| I. The Genetic BlueprintA decade after the | | | | the needed software, broken to its elements |
| invention of the World Wide Web, Tim | | | | (=applets, small applications). Anytime the user |
| Berners-Lee is promoting the "Semantic Web". | | | | wishes to use one of the functions of the |
| The Internet hitherto is a repository of digital | | | | application, he will siphon it off the central |
| content. It has a rudimentary inventory system | | | | computer. When finished - he will "return" it. |
| and very crude data location services. As a sad | | | | Processing speeds and response times will be such |
| result, most of the content is invisible and | | | | that the user will not feel at all that he is not |
| inaccessible. Moreover, the Internet manipulates | | | | interacting with his own software (the question of |
| strings of symbols, not logical or semantic | | | | ownership will be very blurred). This technology is |
| propositions. In other words, the Net compares | | | | available and it provoked a heated debated about |
| values but does not know the meaning of the | | | | the future shape of the computing industry as a |
| values it thus manipulates. It is unable to interpret | | | | whole (desktops - really power packs - or |
| strings, to infer new facts, to deduce, induce, | | | | network computers, a little more than dumb |
| derive, or otherwise comprehend what it is doing. | | | | terminals). Access to online applications are |
| In short, it does not understand language. Run an | | | | already offered to corporate users by ASPs |
| ambiguous term by any search engine and these | | | | (Application Service Providers).In the last few |
| shortcomings become painfully evident. This lack | | | | years, scientists have harnessed the combined |
| of understanding of the semantic foundations of | | | | power of online PC's to perform astounding feats |
| its raw material (data, information) prevent | | | | of distributed parallel processing. Millions of PCs |
| applications and databases from sharing resources | | | | connected to the net co-process signals from |
| and feeding each other. The Internet is discrete, | | | | outer space, meteorological data, and solve |
| not continuous. It resembles an archipelago, with | | | | complex equations. This is a prime example of a |
| users hopping from island to island in a frantic | | | | collective brain in action.B. The Intranet - a Logical |
| search for relevancy.Even visionaries like | | | | Extension of the Collective ComputerLANs (Local |
| Berners-Lee do not contemplate an "intelligent | | | | Area Networks) are no longer a rarity in |
| Web". They are simply proposing to let users, | | | | corporate offices. WANs (wide Area Networks) |
| content creators, and web developers assign | | | | are used to connect geographically dispersed |
| descriptive meta-tags ("name of hotel") to fields, | | | | organs of the same legal entity (branches of a |
| or to strings of symbols ("Hilton"). These | | | | bank, daughter companies of a conglomerate, a |
| meta-tags (arranged in semantic and relational | | | | sales force). Many LANs and WANs are going |
| "ontologies" - lists of metatags, their meanings and | | | | wireless.The wireless intranet/extranet and LANs |
| how they relate to each other) will be read by | | | | are the wave of the future. They will gradually |
| various applications and allow them to process the | | | | eliminate their fixed line counterparts. The Internet |
| associated strings of symbols correctly (place the | | | | offers equal, platform-independent, |
| word "Hilton" in your address book under "hotels"). | | | | location-independent and time of day - |
| This will make information retrieval more efficient | | | | independent access to corporate memory and |
| and reliable and the information retrieved is bound | | | | nervous system. Sophisticated firewall security |
| to be more relevant and amenable to higher level | | | | applications protect the privacy and confidentiality |
| processing (statistics, the development of heuristic | | | | of the intranet from all but the most determined |
| rules, etc.). The shift is from HTML (whose tags | | | | and savvy crackers.The Intranet is an |
| are concerned with visual appearances and | | | | inter-organizational communication network, |
| content indexing) to languages such as the | | | | constructed on the platform of the Internet and |
| DARPA Agent Markup Language, OIL (Ontology | | | | it, therefore, enjoys all its advantages. The |
| Inference Layer or Ontology Interchange | | | | extranet is open to clients and suppliers as |
| Language), or even XML (whose tags are | | | | well.The company's server can be accessed by |
| concerned with content taxonomy, document | | | | anyone authorized, from anywhere, at any time |
| structure, and semantics). This would bring the | | | | (with local - rather than international - |
| Internet closer to the classic library card | | | | communication costs). The user can leave |
| catalogue.Even in its current, pre-semantic, | | | | messages (internal e-mail or v-mail), access |
| hyperlink-dependent, phase, the Internet brings to | | | | information - proprietary or public - from it, and |
| mind Richard Dawkins' seminal work "The Selfish | | | | participate in "virtual teamwork" (see next |
| Gene" (OUP, 1976). This would be doubly true for | | | | chapter).The development of measures to |
| the Semantic Web.Dawkins suggested to | | | | safeguard server routed inter-organizational |
| generalize the principle of natural selection to a law | | | | communication (firewalls) is the solution to one of |
| of the survival of the stable. "A stable thing is a | | | | two obstacles to the institutionalization of |
| collection of atoms which is permanent enough or | | | | Intranets. The second problem is the limited |
| common enough to deserve a name". He then | | | | bandwidth which does not permit the efficient |
| proceeded to describe the emergence of | | | | transfer of audio (not to mention video).It is |
| "Replicators" - molecules which created copies of | | | | difficult to conduct video conferencing through the |
| themselves. The Replicators that survived in the | | | | Internet. Even the voices of discussants who use |
| competition for scarce raw materials were | | | | internet phones (IP telephony) come out (though |
| characterized by high longevity, fecundity, and | | | | very slightly) distorted.All this did not prevent |
| copying-fidelity. Replicators (now known as | | | | 95% of the Fortune 1000 from installing intranet. |
| "genes") constructed "survival machines" | | | | 82% of the rest intend to install one by the end |
| (organisms) to shield them from the vagaries of | | | | of this year. Medium to big size American firms |
| an ever-harsher environment.This is very | | | | have 50-100 intranet terminals per every internet |
| reminiscent of the Internet. The "stable things" | | | | one.One of the greatest advantages of the |
| are HTML coded web pages. They are replicators | | | | intranet is the ability to transfer documents |
| - they create copies of themselves every time | | | | between the various parts of an organization. |
| their "web address" (URL) is clicked. The HTML | | | | Consider Visa: it pushed 2 million documents per |
| coding of a web page can be thought of as | | | | day internally in 1996.An organization equipped |
| "genetic material". It contains all the information | | | | with an intranet can (while protected by firewalls) |
| needed to reproduce the page. And, exactly as in | | | | give its clients or suppliers access to non-classified |
| nature, the higher the longevity, fecundity | | | | correspondence, or inventory systems. Many B2B |
| (measured in links to the web page from other | | | | exchanges and industry-specific purchasing |
| web sites), and copying-fidelity of the HTML code | | | | management systems are based on extranets.C. |
| - the higher its chances to survive (as a web | | | | The Transport of Information - Mail and ChatThe |
| page).Replicator molecules (DNA) and replicator | | | | Internet (its e-mail function) is eroding traditional |
| HTML have one thing in common - they are both | | | | mail. 90% of customers with on-line access use |
| packaged information. In the appropriate context | | | | e-mail from time to time and 60% work with it |
| (the right biochemical "soup" in the case of DNA, | | | | regularly. More than 2 billion messages traverse |
| the right software application in the case of HTML | | | | the internet daily.E-mail applications are available as |
| code) - this information generates a "survival | | | | freeware and are included in all browsers. Thus, |
| machine" (organism, or a web page).The Semantic | | | | the Internet has completely assimilated what used |
| Web will only increase the longevity, fecundity, | | | | to be a separate service, to the extent that |
| and copying-fidelity or the underlying code (in this | | | | many people make the mistake of thinking that |
| case, OIL or XML instead of HTML). By facilitating | | | | e-mail is a feature of the Internet.The internet will |
| many more interactions with many other web | | | | do to phone calls what it has done to mail. |
| pages and databases - the underlying "replicator" | | | | Already there are applications (Intel's, Vocaltec's, |
| code will ensure the "survival" of "its" web page | | | | Net2Phone) which enable the user to conduct a |
| (=its survival machine). In this analogy, the web | | | | phone conversation through his computer. The |
| page's "DNA" (its OIL or XML code) contains | | | | voice quality has improved. The discussants can |
| "single genes" (semantic meta-tags). The whole | | | | cut into each others words, argue and listen to |
| process of life is the unfolding of a kind of | | | | tonal nuances. Today, the parties (two or more) |
| Semantic Web.In a prophetic paragraph, Dawkins | | | | engaging in the conversation must possess the |
| described the Internet:"The first thing to grasp | | | | same software and the same (computer) |
| about a modern replicator is that it is highly | | | | hardware. In the very near future, |
| gregarious. A survival machine is a vehicle | | | | computer-to-regular phone applications will |
| containing not just one gene but many thousands. | | | | eliminate this requirement. And, again, simultaneous |
| The manufacture of a body is a cooperative | | | | multi-modality: the user can talk over the phone, |
| venture of such intricacy that it is almost | | | | see his party, send e-mail, receive messages and |
| impossible to disentangle the contribution of one | | | | transfer documents - without obstructing the flow |
| gene from that of another. A given gene will have | | | | of the conversation.The cost of transferring voice |
| many different effects on quite different parts of | | | | will become so negligible that free voice traffic is |
| the body. A given part of the body will be | | | | conceivable in 3-5 years. Data traffic will overtake |
| influenced by many genes and the effect of any | | | | voice traffic by a wide margin.The next phase will |
| one gene depends on interaction with many | | | | probably involve virtual reality. Each of the parties |
| others...In terms of the analogy, any given page | | | | will be represented by an "avatar", a 3-D figurine |
| of the plans makes reference to many different | | | | generated by the application (or the user's |
| parts of the building; and each page makes sense | | | | likeness mapped and superimposed on the the |
| only in terms of cross-reference to numerous | | | | avatar). These figurines will be multi-dimensional: |
| other pages."What Dawkins neglected in his | | | | they will possess their own communication |
| important work is the concept of the Network. | | | | patterns, special habits, history, preferences - in |
| People congregate in cities, mate, and reproduce, | | | | short: their own "personality".Thus, they will be |
| thus providing genes with new "survival machines". | | | | able to maintain an "identity" and a consistent |
| But Dawkins himself suggested that the new | | | | pattern of communication which they will develop |
| Replicator is the "meme" - an idea, belief, | | | | over time.Such a figure could host a site, accept, |
| technique, technology, work of art, or bit of | | | | welcome and guide visitors, all the time bearing |
| information. Memes use human brains as "survival | | | | their preferences in its electronic "mind". It could |
| machines" and they hop from brain to brain and | | | | narrate the news, like the digital anchor "Ananova" |
| across time and space ("communications") in the | | | | does. Visiting sites in the future is bound to be a |
| process of cultural (as distinct from biological) | | | | much more pleasant affair.D. The Transport of |
| evolution. The Internet is a latter day | | | | Value - E-cashIn 1996, four corporate giants (Visa, |
| meme-hopping playground. But, more importantly, | | | | MasterCard, Netscape and Microsoft) agreed on a |
| it is a Network. Genes move from one container | | | | standard for effecting secure payments through |
| to another through a linear, serial, tedious process | | | | the Internet: SET. Internet commerce is supposed |
| which involves prolonged periods of one on one | | | | to mushroom to $25 billion by 2003. Site owners |
| gene shuffling ("sex") and gestation. Memes use | | | | will be able to collect rent from passing visitors - |
| networks. Their propagation is, therefore, parallel, | | | | or fees for services provided within the site. |
| fast, and all-pervasive. The Internet is a | | | | Amazon instituted an honour system to collect |
| manifestation of the growing predominance of | | | | donations from visitors. PayPal provides millions of |
| memes over genes. And the Semantic Web may | | | | users with cash substitutes. Gradually, the Internet |
| be to the Internet what Artificial Intelligence is to | | | | will compete with central banks and banking |
| classic computing. We may be on the threshold of | | | | systems in money creation and transfer.E. The |
| a self-aware Web.2. The Internet as a Chaotic | | | | Transport of Interactions - The Virtual |
| LibraryA. The Problem of CataloguingThe Internet | | | | OrganizationThe Internet allows for simultaneous |
| is an assortment of billions of pages which contain | | | | communication and the efficient transfer of |
| information. Some of them are visible and others | | | | multimedia (video included) files between an |
| are generated from hidden databases by users' | | | | unlimited number of users. This opens up a vista |
| requests ("Invisible Internet").The Internet exhibits | | | | of mind boggling opportunities which are the real |
| no discernible order, classification, or categorization. | | | | core of the Internet revolution: the virtual |
| Amazingly, as opposed to "classical" libraries, no | | | | collaborative ("Follow the Sun") modes.Examples:A |
| one has yet invented a (sorely needed) Internet | | | | group of musicians is able to compose music or |
| cataloguing standard (remember Dewey?). Some | | | | play it - while spatially and temporally |
| sites indeed apply the Dewey Decimal System to | | | | separated;Advertising agencies are able to |
| their contents (Suite101). Others default to a | | | | co-produce ad campaigns in a real time |
| directory structure (Open Directory, Yahoo!, Look | | | | interaction;Cinema and TV films are produced |
| Smart and others).Had such a standard existed | | | | from disparate geographical spots through the |
| (an agreed upon numerical cataloguing method) - | | | | teamwork of people who never meet, except |
| each site could have self-classified. Sites would | | | | through the Net.These examples illustrate the |
| have an interest to do so to increase their | | | | concept of the "virtual community". Space and |
| visibility. This, naturally, would have eliminated the | | | | time will no longer hinder team collaboration, be it |
| need for today's clunky, incomplete and (highly) | | | | scientific, artistic, cultural, or an ad hoc |
| inefficient search engines.Thus, a site whose | | | | arrangement for the provision of a service (a |
| number starts with 900 will be immediately | | | | virtual law firm, or accounting office, or a virtual |
| identified as dealing with history and multiple | | | | consultancy network). The intranet can also be |
| classification will be encouraged to allow finer | | | | thought of as a "virtual organization", or a "virtual |
| cross-sections to emerge. An example of such an | | | | business".The virtual mall and the virtual catalogue |
| emerging technology of "self classification" and | | | | are prime examples of spatial and temporal |
| "self-publication" (though limited to scholarly | | | | liberation.In 1998, there were well over 300 active |
| resources) is the "Academic Resource Channel" | | | | virtual malls on the Internet. In 2000, they were |
| by Scindex.Moreover, users will not be required to | | | | frequented by 46 million shoppers, who shopped |
| remember reams of numbers. Future browsers | | | | in them for goods and services.The virtual mall is |
| will be akin to catalogues, very much like the | | | | an Internet "space" (pages) wherein "shops" are |
| applications used in modern day libraries. Compare | | | | located. These shops offer their wares using |
| this utopia to the current dystopy. Users struggle | | | | visual, audio and textual means. The visitor passes |
| with mounds of irrelevant material to finally reach | | | | through a virtual "gate" or storefront and |
| a partial and disappointing destination. At the same | | | | examines the merchandise on offer, until he |
| time, there likely are web sites which exactly | | | | reaches a buying decision. Then he engages in a |
| match the poor user's needs. Yet, what currently | | | | feedback process: he pays (with a credit card), |
| determines the chances of a happy encounter | | | | buys the product, and waits for it to arrive by |
| between user and content - are the whims of the | | | | mail (or downloads it).The manufacturers of digital |
| specific search engine used and things like | | | | products (intellectual property such as e-books or |
| meta-tags, headlines, a fee paid, or the right | | | | software) have begun selling their merchandise |
| opening sentences.B. Screen vs. PageThe | | | | on-line, as file downloads. Yet, slow |
| computer screen, because of physical limitations | | | | communications speeds, competing file formats |
| (size, the fact that it has to be scrolled) fails to | | | | and reader standards, and limited bandwidth - |
| effectively compete with the printed page. The | | | | constrain the growth potential of this mode of |
| latter is still the most ingenious medium yet | | | | sale. Once resolved - intellectual property will be |
| invented for the storage and release of textual | | | | sold directly from the Net, on-line. Until such time, |
| information. Granted: a computer screen is better | | | | the mediation of the Post Office is still required. |
| at highlighting discrete units of information. So, | | | | As long as this is the state of the art, the virtual |
| these differing capacities draw the battle lines: | | | | mall is nothing but a glorified computerized mail |
| structures (printed pages) versus units (screen), | | | | catalogue or Buying Channel, the only difference |
| the continuous and easily reversible (print) versus | | | | being the exceptionally varied inventory.Websites |
| the discrete (screen).The solution lies in finding an | | | | which started as "specialty stores" are fast |
| efficient way to translate computer screens to | | | | transforming themselves into multi-purpose virtual |
| printed matter. It is hard to believe, but no such | | | | malls. Amazon.com, for instance, has bought into a |
| thing exists. Computer screens are still hostile to | | | | virtual pharmacy and into other virtual businesses. |
| off-line printing. In other words: if a user copies | | | | It is now selling music, video, electronics and many |
| information from the Internet to his word | | | | other products. It started as a bookstore.This |
| processor (or vice versa, for that matter) - he | | | | contrasts with a much more creative idea: the |
| ends up with a fragmented, garbage-filled and | | | | virtual catalogue. It is a form of narrowcasting (as |
| non-aesthetic document.Very few site developers | | | | opposed to broadcasting): a surgically accurate |
| try to do something about it - even fewer | | | | targeting of potential consumer audiences. Each |
| succeed.C. Dynamic vs. Static InteractionsOne of | | | | group of profiled consumers (no matter how |
| the biggest mistakes of content suppliers is that | | | | small) is fitted with their own - digitally generated - |
| they do not provide a "static-dynamic | | | | catalogue. This is updated daily: the variety of |
| interaction".Internet-based content can now easily | | | | wares on offer (adjusted to reflect inventory |
| interact with other media (e.g., CD-ROMs) and | | | | levels, consumer preferences, and goods in |
| with non-PC platforms (PDA's, mobile | | | | transit) - and prices (sales, discounts, package |
| phones).Examples abound:A CD-ROM shopping | | | | deals) change in real time. Amazon has |
| catalogue interacts with a Web site to allow the | | | | incorporated many of these features on its web |
| user to order a product. The catalogue could also | | | | site. The user enters its web site and there |
| be updated through the site (as is the practice | | | | delineates his consumption profile and his |
| with CD-ROM encyclopedias). The advantages of | | | | preferences. A customized catalogue is |
| the CD-ROM are clear: very fast access time | | | | immediately generated for him including specific |
| (dozens of times faster than the access to a | | | | recommendations. The history of his purchases, |
| Web site using a dial up connection) and a data | | | | preferences and responses to feedback |
| storage capacity hundreds of times bigger than | | | | questionnaires is accumulated in a database. This |
| the average Web page.Another example:A PDA | | | | intellectual property may well be Amazon's main |
| plug-in disposable chip containing hundreds of | | | | asset.There is no technological obstacles to |
| advertisements or a "yellow pages". The | | | | implementing this vision today - only administrative |
| consumer selects the ad or entry that she wants | | | | and legal (patent) ones. Big brick and mortar retail |
| to see and connects to the Internet to view a | | | | stores are not up to processing the flood of data |
| relevant video. She could then also have an | | | | expected to result. They also remain highly |
| interactive chat (or a conference) with a | | | | sceptical regarding the feasibility of the new |
| salesperson, receive information about the | | | | medium. And privacy issues prevent data mining |
| company, about the ad, about the advertising | | | | or the effective collection and usage of personal |
| agency which created the ad - and so on.CD-ROM | | | | data (remember the case of Amazon's "Readers' |
| based encyclopedias (such as the Britannica, or | | | | Circles").The virtual catalogue is a private case of |
| the Encarta) already contain hyperlinks which | | | | a new internet off-shoot: the "smart (shopping) |
| carry the user to sites selected by an Editorial | | | | agents". These are AI applications with "long |
| Board.NoteCD-ROMs are probably a doomed | | | | memories".They draw detailed profiles of |
| medium. Storage capacity continually increases | | | | consumers and users and then suggest purchases |
| exponentially and, within a year, desktops with 80 | | | | and refer to the appropriate sites, catalogues, or |
| Gb hard disks will be a common sight. Moreover, | | | | virtual malls.They also provide price comparisons |
| the much heralded Network Computer - the | | | | and the new generation cannot be blocked or |
| stripped down version of the personal computer - | | | | fooled by using differing product categories.In the |
| will put at the disposal of the average user | | | | future, these agents will cover also brick and |
| terabytes in storage capacity and the processing | | | | mortar retail chains and, in conjunction with |
| power of a supercomputer. What separates | | | | wireless, location-specific services, issue a map of |
| computer users from this utopia is the | | | | the branch or store closest to an address |
| communication bandwidth. With the introduction of | | | | specified by the user (the default being his |
| radio and satellite broadband services, DSL and | | | | residence), or yielded by his GPS enabled wireless |
| ADSL, cable modems coupled with advanced | | | | mobile or PDA. This technology can be seen in |
| compression standards - video (on demand), audio | | | | action in a few music sites on the web and is |
| and data will be available speedily and | | | | likely to be dominant with wireless internet |
| plentifully.The CD-ROM, on the other hand, is not | | | | appliances. The owner of an internet enabled (third |
| mobile. It requires installation and the utilization of | | | | generation) mobile phone is likely to be the target |
| sophisticated hardware and software. This is no | | | | of geographically-specific marketing campaigns, |
| user friendly push technology. It is nerd-oriented. | | | | ads and special offers pertaining to his current |
| As a result, CD-ROMs are not an immediate | | | | location (as reported by his GPS - satellite |
| medium. There is a long time lapse between the | | | | Geographic Positioning System).F. The Transport |
| moment of purchase and the moment the user | | | | of Information - Internet NewsInternet news are |
| accesses the data. Compare this to a book or a | | | | advantaged. They are frequently and dynamically |
| magazine. Data in these oldest of media is | | | | updated (unlike static print news) and are always |
| instantly available to the user and they allow for | | | | accessible (similar to print news), immediate and |
| easy and accurate "back" and "forward" | | | | fresh.The future will witness a form of interactive |
| functions.Perhaps the biggest mistake of CD-ROM | | | | news. A special "corner" in the news Web site will |
| manufacturers has been their inability to offer an | | | | accommodate "breaking news" posted by |
| integrated hardware and software package. | | | | members of the the public (or corporate press |
| CD-ROMs are not compact. A Walkman is a | | | | releases). This will provide readers with a glimpse |
| compact hardware-cum-software package. It is | | | | into the making of the news, the raw material |
| easily transportable, it is thin, it contains numerous, | | | | news are made of. The same technology will be |
| user-friendly, sophisticated functions, it provides | | | | applied to interactive TVs. Content will be |
| immediate access to data. So does the discman, | | | | downloaded from the internet and displayed as an |
| or the MP3-man, or the new generation of | | | | overlay on the TV screen or in a box in it. The |
| e-books (e.g., E-Ink's). This cannot be said about | | | | contents downloaded will be directly connected to |
| the CD-ROM. By tying its future to the obsolete | | | | the TV programming. Thus, the biography and |
| concept of stand-alone, expensive, inefficient and | | | | track record of a football player will be displayed |
| technologically unreliable personal computers - | | | | during a football match and the history of a |
| CD-ROMs have sentenced themselves to oblivion | | | | country when it gets news coverage.4. Terra |
| (with the possible exception of reference | | | | Internetica - Internet, an Unknown |
| material).D. Online ReferenceA visit to the on-line | | | | ContinentLaymen and experts alike talk about |
| Encyclopaedia Britannica demonstrates some of | | | | "sites" and "advertising space". Yet, the Internet |
| the tremendous, mind boggling possibilities of online | | | | was never compared to a new continent whose |
| reference - as well as some of the obstacles.Each | | | | surface is infinite.The Internet has its own real |
| entry in this mammoth work of reference is | | | | estate developers and construction companies. |
| hyperlinked to relevant Web sites. The sites are | | | | The real life equivalents derive their profits from |
| carefully screened. Links are available to data in | | | | the scarcity of the resource that they exploit - |
| various forms, including audio and video. | | | | the Internet counterparts derive their profits |
| Everything can be copied to the hard disk or to a | | | | from the tenants (content producers and |
| R/W CD.This is a new conception of a knowledge | | | | distributors, e-tailers, and others).Entrepreneurs |
| centre - not just a heap of material. The content | | | | bought "Internet Space" (pages, domain names, |
| is modular and continuously enriched. It can be | | | | portals) and leveraged their acquisition |
| linked to a voice Q&A centre. Queries by | | | | commercially by:Renting space out;Constructing |
| subscribers can be answered by e-mail, by fax, | | | | infrastructure on their property and selling |
| posted on the site, hard copies can be sent by | | | | it;Providing an intelligent gateway, entry point |
| post. This "Trivial Pursuit" or "homework" service | | | | (portal) to the rest of the internet;Selling |
| could be very popular - there is considerable | | | | advertising space which subsidizes the tenants |
| appetite for "Just in Time Information". The | | | | (Yahoo!-Geocities, Tripod and |
| Library of Congress - together with a few other | | | | others);Cybersquatting (purchasing specific domain |
| libraries - is in the process of making just such a | | | | names identical to brand names in the "real" |
| service available to the public (CDRS - | | | | world) and then selling the domain name to an |
| Collaborative Digital Reference Service).E. | | | | interested party.Internet Space can be easily |
| Derivative ContentThe Internet is an enormous | | | | purchased or created. The investment is low and |
| reservoir of archives of freely accessible, or even | | | | getting lower with the introduction of competition |
| public domain, information.With a minimal | | | | in the field of domain registration services and the |
| investment, this information can be gathered into | | | | increase in the number of top domains.Then, |
| coherent, theme oriented, cheap compilations (on | | | | infrastructure can be erected - for a shopping |
| CD-ROMs, print, e-books or other media).F. | | | | mall, for free home pages, for a portal, or for |
| E-PublishingThe Internet is by far the world's | | | | another purpose. It is precisely this infrastructure |
| largest publishing platform. It incorporates FAQs | | | | that the developer can later sell, lease, franchise, |
| (Q&A's regarding almost every technical matter in | | | | or rent out.But this real estate bubble was the |
| the world), e-zines (electronic magazines), the | | | | culmination of a long and tortuous process.At the |
| electronic versions of print dailies and periodicals (in | | | | beginning, only members of the fringes and the |
| conjunction with on-line news and information | | | | avant-garde (inventors, risk assuming |
| services), reference material, e-books, | | | | entrepreneurs, gamblers) invest in a new |
| monographs, articles, minutes of discussions | | | | invention. No one knows to say what are the |
| ("threads"), conference proceedings, and much | | | | optimal uses of the invention (in other words, |
| more besides.The Internet represents major | | | | what is its future). Many - mostly members of |
| advantages to publishers. Consider the electronic | | | | the scientific and business elites - argue that there |
| version of a p-zine.Publishing an e-zine promotes | | | | is no real need for the invention and that it |
| the sales of the printed edition, it helps sign on | | | | substitutes a new and untried way for old and |
| subscribers and it leads to the sale of advertising | | | | tried modes of doing the same things (so why |
| space. The electronic archive function (see next | | | | assume the risk of investing in the unknown and |
| section) saves the need to file back issues, the | | | | the untried?).Moreover, these criticisms are usually |
| physical space required to do so and the irritating | | | | well-founded.To start with, there is, indeed, no |
| search for data items.The future trend is a | | | | need for the new medium. A new medium |
| combined subscription to both the electronic | | | | invents itself - and the need for it. It also |
| edition (mainly for the archival value and the ability | | | | generates its own market to satisfy this newly |
| to hyperlink to additional information) and to the | | | | found need.Two prime examples of this |
| print one (easier to browse the current issue). | | | | self-recursive process are the personal computer |
| The Economist is already offering free access to | | | | and the compact disc.When the PC was invented, |
| its electronic archives as an inducement to its | | | | its uses were completely unclear. Its performance |
| print subscribers.The electronic daily presents | | | | was lacking, its abilities limited, it was unbearably |
| other advantages:It allows for immediate | | | | user unfriendly. It suffered from faulty design, |
| feedback and for flowing, almost real-time, | | | | was absent any user comfort and ease of use |
| communication between writers and readers. The | | | | and required considerable professional knowledge |
| electronic version, therefore, acquires a | | | | to operate. The worst part was that this |
| gyroscopic function: a navigation instrument, | | | | knowledge was exclusive to the new invention |
| always indicating deviations from the "right" | | | | (not portable). It reduced labour mobility and |
| course. The content can be instantly updated and | | | | limited one's professional horizons. There were |
| breaking news incorporated in older | | | | many gripes among workers assigned to tame |
| content.Specialty hand held devices already allow | | | | the new beast. Managers regarded it at best as a |
| for downloading and storage of vast quantities of | | | | nuisance.The PC was thought of, at the beginning, |
| data (up to 4000 print pages). The user gains | | | | as a sophisticated gaming machine, an electronic |
| access to libraries containing hundreds of texts, | | | | baby-sitter. It included a keyboard, so it was |
| adapted to be downloaded, stored and read by | | | | thought of in terms of a glorified typewriter or |
| the specific device. Again, a convergence of | | | | spreadsheet. It was used mainly as a word |
| standards is to be expected in this field as well | | | | processor (and the outlay justified solely on these |
| (the final contenders will probably be Adobe's PDF | | | | grounds). The spreadsheet was the first real PC |
| against Microsoft's MS-Reader).Currently, e-books | | | | application and it demonstrated the advantages |
| are dichotomously treated either as:Continuation | | | | inherent to this new machine (mainly flexibility and |
| of print books (p-books) by other means, or as a | | | | speed). Still, it was more of the same. A speedier |
| whole new publishing universe.Since p-books are a | | | | sliding ruler. After all, said the unconvinced, what |
| more convenient medium then e-books - they will | | | | was the difference between this and a hand held |
| prevail in any straightforward "medium | | | | calculator (some of them already had computing, |
| replacement" or "medium displacement" battle.In | | | | memory and programming features)?The PC was |
| other words, if publishers will persist in the simple | | | | recognized as a medium only 30 years after it |
| and straightforward conversion of p-books to | | | | was invented with the introduction of multimedia |
| e-books - then e-books are doomed. They are | | | | software. All this time, the computer continued to |
| simply inferior and cannot offer the comfort, | | | | spin off markets and secondary markets, needs |
| tactile delights, browseability and scanability of | | | | and professional specialties. The talk as always |
| p-books.But e-books - being digital - open up a | | | | was centred on how to improve on existing |
| vista of hitherto neglected possibilities. These will | | | | markets and solutions.The Internet is the |
| only be enhanced and enriched by the introduction | | | | computer's first important application. Hitherto the |
| of e-paper and e-ink. Among them:Hyperlinks | | | | computer was only quantitatively different to |
| within the e-book and without it - to web content, | | | | other computing or gaming devices. Multimedia and |
| reference works, etc.;Embedded instant shopping | | | | the Internet have made it qualitatively superior, |
| and ordering links;Divergent, user-interactive, | | | | sui generis, unique.Part of the problem was that |
| decision driven plotlines;Interaction with other | | | | the Internet was invented, is maintained and is |
| e-books (using a wireless standard) - collaborative | | | | operated by computer professionals. For decades |
| authoring or reading groups;Interaction with other | | | | these people have been conditioned to think in |
| e-books - gaming and community | | | | Olympic terms: faster, stronger, higher - not in |
| activities;Automatically or periodically updated | | | | terms of the new, the unprecedented, or the |
| content;Multimedia;Database, Favourites, | | | | non-existent. Engineers are trained to improve - |
| Annotations, and History Maintenance (archival | | | | seldom to invent. With few exceptions, its |
| records of reading habits, shopping habits, | | | | creators stumbled across the Internet - it |
| interaction with other readers, plot related | | | | invented itself despite them.Computer |
| decisions and much more);Automatic and | | | | professionals (hardware and software experts |
| embedded audio conversion and translation | | | | alike) - are linear thinkers. The Internet is non |
| capabilities;Full wireless piconetworking and | | | | linear and modular.It is still the age of hackers. |
| scatternetworking capabilities.The technology is still | | | | There is still a lot to be done in improving |
| not fully there. Wars rage in both the wireless and | | | | technological prowess and powers. But their |
| the e-book realms. Platforms compete. Standards | | | | control of the contents is waning and they are |
| clash. Gurus debate. But convergence is inevitable | | | | being gradually replaced by communicators, |
| and with it the e-book of the future.G. The | | | | creative people, advertising executives, |
| Archive FunctionThe Internet is also the world's | | | | psychologists, venture capitalists, and the totally |
| biggest cemetery: tens of thousands of deadbeat | | | | unpredictable masses who flock to flaunt their |
| sites, still accessible - the "Ghost Sites" of this | | | | home pages and graphomania.These all are |
| electronic frontier.This, in a way, is collective | | | | attuned to the user, his mental needs and his |
| memory. One of the Internet's main functions will | | | | information and entertainment preferences.The |
| be to preserve and transfer knowledge through | | | | compact disc is a different tale. It was intentionally |
| time. It is called "memory" in biology - and | | | | invented to improve upon an existing technology |
| "archive" in library science. The history of the | | | | (basically, Edison's Gramophone). Market-wise, this |
| Internet is being documented by search engines | | | | was a major gamble. The improvement was, at |
| (Google) and specialized services (Alexa) alike.3. | | | | first, debatable (many said that the sound quality |
| The Internet as a Collective Nervous | | | | of the first generation of compact discs was |
| SystemDrawing a comparison from the | | | | inferior to that of its contemporaneous record |
| development of a human infant - the human race | | | | players). Consumers had to be convinced to |
| has just commenced to develop its neural | | | | change both software and hardware and to dish |
| system.The Internet fulfils all the functions of the | | | | out thousands of dollars just to listen to what the |
| Nervous System in the body and is, both | | | | manufacturers claimed was more a authentically |
| functionally and structurally, pretty similar. It is | | | | reproduced sound. A better argument was the |
| decentralized, redundant (each part can serve as | | | | longer life of the software (though when |
| functional backup in case of malfunction). It hosts | | | | contrasted with the limited life expectancy of the |
| information which is accessible through various | | | | consumer, some of the first sales pitches |
| paths, it contains a memory function, it is | | | | sounded absolutely morbid).The computer |
| multimodal (multimedia - textual, visual, audio and | | | | suffered from unclear positioning. The compact |
| animation).I believe that the comparison is not | | | | disc was very clear as to its main functions - but |
| superficial and that studying the functions of the | | | | had a rough time convincing the consumers that it |
| brain (from infancy to adulthood) is likely to shed | | | | was needed.Every medium is first controlled by |
| light on the future of the Net itself. The Net - | | | | the technical people. Gutenberg was a printer - |
| exactly like the nervous system - provides | | | | not a publisher. Yet, he is the world's most |
| pathways for the transport of goods and | | | | famous publisher. The technical cadre is joined by |
| services - but also of memes and information, | | | | dubious or small-scale entrepreneurs and, |
| their processing, modeling, and integration.A. The | | | | together, they establish ventures with no clear |
| Collective ComputerCarrying the metaphor of "a | | | | vision, market-oriented thinking, or orderly plan of |
| collective brain" further, we would expect the | | | | action. The legislator is also dumbfounded and |
| processing of information to take place on the | | | | does not grasp what is happening - thus, there is |
| Internet, rather than inside the end-user's | | | | no legislation to regulate the use of the medium. |
| hardware (the same way that information is | | | | Witness the initial confusion concerning copyrighted |
| processed in the brain, not in the eyes). Desktops | | | | vs. licenced software, e-books, and the copyrights |
| will receive results and communicate with the Net | | | | of ROM embedded software. Abuse or |
| to receive additional clarifications and instructions | | | | under-utilization of resources grow. The sale of |
| and to convey information gathered from their | | | | radio frequencies to the first cellular phone |
| environment (mostly, from the user).Put | | | | operators in the West - a situation which repeats |
| differently:In future, servers will contain not only | | | | itself in Eastern and Central Europe nowadays - is |
| information (as they do today) - but also | | | | an example.But then more complex transactions - |
| software applications. The user of an application | | | | exactly as in real estate in "real life" - begin to |
| will not be forced to buy it. He will not be driven | | | | emerge. The Internet is likely to converge with |
| into hardware-related expenditures to | | | | "real life". It is likely to be dominated by brick and |
| accommodate the ever growing size of | | | | mortar entities which are likely to import their |
| applications. He will not find himself wasting his | | | | business methods and management. As its |
| scarce memory and computing resources on | | | | eccentric past (the boom and the dot.bomb bust) |
| passive storage. Instead, he will use a browser to | | | | recedes - a sustainable and profitable future |
| call a central computer. This computer will contain | | | | awaits it. |