1. The web’s evolution is ongoing.
The world of Web 2.0 is wide-open. Current web services including Google, Wiki, Facebook, delicious, etc. shows clear philosophy of Web 2.0, i.e. ‘Openness’ and ‘User-centered’. Under these philosophical characteristics of Web 2.0, web connects more people, information and knowledge as well as reconstructs them. Furthermore, not only computers but also cell phones, televisions, refrigerators, cars, etc. can be used as tools to get connected with the Web 2.0.
There are a lot of people who talk about Web 3.0 at this point. The search engines that searched words can now recognize sentences. User can participate in easier way without much knowledge about programs.
Web continues to evolve as networks and platforms. The speed of the evolution is explosive like back in the early 2000s when there was IT boom. But none of Web 2.0, 3.0, Google, cell phones, televisions can be web’s destination. Web is changing at this moment and when we think about web’s future, it is not too much to state now is the web’s early stage.
<Google Android Traial Video>
2. Easier, Better
Web is both ‘network’ and ‘platform’. Web will contain more people, information and, knowledge in the future. To do that, web will evolve in easier platform and better network. As the evolvement continues, web will be combined with the technologies like 3D, Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nano, etc. and become a intangible virtual reality that can substitute our life (like that of Matrix). Web will become more like or transcendental reality that contains knowledge. This real-a-like platform will become virtual reality and library for people.
Web embodies many applications including widzets as well as word processors and spread sheets. At the end, complicating installation OS or program will disappear and everything will be done once one is connected to the web. Web browser is progressed from one of the applications in Windows to alternate platform for Window and desktop. Now we can do anything once connected. As web becomes more convenient, web can be served on not only the PC, but also other machines.
<Zimbra is a web-service works like MS Outook>
3. For Virtual Reality
Revolutionary CD that took over record tape! Then CD suddenly got replaced with DVD then Blue-ray appeared. DVD nowadays in the USA costs nothing. DVD was a transition media as a result. Recently, mobile web through cell phone is on spot light. As Google presents Android, cell phone market is on fire. In my opinion, however, cell phones are too just a transition media.
Web will function through micro-small machines like eye glasses or contact lenses. But, the display that users see will be larger than ever. In contrast with cell phones that contain smaller displays as the machines got smaller, future Web will directly send signals to the eyes so the displays will be somewhat like that of movie ‘Minority Report (one can see multiple displays at the same time). Furthermore, 3D environment like Matrix will be created. The web will contain voice recognition technology as well as mechanical brain technology that will make voice recognition possible.
Therefore, the web will attract more people who are not use to PCs and text based format. They will get connected through televisions or refrigerator and search through voice recognition technology. Then they may do posting (i.e. when voice is recorded, it will be transferred to the texts and both information will be uploaded).
<Prototype of the Lens with circuit / Washington Univ.>
4. For the Library of the world
The world of Web 2.0 is wide-open. Current web service including Google, Wiki, Facebook, delicious, etc. shows clear philosophy of Web 2.0, i.e. ‘Openness’ and ‘User-centered’. Google made it possible to search a lot of information in a convenient way. More people post information through blogs or Wiki. Information get distributed through RSS reader, and jointly owned through SSN, Social Bookmark, Wiki, etc.
But for web to get better, it needs not only the information but also the knowledge. It should become world-wide-library rather than a pool of random information. In that sense, Google’s book search means a lot. (Google provides service to search books, dissertations, patents, and other professional data). Able to search not only the book’s infomation but also the text itself, is the first step of web becoming a library. For web to be more convenient library, it needs technological progress as well as settle the copyright problem.
First, the technological problem is; it is hard to read electronic books compare to paper books. Even Bill Gates confessed that it is easier to read paper books than that of electronic. The development for program and hardware for electronic books is ongoing. Despite of these progresses, electronic books will be uncomfortable than that of paper books for awhile.
However, new functions that will be added to the electronic books will make people turn to electronic books. Electronic books will be connected to each other using higher-links just like the internet documents, which will allow people to read cited books and/or reference books at the same time. Also, people can post their feedback and small part of the book on their blog right away. No time is needed for electronic books to have next edition unlike that of the paper books. Until now, publishing has been the monopoly of the professors and famous people. But, variety of people can work together and make an electronic book. Wiki foundation already made an encyclopedia made by ordinary people, i.e. Wikipedia. Wiki foundation is also making a manual made by ordinary users, i.e. Wiki Book. Moreover, as I mentioned previously, if the web is usable through high-tech machines like contact lenses, electronic books will become more comfortable than paper books to read.
Copyright problem is a harder problem to solve than that of the technology. The biggest mountain to conquer when books and music are getting spread on the web is, copyright. The tension between the creators and, technicians and consumers is high. Creators are trying to keep the copyright whereas technicians and consumers are asking for free, open use. Creators’ effort to protect copyright is not something to blame. However, it is not wise to reject change to protect copyright. Creators should work with the technicians and come up with counterproposals like iTunes. An active debate is held on creative commons (www.creativecommons.org).
These problems, however, will not stop web’s effort to provide more knowledge. Web will evolve to a virtual reality library that is similar (or even better) to the reality. Web is a network as well as a platform. Nothing can be done with network and platform only. However, it may be possible to build the second Babel tower by allowing more people to share information and knowledge through easier platform. Therefore, Web is catalyst and a key to a whole new world.
<Amazon.com recently got the spotlight with e-book leader Kindle>
5. Web is a key to a new world.
It is time to conclude. For the last time, let’s talk about the knowledge. Previously, I stated that web should go beyond the information and provide knowledge. When this happens, interestingly enough, the price of the contents will drop dramatically to almost nothing.
Mankind has arrived at Information Technology society after going through Agricultural society and Industrial society. As world changes, important resources for mankind changed from labor and natural resources to knowledge. As world progresses, mankind pursuit intangible resources than tangible resources. However, as knowledge develops and increases, the price of the knowledge drops. It is very ironic since the most important resource; i.e. knowledge drops in economic value.
It is not surprising when cargo price drops as technology and society develops. Agricultural and industrial products went through that stage. But knowledge is a different case. Unlike agricultural and industrial products, the price of the knowledge drops to nothing. A sensible man should note something; capitalism can be destroyed.
Basic principal of capitalism is in the rarity of resources. People’s self interest of wanting those resources create an invisible hand and circulate the capitalism. But what if all the resources in the world are infinite like air? Become free of cost? Then theoretically, we can create a paradise without capitalism. As Web related technologies improve, our practical sense and/or the truths (systems and –ism s) will disappear.
(I am a protestant who believes in Armageddon. Even if we can create a utopia, there are lots of ways for Armageddon to come. Collision of planets, die out of the sun, etc.)
Web made intangible resource; i.e. knowledge free. There is a possibility that with the nano and biotechnology, people can make tangible resources like living creatures to intangible resources. Futurists forecast that within a few years supermarkets will cultivate beef to sell. New generation energy like solar energy may develop a lot and make the energy-use free of cost. In addition, if web some up with a virtual reality like Matrix by combining 3D technology and mechanical brain, tangible resources will not be needed. Whether they are nano, biotechnology, or artificial intelligence, all the knowledge and information will be shared through web. Web will not only develop web itself but also other technologies.
Web soon will be an independent platform out of Window and will gather more people and information. At the end, web will create a virtual reality that is similar to (or even better) our world. Web evolves to the virtual reality in easier and better way. One day Wikipedia may state that the first one to predict the destruction of capitalism is Marx and the one who made it reality is Tim Burners, the first creator of the web.
Do you remember the scene where Neo learns his first Kung Fu in Matrix? Operator fills knowledge about Kung Fu to Neo as if one is putting in USB driver to the PC. Then Neo trembles and say “I know Kung Fu”.
When the biotechnology and mechanical brain technology improves, these scenes may become our reality. Then we wouldn’t need schools to study. Then how will we define ‘effort’?
What is 'real'?
How do you define 'real'?
If you're talking about what you can feel,
what you can smell, what you can taste and see
then 'real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.
