Inventiveness in society is determined by the amount of interaction between individuals

Collective intelligence: the notion that what determines the inventiveness and rate of cultural change of a population is the amount of interaction between individuals. Even as it explains very old patterns in prehistory, this idea holds out hope that the human race will prosper mightily in the years ahead—because ideas are having sex with each other as never before.
--Matt Ridley via online.wsj.com

Woo, information sex brought to you by the Internet. What an incredible era to live in!