When Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, his vision was a digital space where the entirety of human knowledge could be connected through a central hub, allowing users to access information through interconnected “links.” Wikipedia, one of the most visited websites today, serves as a key realization of that vision, offering a vast collection of knowledge just a few clicks away. However, despite its value, it’s clear that this original vision isn’t enough in our evolving digital age.

As someone who grew up alongside the rise of the internet, I experienced the web as a pivotal tool during my formative years. It offered me a means to explore social dynamics, different perspectives, and diverse ways of being—all from the anonymity and safety of my own space. Of particular interest to me were chat rooms, which, though now often dismissed as havens for inappropriate behavior, provided a unique space for real-time global conversations. These digital rooms felt like impromptu gatherings of people from all over the world, similar to improvisational theatre without a shared language. The intrigue wasn’t so much about what was said, but the marvel of connection: Where are you from? What’s your story?

While chat rooms lacked the focus needed for meaningful conversations, forums later filled that gap by fostering more structured discussions. Platforms like Reddit and Twitter have since taken this further, offering real-time engagement on nearly any topic. However, I believe that we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible. There’s a more profound level of connection waiting to be explored, one that transcends language and traditional conversation structures.

Imagine a tool where a user could type in a thought or question, and advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms would instantly connect them to someone else in the world who had a similar thought or query. This wouldn’t just be about sharing ideas but sharing perspectives—creating real-time dialogues with others whose minds are exploring similar paths. It’s an idea I’ve carried since I was seventeen, and I still believe it could transform how we relate to one another through technology.

But even that isn’t the full extent of my vision. What I truly want to create are new ways for people to share their embodied, subjective experiences with one another. Augmented and Mixed Reality could serve as powerful mediums to represent another person’s phenomenological reality—their lived, felt experience. Imagine walking in someone else’s shoes not as a metaphor but as an immersive, real-world augmentation where you could sense their perceptions, understand their emotional landscape, and connect with their reality on a deeper level.

This concept goes beyond just technological innovation; it’s about fostering empathy, compassion, and understanding. In a world that often feels disconnected, even as technology brings us closer, I believe that creating tools to share these subjective realities will help us bridge the gaps in human connection. By developing platforms that enable the sharing of experience, not just information, we can create a world where understanding and empathy are central to how we interact.

This future I envision isn’t about creating a distant, tech-driven utopia but about using technology to return to something deeply human—the need to understand, connect, and empathize with one another. It’s about fostering a shared sense of humanity through innovation and using digital tools to remind us what it means to truly see each other.