Social Surplus of Time

How much time do Americans spend watching TV?

The CIA estimates that the US population in July 2008 is 303,824,646 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html).

The Nielson Company published in July 2008 that each month the average American watches 127.25 hours of television (http://www.nielsen.com/media/2008/pr_080708.html).

Do the math. 127.25 hours/month x 12 months/year x 303,824,646 people is 463 billion person-hours each year - and that only includes Americans.

It has been estimated that the sum total of all of Wikipedia represents about 100 million person-hours of work.

If these numbers are true, it means that each year Americans spend as many hours watching TV as it would take to complete about 4,630 projects the size of Wikipedia.

Imagine the affect that would have on human society - globally, not just in the US. Imagine 4,630 project with the social impact of Wikipedia. Each year. Imagine.