Atlanta, For Immediate Release: “A fantastic achievement,” the Internet is the top communications development in world history, noted futurist McKinley Conway contends in his new book, Global Super Projects: Mega Ventures That Are Shaping Our Future.

The Internet, however, is only one of a host of mega-endeavors in which Conway has selected the most significant projects in world and/or recent history. The prolific author of more than two dozen books has also chosen the top projects in 19 other important categories, ranging from environmental and conservation undertakings, to new airports, highways and other infrastructure elements. (To access all of Conway’s selections, as well as the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, look for the online version of the entire book that will be available by Jan. 16, 2006, at www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects. To go directly to the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, go to www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects/registry.)

Conway, a pioneer in the economic development field, made his selections from what he calls “Super Projects, the billion-dollar babies that are changing the face of world development.” A Super Project, he explains, “represents a cost of US$1 billion or more and/or a represents a technological breakthrough of worldwide significance.” Conway’s Atlanta-based research firm, Conway Data Inc., maintains a global Super Project database that now includes some 2,000 ventures.

Just how did Conway, who has studied major global projects for decades and brought together leading Super Project experts in a series of historic worldwide conferences, choose the crème de la crème? The winners, he explains, “were those deemed to be most significant in improving the quality of life for large numbers of the world’s citizens.”

Here, for example, is how the author explained his choice for the world’s top communications development:

“The INTERNET. This is a fantastic achievement for mankind. No other development in history has done so much to break down borders and enable people to be informed.

“For average citizens, global communication has been made cheap and convenient. Breakthroughs in technology have given us the World Wide Web – the greatest library in history. Billions of people now enjoy global TV. The satellites have also given us the Global Positioning System – the best navigation system of all time.

“We can’t begin to list all of the individual super projects this has entailed. They include launch pads, highly sophisticated transponders, teleports, relay centers and thousands of miles of cable, much of it under the oceans. Among all of these thrilling advances, I believe the Internet is certainly the most important development.”