Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Virtual Revolution

“Virtual Revolution” part 1, 2, and 3.


1. The web is celebrated as the revolutionary technology that is great leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal access, and equal potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the earth who can use it. How do you explain the controversial argument here?
            - Not all of Earths citizens have access to the web because it is not available to everyone. Although that is true, everyone has the possibility to reach the web and to be connected to it. This is with the exception of senior citizens and children under the age of 5 who may not use the web. Eventually, the web will be connected to everyone.


2. How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?
            -Wikipedia is the best example because anyone can edit or leave their ideas and opinions. Any person with access to the web can log on and submit their thoughts on a subject. This is an example of digital convergence because information we may have once had to look up in books at the library is now at the click of a mouse online.


3. How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?
            -This is possible because you can make information viewable to basically anyone who is looking for it. Convergence can only happen if many people consume the information.


4. How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your answer.
            -This can become a challenge because nowadays it gives regular people the rights to feel empowered. The government was forced to make changes when regular people became one large and powerful voice via the internet. The web has given everybody the chance to voice their opinions, and not just specific or (rich) people like in the past.

5. Do you believe that getting information free can set us free eventually?
Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete freedom or self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?
            -Access to information is a very powerful thing. It can produce many opportunities for people to get notice and to have their voice heard. The Internet makes us free by allowing us to access any type of information that we choose. There is nothing we cannot find by searching the web. With all this freedom, there are some people who take advantage of it. Which sets people over the edge. Sometimes, limit on the Internet is a good thing, which is why there are parental settings on most computers to monitor children. Although everyone loves his or her freedom, sometimes its best if we don’t obtain all of it.


6. In traditional media communication, it has the “vertical” authority. In the
Web communication, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?
            -The web has horizontal authority because it is everywhere similar to the sun shining so it has to be monitored. Traditional media is the vertical because it needs to be overseen as a whole, similar to a shadow.


7. Why is that the Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself? How does that clash with the corporate business ideology? How does that pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will happen if the Web is not free?

            -If the web is not free it will not be important. People will go back to their old ways of finding news and read a free newspaper or listen to news by word of mouth. Some people may value the web so much that they will be wiling to pay for it. The reason the web is popular is because everyone can use it and it gives us power. Without the power, it is useless. The corporate world wants to remain in power and stay successful, which is why it clashes with corporate businesses.

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