- The author mentions beneficial and “ill effects” of the Web. Describe two examples of these effects from your own experience on the web.
free (mostly) access to basically ANY information: the web has made it easier for me to access information on a wide range of topics from anywhere in the world. whether i want to learn a new skill or research a topic, the web is always there, ready to help.
as an international student, and as someone who moved a lot, i really benefit from the ability to have my family and friends accessible to reach via social media.
- In your own words, describe the concepts below, contrast them to one another and, if possible, share associations from your own experience on the web.
- Universality and Isolation
universality refers to the idea that the web should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their language, ability or location. isolation, on the other hand, refers to the idea of being disconnected or separated from others. the web promotes universality by providing a platform that connects people from all over the world. isolation, on the other hand, can occur when people become too reliant on the web for communication and use it as substitute for real-life interaction
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- Open Standards and Closed Worlds
open standards refer to a set of protocols and standards that allow different devices and applications to communicate with each other. closed worlds, on the other hand, refer to systems that are designed to be self-contained and do not interact with other systems. the web is based on open standards that allow different devices and applications to communicate with each other. closed worlds, such as proprietary platforms like Apple’s ecosystem (iTunes was mentioned in the text specifically as an example), limit the interoperability and flexibility of devices and applications.
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- The Web and the Internet
The Web and the Internet are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same thing. The Internet is the underlying infrastructure that connects devices and allows them to communicate with each other. The Web, on the other hand, is a collection of documents and resources that are accessed through the Internet using web browsers. So, basically, The Web is built on top of the Internet.
- The author talks about his visions for “the Web in the future”. More than 10 years after this text was published, identify the elements of his vision and discuss the ways in which they are (or aren’t) still present in today’s web. Feel free to also point out issues that have since arisen (e.g. the idea of “fake news”), and discuss how they might relate to the author’s vision.
in the “Web in the future” Tim Berners-Lee envisioned a web that was more personalized and intelligent. He also envisioned a web that would promote openness, collaboration, and social responsibility. while some aspects of his vision have been realized, such as the development of personalized content and improved collaboration tools, other aspects such as the prevalence of “fake news” and misinformation have become major challenges for the web. in many ways, the web has become more commercialized and less focused on openness and collaboration. however, there are also efforts underway to address these challenges, such as the development of new tools and technologies to combat misinformation and promote responsible use of the web.