The author highlighted a range of benefits the Internet offered, and universality is the foundation of them. For example, NYU Shanghai websites are typically designed to work on various devices and browsers, ensuring a broad audience can access the content globally. I can quickly research and learn about a wide range of topics, from educational resources to news articles.
However, alongside its convenience, the internet has also given rise to some ill effects. The article recounts an incident in 2008 when a company developed an ISP capable of peering into the packets of information it transmitted. This capability raises significant privacy concerns, including unauthorized access to personal data, targeted advertising, and potential data security risks. Personally, I share similar worries and exercise utmost caution when browsing websites to safeguard my online privacy.
Universality refers to the principle that a technology or system should be accessible and usable to everyone, regardless of their location, language, or abilities. Universality is a core concept of the World Wide Web, where websites and content are designed to be accessible to a global audience. Isolation, on the other hand, stands in contrast to universality. It represents the idea of keeping something separate or restricted. In my experience on the web, certain closed app stores or subscription-based services can represent isolation by limiting access to users who meet specific criteria.
Open Standards are protocols and technologies that are openly available for anyone to implement, which develops its diversity, richness and innovation. An example is HTML that we are learning currently, a standard for creating web pages that anyone can use. Open standards have been a cornerstone of the web’s success. Closed Worlds contrast with open standards. They are platforms with technologies that restrict access and usage. For example, Apple’s iOS ecosystem is relatively closed, as it tightly controls which apps can be installed on its devices. Closed worlds can limit innovation and competition.
The Internet is the underlying network connecting devices globally. It’s the physical structure that allows data to be transmitted between devices. The Web, on the other hand, is an application layer built on top of the Internet, primarily for accessing and sharing information using protocols like HTTP. It consists of a vast collection of interconnected documents and resources that are accessible via hyperlinks. In my experience, the web has been my primary interface for accessing information, communicating, and interacting with a vast array of online services. The internet, as the underlying network, enables all of these capabilities, including the transmission of data that makes the web possible.
The author’s vision for the future of the web, as of the time of writing, placed significant emphasis on open data, social machines, web science, and freely available bandwidth. This vision aspired to create a web where data is more dynamic and readily accessible. Dazhongdianping and Meituan serve as prime examples of platforms where numerous individuals share their reviews and ratings of restaurants, which influence the decisions made by potential patrons. These platforms have gained significant popularity.
Today’s web still incorporates some of these ideals. However, issues like “fake news” and the consolidation of power by a few tech giants have emerged. These challenges threaten the original vision. Many individuals may not have as much control over their data and content as the author had hoped.
In summary, the web has evolved, and achieving the full realization of the author’s vision remains a work in progress.