Long Live the Web, written by the inventor of the Web Tim Berners-Lee, along with an article called A Network of Fragments, have subverted my initial perspective toward the Web, the Internet, and Internet using.
Right at the very beginning of the Berner-Lee’s passage, his words hit my nerve. He indicated that the Web is critical not merely to the digital revolution but to our continued prosperity and even out liberty. Like democracy itself, it needs defending (80). Initially, I actually take using the web and the internet for granted, without any thought of the factors that might be undermined.
There are some fundamental principles in this sophisticated digital world. According to the author, the web must be accessible to all humanity. People can put anything they want, no matter what computer they have, software they use or what language they speak. In addition, surfing on the internet should be on the basis of net neutrality. These two principles remind me of the inaccessibility of sites associated with Google, such as Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter in China. Chinese government forbid its subjects from accessing foreign websites, constraining people from getting information from “outside the wall”. The network in China, is actually walled off from the rest of the world. Even within the network inside, on the Twitter-like social platform Weibo, there are lots of information forbidden. In my perspective, this greatly offend the principle that Lee has set on the threshold of the Web process.
Another instance that I thought of is the smartphone apps. In the latest decade, people have banked more and more on their phone apps rather than the Web. This phenomenon is prevailing especially in China, for me. Take myself for example, when trying to look up for some restaurants to have dinner, I browse other people’s blogs, which are shown on the Web, when I’m in Taiwan. Nevertheless, when in China, I look up food on an app called DianPing. The wide usage of app actually works as monopoly of information and ventures. People have less chance to innovate since these remarked applications are so prevailing, and this create an almost saturated market for these field. According to Lee, this isn’t the result he is seeking for.
A Network of Fragment actually reminds of my responsibility. Since it is so around us and provide us with great convenience, we should try our best to protect it.