistant. I shake off the sweat, breathe deep, and smile at the intimidating person in front of me. She smiles in return. The chatting behind me vanishes with the closing of the door. “Good morning,” says the HR director, and I respond with a firm shake accompanied by a “good morning to you too.” I’m back.

In this entry, I would just like to enumerate some of the new pastimes of the Net Gen, particularly those which I was personally exposed to. Some of it you may know by heart, and some maybe totally alien. But regardless of who-knows-what, I am positive that each activity provides fun and entertainment to the bored, yearning generation of today, who, by all means, no longer want to rest during their free time!

1. Social Networking Sites

I first learned of Friendster a few years back, when I was still a sophomore in high school. (A late bloomer I guess.) During those times, the concept was very new: getting contacts and friends online. It became an instant hit among my friends in high school, and it did not take long before every one of us had accounts. I knew, at that point, that Friendster won’t be the last of its kind.

And so it was. Now, the entire world is connected by some sort of social networking site. Majority of North Americans have Multiply profile, and most Southeast Asians have Friendster accounts. Facebook is still the most widespread, spanning almost all continents. Many individuals are appreciating the fun and ease of contacting peers through these sites. All your associates are at the tip of your fingers, and you have the option of talking to one of them, to a group, or to everyone at once. Online social networking gave “socialization” a whole new meaning.

When I still had no profile in Friendster, I remember one of my classmates saying to me, “Wala kang profile?! Gumawa ka na! (You don’t have a profile? Create one now!)” It was as if I am an outcast if I did not have one. Now I realized that that idea is somehow true after all. The design of your account does not need to be extravagant, nor must the number of your friends be in the hundreds; just have a profile, and your connected. That’s it.

2. Multiplayer online games (especially role-playing games or RPGs)

Oh yes. If you are looking for typical and undemanding entertainment, social networking sites are for you. But if you are like me, who wants andrenaline-pumping action accompanied by out-of-this-world visual effects, then try online multiplayer games. Back when I was in fifth grade, Counter-Strike was all the rage. Even the girls of my class play the game. (It was, and still is, insulting when we get beaten by girls.) Nowadays, we are bombarded with tons of online games. Ragnarok, Cabal, Gunbound, Khan, Rose, Flyff, Rohan, Guns, SF, World of Warcraft, Sims Online, Krazy Kart, and O2Jam are just some of the online games available today. If I am not mistaken, among the many games playable here in the Philippines, DOTA All-Stars still reigns as the top favorite. Enter one computer shop with online games, and I am pretty sure one will see at least an individual playing DOTA. By far, Level Up! Games is the most successful at attracting the Filipino market, closely followed by its competitor, e-Games. (I also know that many employees of Level Up! Games are previously casual gamers who then became full-time professionals.)

Playing with friends and family not only encourages teamwork and determination among peers, but it also allows people to communicate and have fun with the people they know in real time. Think of it as chatting with explosions and creatures on the side (or vice-versa). On a lighter, more personal note, I love the satisfaction I get when I shoot and kill “crush stealers” or “teacher bootlickers.” Nothing really comes close.

3. What I am currently doing now

Blogging. This Internet craze is a ‘craze’ for many reasons. First of all, it caters not only to the youth but also to members of the older generation. Not all people like the idea of sniping opposing enemies (SF Online, Guns), and some find the concept of networking online odd. But blogging is different. It simply involves putting one’s ideas on a webpage and leaving the world to read it. It does not involve complex hand-and-eye coordination, and, compared to social networking sites, you also do not need friends to have a blog. (But seriously, people need friends.) Writing has long been done by the young and old, so why not take it to the next level and do it on the Net? Anyone can write blog entries; they just have to be full of thought and slightly computer-literate.

Secondly, blogging is great because you have the freedom and capability to reach out to others at the comforts of your own home. The world is the audience, critic, and fan base of the post. Also, despite having limitations imposed by some blog site moderators, people can practically talk about whatever they wish. I personally like the food blog of Margaux Salcedo, because she presents menus not just as a critic, but also as a genuine enthusiast of good food. I also like the blog of Ben Leffler, a graphic designer and game developer. The Exmortis flash game series rocks.

These activities are not ‘everything’ that people do, but in my opinion, these are three of the most executed pastimes today. I will be amazed if there is one person above 15 years of age who still does not do a single one of these three. (That may be exaggeration, but the fact is that these activities are done by millions of people all over the world.) The funny thing is that, despite these endeavors originally intended to become secondary to work and school responsibilities, many individuals tend to become too attached or addicted to it that it becomes their life. Maybe it is because that for a particular duration in one’s daily life, he/she can create a world totally his or her own, without restrictions and worries, and full of leisurely fun and peculiarity. No longer is lull time boring and repetitive. Having free time these days means enjoying yourself in a totally new, more lively context. If lull time is like that, then I would not mind time being lull at all.

Note: Wow. Now this is long.

Imagine a world full of color. Everyone would feel drastically happier than if it were just black and white. Everything would look more vibrant and more attractive. Food will be a lot more scrumptious, cars would not look like hearses, trees would look far healthier, and the sun would be smiling. All in all, people would be more connected to the world around them.

Now, I would like to think of color as brands and their quest to seek online profit, reputation, and world domination. (The last one is just a joke.) There are some aspects of color that seem to mirror how companies and brands work and should work on the Internet, and I would like to explain this in three, hopefully easy-to-understand ideas:

1.) Red : Violet Red :: Market : Brand

The thing about color is that there might be this one generic color and then there are its many variations, and these variations may be mixed with other generic colors. For the analogy given above, violet red slightly touches the shade of blue. That is basically the same for brands. A certain field or market can be simultaneously occupied by many brands, and a certain brand can occupy a single or several markets at a given point in time. As of now, I do not know any brand which encompasses all possible niches in the online world, but I know of some which currently are in several markets. Google, for example, is in search engines, messaging, and topography. That is three markets at once for a single brand. This versatility allows companies (and their respective brands) to have wider public coverage, more recall, and eventually, bigger profit.

2.) Yellow : Canary Yellow and Lemon Yellow :: Messaging : Gmail and Yahoo! Mail

If I would ask persons to choose which among the two yellows above is more appealing, some would tell me Canary and others would tell me Lemon Yellow. Personally, I think Lemon Yellow is better, since it is not too flashy, and it suits men more compared to Canary Yellow. This is my personal judgment.

Because of the attractiveness of social media and the “e-workplace”(a term I like to use when talking about companies connected online), many new and old corporations are entering the markets of cyberspace. This creates a highly competitive environment where companies are aiming to gain advantage over other brands of the same market. The main problem for companies nowadays is not whether to enter industries online, but how to stay there. Companies should make it a point to establish their individuality amidst monotony: how they are different from other competing brands of the similar industry. Furthermore, companies should make a name for themselves with the individual specifically in mind. Catching the attention of the consumer is key, and consumers have different criteria for a good brand. If companies want to succeed, satisfying these standards must always be considered. Just like personal color choices, people also have preferences for brands.

Facebook seems to be a winner among teenagers, and the brand probably provides something worth the time of these youth, something that makes this networking site stand out from the rest. (I say ‘seems’ and ‘probably’ since I still haven’t tried it out myself.) As for messaging, I am still undecided between Gmail and Yahoo! Mail. This means that Gmail and Yahoo! Mail still have to prove to me who among them deserves to be called ‘better’ than the other brand.

3.) Pearl White : Dirty White :: Multiply : Facebook

Not all colors are always attractive. Some are even not attractive at all. If you are asked to choose between two new plain shirts, one with a bright pearl white color, the other with a dirty white shade, which would you choose? Most likely it would be the one with the pearl white color. (I asked my family which between the two will they choose, all of them said the pearl white colored one.) Even if both shirts are truly brand new, the former is chosen because dirty white shirts do not look as bright and as clean as the other one.

Ok, so a company had already established itself online. But is their reputation actually good and profitable? If not, it should be. Online reputation is everything for a company; it can spell continued success, meager endurance, or abrupt closure altogether. A brand with good reputation is sure to gain more revenue and support compared to a competing brand with a tainted record. For example, Multiply is preferred by some instead of Facebook because there have been discussions about deleted Facebook accounts with its content still lasting in the website’s databases. Companies must avoid receiving negative feedback by constantly checking on their reputation online. Some ways on how companies can do this are by monitoring customer discussions and feedback, analyzing website statistics such as page hits and comments count, and comparing the brand to others in the industry.

Taking this all into account, companies and their brands have a lot of things to consider. Entering online markets and obtaining a permanent niche in it is necessary for companies to prosper in the 21^st century. A world full of color is there in the Internet, and companies must strive to determine the specific hues, shades, and mixtures they need to stay competitive.

Note: This entry is inspired by the Conversation Prism and its multitude of “pretty and wonderful” colors. BTW, black looks good, really.

Lafley’s statement is the reality in today’s competitive economy. The usefulness of the Internet has never been so apparent, and companies should learn how to handle this and apply it to their organizations before they get left behind. In the business world, collaborative systems are in, and old-fashioned bureaucracy is out.

E-mployee, E-ngagement, E-nthusiasm

Wikinomics of Tapscott and Williams provided new and significant ideas as to how companies are affected by the development of the Internet. Because of the Internet, the top-down approach of management is no longer as applicable and acceptable as it was several years ago. The Net gave ordinary employees a new way of contributing to their company: a chance to be heard, to be recognized, to be accepted as “an important part of the family.” Managers and their subordinates can now talk to each other face-to-face but still be miles from each other, using videoconferencing. Paper and ink are also not as needed as before, since e-mailing, chatting, and intranets are now available to employees. Working is no longer limited to the cubicle or workstation; with a computer and internet connection, employees can now access basically the entire world.

This new means of communication opens a greater opportunity for engagement, not only for top management and the people they handle, but also for the people they rely on outside of the organization. The spending public now has greater capability to select and determine what they want, and in the process, shape the market which they prefer. Organizations which harness this ocean of ideas can and will definitely gain an advantage over their competitors.

But who said that the public is only the source of new insights? As it turns out for many companies, by giving their managers and frontline employees the flexibility of new media, they can gain new, innovative (and sometimes best) ideas in return. An example is Orkut, one of many popular social networking sites, which was created not by top-level managers but by Orkut Büyükkökten, one of many Google engineers. Decision making is also no longer restricted to executives. Product and service development and modification is now easier and more satisfactory because of the involvement of employees and consumers alike. Back then, it was only the managers who decided whether to change or scrap a product or service.

With the increase in the engagement of employees and customers, interest in the organization and its brands has never been higher. Employees work much more effectively since they have more room to be creative, to interact with their peers, and to contribute to business processes. This is basically the same for consumers.

E-verything and E-veryone?

A major question now stands: with all the collaboration going on inside and outside companies, should every organization do the same? In my honest opinion, definitely. As a result of the advancement of the Internet, companies and us, the general public, are now in a period where economies and market trends change indefinitely, rapidly, and outstandingly at any point in time. One day you are at the top 50 of the Forbes 500, and the next thing you know you are in the mid-range 200. The fact is that for a company to remain competitive, it should understand, accept, and utilize the possibilities that new collaborative technologies present. Organizations should grab this chance to work together, pool near-limitless resources, develop solid partnerships, improve morale, and ultimately, accomplish what they are working for in the first place.

A few weeks ago, I, along with four other classmates, spent a night at one of my classmate’s home to create a video blog (vlog) about the history of communication. The six of us had individual things to do, but we worked as a group, contributing to the completion of the vlog. Our primary objective was to do as much as we can for the vlog with the time available, but the occurrences on the side made the task lighter and more fun. We took frequent breaks from work, which were usually as long as doing the task itself. A lot of chatting and passing of jokes ensued, which kept the pressure or tension to finish at a manageable level. Because of all the conversation and enjoyment, we as a group ended up becoming closer to one another after the night.

Now, I woud like to introduce the Internet as a “seventh friend.” Why is this so? In the first paragraph, I said that all the chatting and bonding happens through the Net. But with what happened a few nights ago, it did not happen through the Net; it happened with the Net.

The Internet became a friend to us owing to two reasons. First, it was our main resource in creating the video blog. Most (if not all) of the research and sounds were provided by the Net. Because of the many sources from the Net, we acquired a relatively precise account of the evolution of communication in the shortest time. If this were to be done using books, ‘short’ would not be used to describe the duration of research. Everything we needed was available online, from the images to the programs, from the soundtrack to the necessary information.

Secondly, if not for the Internet, which is the reason why video blogging is possible, the six of us could not have bonded, since no group will be needed to create a vlog in the first place. If not for this unwitting, invisible “friend,” I could not have known my classmates any better. (Not to mention having the delicious food and revealed secrets during the sleepover.) Because of the Internet, and a lot of effort from the six of us, we were able to produce this video blog:

The Internet has never been this much connected to me until several weeks ago. It made me view it in wholly different perspective. Cheers to Pangaea Solutions. Cheers to the Internet.

Note: Pangaea Solutions is a concocted name for our group of six. It originated from the idea of using Adam and Eve and the Pangaea, the first landmass, in the video blog.

Help in a Snap

A girl has been dumped by her boyfriend for someone else, and she needs someone to talk to. She cannot go out of the house, and her cellphone has zero balance. But then she suddenly remembers Skype, and thinks that there might be a person who is online. She opens the program, and to her delight, her friend is there. (Who have also been dumped.) They immediately start talking. Eventually, they laugh off their heartbreaks.

This fictitious scenario shows one obvious reason why the Internet is invaluable to many people: it connects them to other people in a jiffy. If it weren’t for the Internet, the girls in the story probably cried themselves to sleep instead. When a person needs something, they can immediately run to the aid of the Net, and get what they are looking for. Have a puzzling question? Go to Ask.com. Searching for cheap Pinoy stuff? AyosDito.com might have it.

Through the internet, people get what they want almost instantly. I, for one, usually experience this with a hobby of mine called YuGiOh! TCG (Trading Card Game). Just this past Thursday, I posted a thread in a Pinoy YuGiOh! Forum, since I was searching for several cards for the lowest possible price. As I checked the thread today, I received multiple replies from people telling me to buy their cards at the cost I am willing to pay for. And these people come from way across Luzon, some from as far as Laguna and Bulacan. Because of the Internet, I immediately have access to these cards, which would be a lot harder if it was to be done without the Net.

Shifting from a personal to an economical perspective, the Internet is also helping (and forcing) industries change the way they do business.

“Help Us”

Yes, this is the battlecry of many companies today. Because of the Internet, businesses can now ask for help from anyone in the world. Goldcorp Inc. was running out of gold and money before they asked for help through the Net. After asking for contributions from the public, they now earn billions of dollars in revenue. (Compared to only millions beforehand.) Goldcorp Inc. is just one of the many companies today which utilized the Internet to advance in their respective fields. Pharmaceutical companies are concocting new or better medicines and obtaining cheap sources for its ingredients because of help given by “netizens.” The same amount of assistance is provided for and used by car manufacturers, insurance agencies, and Business Processes Outsourcing companies, helping them meet and even surpass their goals.

The Internet has helped numerous companies boom, but some who are unwilling to accept this technology are losing ground. The days of secretive, partners-only management of companies are over. Businesses should now accept that the Internet can and will influence the way their companies work, and failing to recognize this will push them behind competitors. For example, I have an aunt who owns a hardware store. She says that she manages to compete with bigger hardware stores in the city by having online access to clients. This way, her clients can send orders through e-mail, and she can make the necessary arrangements for the orders instantly after receiving the message.

Through the Internet, a totally different economical era is present. Companies, its partners, and its clients are no longer independent on each other; they are now intertwined tightly through the Web that each now have their equal say in the industry. It is up to the small- and large-scale companies to either harness this change and use it for their good, or reject it and ultimately go bankrupt. Shape up, or ship out.

A Helping Hand

Pagiging matulungin is one of the many traits a Filipino is said to naturally possess. It is one of the characteristics of being Pinoy that we are told to be proud of. Now what does this have to do with the topics above? In one word: identity. Nowadays, with all this collaboration going on through the Internet, it is harder for companies or individuals to make a name for themselves and be recognized as having something ‘unique or new’ worthy of being proud of. In order for businesses to outclass their competitors, they must utilize the Internet but still retain their identity in a sea of products and services.

A good example would be the website of free cellular phone games, Swoopin.org. This website was created by Ubersoft Inc. (an Ortigas-based company with foreign affiliates) with the Filipinos in mind. Specifically, Filipinos’ love for free stuff, gaming, and texting. Cellphone users can now download games from their “wapsite” free of charge. (If only I had a compatible phone.) This strategy allows the company to compete in the global market but still stand out from the crowd.

Real life for individuals and companies had been altered heavily since the advent of the Internet. It is about time that we embrace this technology as it develops, adapt to it, and make it our own.

Now that I think of it, I am using the Net to post this blog, to pass my course. I really DO need assistance. From the Internet, that is.

This is exactly the scenario for people desiring to comment on an article in a newspaper or a program on television. And those “invisible forces” are the people behind the local channel, broadsheet, or radio.

This past Saturday (Friday, American time), I have learned in class the way things are behind traditional and new media. Simple things such as comments and violent reactions, which, in some realities, are incredibly difficult to get through.

Television, radio, and print media are these realities. Let us say that I am an avid viewer of the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I love the host, I love the jokes. But one day, I hear a joke offensive to my Filipino blood. What would I do? No, let me rephrase that: what can I do?

1) Laugh out loud and continue watching;

2) Blow up in rage, curse at Leno, and throw the tv altogether; or

3) Call the producers or Jay Leno and complain.

Among the three, most of you would definitely choose 3. Ok, it really is the proper thing to do. But the sad thing is, most of us cannot do or are no longer willing to do choice #3 because of everything that one needs to go through just to complain. It is already difficult to talk to anyone among the crew, what more looking for the producers or Jay Leno himself? This is the problem with the three traditional media. Having your standpoint and being heard for their broadcasts or prints are rarely successful.

On the other hand, some of the tri-media companies have already opened mailboxes or trunklines to aid the appetite of people to speak up. I even did this several times in the past. I once sent a mail to the program W24/7 of Arirang, the international Korean channel, regarding the wrong translation they made of a statement by a Filipino commuter. The problem is that, assuming they received the letter, what are the chances of them hearing my complaint and doing something about it?

The truth is that the decision to act on it still resides on the producers of the program; not with the people who they depend on to continue. There are a thousand more comments and complaints passed to broadcasters and publishers each day. Who knows how much of these are converted into action.

But lo and behold, the Internet and social media have come to change the day. (I was thinking of ‘save’ instead of ‘change,’ but I guess it may sound too biased?) With the web, people are no longer limited to trying to talk to witty hosts or cunning editors. They can now be set aside and instead, people can talk to their “kin,” ordinary people who share the same ideals. Wikipedia, ohmynews, and the like have even put the producers into the audience. We (yes we) can now do, say, and have what we want when we want it. Some can even earn a few bucks just by allowing paid advertising on their own creations, such as blogs or personal websites. (Note to reader: Can you help me find an advertiser?)

Just as my professor have said, new social media is bringing real communication back to communication. No longer is it a one-way, you-keep-quiet-while-we-give-you-everything affair.

It is now we-give-us-everything. Comments and violent reactions, anyone?

The arrival of the Internet was just the thing to make people one step closer to doing just that. With the Net, countless possibilities arose not only for individuals, but for entire communities and industries as well. The internet improved life in a way no person a generation ago ever expected. It brought about changes to almost, if not all, aspects of everyday living.

When you think of it, all of these developments seem to have happened because of one naturally occurring, ever-needed aspect of life: communicating. People are social animals. We need to communicate to other persons to make our life complete; to make our life worth living. With the internet, communication has never been this easier and more convenient.

Gone were the days when people only sat on their couches, weirdly staring at the television hours at a time, eating something, and never talking to anything but their consciousness. Through the internet, those people can still watch their favorite shows, but this time, they have the capability to share their musings and rantings to every other enthusiast online. If they did not like what they have seen, they are just one comment away from reaching other concerned viewers and the program’s producers.

Gone were the days when people were constrained to limited choices. With the net, people can browse through thousands of entries of whatever they may think of, and see/get what they want almost every time. Needing a job? Finding a partner-in-life? Looking for that limited edition candy wrapper? Everything is in the Internet, it’s just a matter of finding it. Heck, a person looking for something may even pass out before having to check all possible choices. Also, it does not require for someone to be ‘looking for something.’ Questions, curiosities, and learning a thing or two can always be provided for through the web.

Gone were the days when organizations relied too heavily on papers and personal meetings. Nowadays, something is better off as “e-something.” Why pay for airline tickets when Mr. CEO and Mr. President can meet online? Why use up reams of paper when the Finance department can forward its annual report to every employee through the web? Cost-cutting became this much effortless with the help of the internet. And I strongly believe saving money is not restricted to offices and industries.

Simply put, gone were the days when people may find it hard to communicate. Friends, families, lovers, activity partners, and everyone can talk to each other online. Even advertisers and merchandisers took advantage of the market opportunity in the Net. (Anyone who is reading this probably had seen a couple or so annoying and not-so-annoying ads before reaching this page.) With the coming of the World Wide Web, life just became a major hop easier, faster, and better.

If there is one thing that can be done for both life and the Internet, it probably is this: “make the most of it.“

Hot sunny weather quickly turns to heavy rain. Caucasian presidents ruled America for a million years, then comes Obama. Your son just finished kindergarten (assuming you have one), and now, all of a sudden, he is a graduating from college. Changes everywhere. And then there is the Net.

Blogs. Podcasts. Wikis. RSS feeds. Friendster, Facebook, Multiply, Twitter. These are among the many ideas that we have witnessed turn into reality during the past few years since the Internet’s birth in 1989. Back then, the net was still top secret, and all it could do was pass simple messages from state to state. Nowadays, billions of  people know the technology, and hundreds of millions of them access it everyday. With the advent of social networking sites, video streaming, and file sharing, people can communicate a hundred (even a thousand) times more than what the people 20 years ago could do. Because of the Net, communication has never been easier and more expansive.

Last Saturday, change has been the main point of the discussion of OrCom152. (Not only was change of the Internet the topic, but also a change in curriculum. Good luck to “Lupita.”) It could not have been at a better time, since most people, and students, and me, badly need to understand and maximize these changes that technology throws at us.

And all that advancement is just starting. 20 years ago, video chatting was only “real” in the imagination. Who knows what will sprout up from the Internet’s soil next year? Teleportation through the net? That would be fun.

Note: Lupita – a fictitious character who has foreseen 21st century technological advancement, and who is now no longer needed.