Robin Hanson proposes that what makes our era unique (not sure what time constraints he’s putting on the term) is that we are approaching instant communication thanks to the internet and cell phone integration (though try telling my girlfriend that – she’s not answering my texts for some reason).
Hanson suggests that this is unique because he predicts that human exploration into and colonization of space will seriously dampen the abilities of theoretically any individual to communicate with any other individual.
I suppose this is true: even if faster than light communications was invented, perhaps it would be centralized so that individuals couldn’t easily use it (like in the Ender’s Game sequels).
I don’t know if I buy this as a great prediction. Hanson is seemingly letting current technology be a guide for predicting future technology, which by all accounts, is a pretty bad way to make predictions about technology.