Possible metaphor - information distribution like water systems

An still-forming metaphor to help talk to faculty about the growing communication gap.

Let's imagine that information is distributed like water.

When most of our faculty were growing up, water came from the well at the center of town. The mayor and government made sure the well was working and good.

Then came the early days of the Internet, which was described as the firehose. It provided raw water at astounding rates, but was not very useful.

Then came the time of living near the ocean, where water was plentiful and fascinating, like the World Wide Web is today. But it is not good to drink, but very fun to play / swim / surf in.

Then comes the time of rain: the ubiquitous, mobile Internet. Where all information is available wherever you are on your smart phone.

And the people who grew up only drinking from the town well have trouble imagining drinking rain (is it safe?), and the people who have grown up in rain can't imagine why you would want to go to the well: all you need is always available.