Virtual Revolution

Questions for the documentary “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?

            The reason why there is that controversial argument here is that those people that are put into the quarter group are the one’s that can afford and have easy access to the Internet. Then there are others all over that world that simply are unable to access the Internet, whether it be due to financial reasons, or even the situations in the country they live in, similar to that of China with there restrictions on the Internet. That is why the ability to use the Internet, and becoming technologically literate is finally being implemented in Africa. Once they are able to receive and teach how to use the internet it will change the human race in many ways, allowing everyone to share information faster than ever, and having the network of people on the Internet expand even greater, gaining more knowledge into the collective.

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?

The Wikipedia encyclopedia offers convenient and somewhat reliable free information that is uncensored and evades government control. The website offers the opportunity for anyone to edit and share information on any subject. It creates a collective hub of information that even the most average person can shape. There doesn't have to be any qualifications for the user to input what they feel is correct. The establishment of Wikipedia is a fulfillment of the mission statement of the Internet’s founding. The Internet was shaped off of the idealism of the hippie counterculture, which was simply free will and the ability to create an identity away from government control. Libertarianism is a political philosophy that encourages more of an absolute freedom, liberty and little to no government regulation or control. The creators of the once pubescent Internet were born into a time where computer technology, which was once government owned, was now becoming affordable and marketable to the American consumer. Of course, the Internet became a free place for everyone to use.

3.     How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?

            The web allows so many different types of digital media from all over the world to be all in one space, a place where anyone can contribute and alter what is being shared. The web is not controlled by any government, or bias, but rather by the people as a whole, creating a “collective intelligence”, an important part to the idea of what media convergence. The “anti-establishment”  movement that was really the groundwork for the internet itself, is now seen I full effect, as the Internet has been the place for instant feedback and a collection of the world’s knowledge all in one place. In order for digital convergence, there needed to be a space where all of it can be accessed at a given point, and that’s exactly what the web is for.

4.     How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your answer.

            The establishment of the electronic frontier Foundation championed and campaigned for freedom of ideas, expression and a sovereignty-less cyberspace that has no limits. This limitless atmosphere of information and content is a clear threat to the traditional mindset of authority. In the volatile country of Kenya, a simple blogger who campaigned for civil rights through the open Internet, established an open forum for those suppressed throughout the country to voice their oppression and post their untold stories for others around the world to see. This window into the usually censored Kenyan life exposed the injustices to the people of the web and as a result changed the atmosphere of the civil rights movement.

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?

            I believe that getting information for free the way we do is an amazing thing. Without limitations or borders, the world truly is free from governments and other organizations limiting our access to the web and all its resources. However, this may be the only place where we will be truly be free, as the government has always tried to implement restrictions on other things, and are now even trying to put restriction and limitations on the Internet itself. I do see a little bit of a problem in the concept of absolute freedom. The fact that some people abuse the whole idea of “no boundaries” can be a problem on a moral level. Some entities would simply cross those borders, and it would be an issue for the community as a whole. All in all, however, the fact that the Internet is a space in which the world can collectively build an empire of collective knowledge will forever remain its greatest asset to society.

6.     In traditional media communications, it has the “vertical” authority. In the Web commutation, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?

            The "vertical" authority on the web implies that there is a more strict level of guidelines. It seems that there is a more finite space and not much room to move around in. The "horizontal" authority, however, is more broad, and covers a wider space, leading us to believe that it encompasses more content from a larger group of people. The creator of the Internet has created an unbelievable power and yet turned his back on making any type of profit on it at all. The reason why it became such a success is because it was given away for free and available to anyone.  With the Internet being a free entity for any to own and use it created a process where the consumer had an equal opportunity to be a producer while being the opposite with producers. Everyone has equal opportunities. When Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web for everyone that was when digital converge was made possible because everyone was on an equal plane, and no one is above anyone in a completely free space.

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

            Having the web be free is the sole reason why it has been a revolutionary success, and if that is ever taken away, then the value of it to the world would immediately diminish. It clashes with the corporate business philosophy because companies try to limit what people see and share on the Internet, going against the entire meaning of the web itself. The web should either be completely free, or taken away, because it has become a safe haven for people to spread their knowledge to everyone. There is a sort of grey area with copyright infringement, as people are able to basically say and do what they want, yet that technically means that they can copy someone else’s work without asking. A solution to this would be to have copyright infringement implemented, and penalize those that take from others who have had their work copyrighted. That does seem to be a little bit of a contradiction to what the Internet is for, but it does seem like an unnecessary evil. If the web was not free, then the amount of people that would be able to fully access it would greatly decrease, and the whole original idea for the internet would be defeated permanently. That is why it is always important to protect the internet so that it is always a free space for everyone to use.