Application of technology

If computing in the last decade can be recalled as 'Information Systems' then history will record the current decade as 'Communication Systems'. The influence of technology in everyday life and the rate of acceleration over the past five years has been nothing short of astounding, particularly in connecting people. The online experience in particular has transformed the way we live our lives and the speed of adoption is accelerating. Only five years ago who would have predicted Facebook's pervasiveness, or that the art of communicating in less than 140 characters would become a worldwide phenomenon embraced across generations with its own abbreviated language, or that a choice of hotel would be unlikely to be confirmed without first consulting TripAdvisor? Restaurant reservations, tickets for the cinema, booking a holiday – all tasks completed without hesitation, at a time and in a manner that suits the pace and demands of the 21st Century. If this is the case in other areas of life, why should it be different in dentistry? My conclusion is that it shouldn't – and it won't be.