Faster Than A Speeding "Bullet"?

In 1990, my husband and I moved to Guangzhou, China to live and teach for 2 years. Guangzhou is a 3 hour "fast" train ride from Hong Kong. Soon after we first arrived, I learned of a concern with a family member so we went to a phone center to make a call to the US. We had to wait for over an hour while our trunk call was connected. Moreover, that 5 minute phone call cost us a month's pay!!!
In August of 1991, while still in China,I gave birth to our first child, Emmy. Nine months earlier, my God daughter, Jessie, was born. The process of exchanging photos was thus: We usually waited until we went into Hong Kong to have our film of Emmy developed (better processing but not 1 hour). We then sent those photos to Jessie's parents. If all went well, they received those photos in 2 weeks. If they were dilligent, we received photos of Jessie 2 to 3 weeks later. Easily a month's turn around!
In 2003, as a family of four, we moved to Barcelona, Spain. By then, internet and email had emerged. It was not uncommon to send a message,with downloaded photos to friends and receive a reply in the same day. We had calling cards which allowed us to speak to each other for a mere $.09 a minute, connecting after only a few dozen numbers and pins applied. Prior to our leaving, it was not uncommon for Emmy and Jessie to set up the internet camera and play dolls together!
In the summer of 2006, my daughter and I went to the UK for a visit. We were armed with our cell phones which we could use to call home at any moment. Had I chosen to pay the data package costs, we could have taken photos and immediately sent them to my husband and son back in Colorado.
In February, a tremendous earthquake hit Chile. This is a country we have visited on more than one occassion and where some dear friends live. Saturday morning we awoke to the news of the quake and immediately we had concerns for our friends. By 9:00 pm, we were "chatting" real time with them via our Facebook pages being assured of their safety.
Wow! What advances and in so little time. What will the next 18 years bring?