If this is true and we wish to successfully survive the transition to such a world, we'd better come to an understanding of the ways and means of networks as soon as possible.

It's important to pay attention to the work of biologists, psychologists, physicists, mathematicians, neuroscientists, engineers, and social scientists who have enlarged the study of what has been called "Gaia theory," "the theory of complexity," "dynamical systems theory," "network dynamics," or "the web of life." 

you'll be able to say to your grandchildren, 'I was there when all computers couldn't talk to each other.' But what is more likely: you'll be explaining your time to an applet that your grandchildren created to deal with their grandparents