Week 7
Different Theories of The Web. Libertarianism & empowerment or social control.
Computing is a Multidisciplinary subject as of necessity because it has ubiquitous applications in all areas, therefore any good web development takes in to context – Political, Social, Economic, Psychological and cultural aspects.
Ubiquitous applications
Social issues as important as technical ones:
“The web is more a social creation than a technical one. I designed it for a social effect — to help people work together — and not as a technical toy. The ultimate goal of the Web is to support and improve our weblike existence in the world.” Tim Berners-Lee, in Weaving The Web: The Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of the World Wide Web"
Liberty & Empowerment:
The internet is in contrast to the broadcast model, where few broadcast to many, and creates an environment in which many broadcasts to many. It liberates the flow of information.
Social networks such as twitter create solid links between businesses and their customers: businesses can listen to their customers thinking in real time, this gives businesses the empowerment to improve their services through the web
eDemocracy:
- Costs of production & publication are minimal and costs of distribution are nil.
- Previously powerless groups now have voices in the public sphere for example: The Arab Spring view that gave the people the facilities to communicate and organise.
- flash mob organisations
- Digital activism
- Rage against the machine campaign
Ever more control, surveillance and the end of privacy?
Everything that you do on-line can potentially be monitored and abused and you can never be sure that anything has been deleted.
- Trolling - free speech on the web abused by those who hide behind anonymity to express uninhibited, extreme or abusive views.
- Surveillance – everything is monitored! Your digital footprint = your digital identity is real and can result in real consequences.