Network Centricity needs new blood - internet blood
When the idea that people can’t collaborate if they haven’t ever seen each other is discussed seriously rather than met with laughter, then we have a problem.
The United States military makes a great deal about Network Centricity - the ability to fight and win with a networked force. A young Air Force Major, Dan Ward, describes his recent experience at a Net Centric workshop. Apparently, at 30, he’s already too old. He describes the Generation Net, the current crop of recruits, the bloggers, IMers, MySpacers, who have many friends they never seen in person. This generation built Wikipedia without ever knowing what their fellow builders look like or even if they are male or female.
His point is a valid one. Netcentricity requires not just intelligence or a comfort-level with technology. It requires an visceral understanding of how to discover people and build relationships online.