Future Tense

Produced and hosted by Jon Gordon, a "Journal of the Digital Age," Future Tense keeps pace with the latest technology topics in daily five-minute capsules, from electronic privacy and digital democracy to spam and computer worms.

Airs Monday-Thursday 11:30 p.m.

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More from Future Tense


Chrome OS shines a little brighter

Google unveiled more details about its Chrome OS yesterday, and released source code for developers.

Unfriend vs. defriend smackdown (plus more big Internet events of the decade)

Regarding our recent story on the term "unfriend" being named the Oxford American Dictionary's word of the year, we heard from a number of people who say they've never heard anyone say "unfriend," but rather, they hear and use "defriend" instead -- as in, "I defriended her on Facebook because she was always sending me stupid quizzes." Ammon Shea from Oxford University Press was gracious enough to talk to us again to clear up this "unfriend" versus "defriend" issue. Also today: Part two of our interview with David Michel-Davies regarding the most important Internet events of the decade.

Top Internet events of the decade

The folks behind the Webby Awards have published their take on the biggest Internet moments in the years 2000 to 2009. Guest: Webby Awards Executive Director David-Michel Davies

Unfriend is Oxford Dictonary's word of the year

Today, Ammon Shea with Oxford University Press on why "unfriend" from the world of social media is the 2009 Word of the Year, and why "netbook," "intexticated," and "sexting" were also considered for the honor.

New evidence points to benefits of online social networks

Facebook, Twitter and the tools that enable them sometimes get a bad rap. A recent example: a weekend article in the San Francisco Chronicle, which quotes mental health professionals who worry that addiction to our digital tools will lead to a breakdown of interpersonal relationships and a rise in attention deficit disorder. A new study from the University of Minnesota does not address those issues but does suggest social networks are a good way to get young people engaged current events and civic affairs, and have much potential as teaching tools. Guest: Christine Greenhow, University of Minnesota