Imagining the Internet: Personalities, Predictions, Perspectives by Janna Quitney Anderson, Lee Rainie (Foreword by)
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- Pub. Date: July 2005
- 307pp
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: July 2005
- Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
- Format: Paperback, 307pp
- ISBN-13: 9780742539372
- ISBN: 0742539377
Synopsis
By now, they said, we should all have flying cars and world peace, and we should be very busy replacing ourselves with machines. They also said the Internet would soon result in the end of both privacy and property. In all cases it is not entirely clear whether such changes are good or bad, or if they have or will come true. In this series of wide-ranging essays Anderson (communications, Elon U.) gives some perspective on why some dreams (or nightmares) about the technologies and societies of the future conflict with the reality, and why sociology, personalities and twists of fate are likely to keep flying cars and the destruction of the concept of property on their respective drawing boards for the time being. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
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Imagining the Internet: Personalities, Predictions, Perspectivesby Anonymous
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September 27, 2005: Janna Quitney Anderson?s new book, ?Imagining the Internet: Personalities, Predictions, Perspectives,? won?t be the most interesting reading for the typical Internet user, but anyone who has a vested interest in the future of technology will find that it is a worthwhile resource. Anderson has collected some of the most interesting and insightful quotations from expert technologists, scientists and futurists. The book is serious reading that brings together insights from the experts about the Internet?s past and puts them in context of other communications development. The book?s focus is the Internet, but Anderson discusses all types of communications networks that bring relevance to the topic. The Internet is still in its infancy. Comparing it to older communications technologies gives context to its growth. The book gives a great frame of reference for the adoption and integration of revolutionary communications technology like the telegraph or telephone. It?s easy to see connections between predictions about Morse Code and early predictions about the Internet. We see the potential the Internet had during its early years, and also see that there?s almost unlimited room for change ? it can adapt as our needs and abilities grow. As Anderson leads us through the development of the Internet ? from the early ARPANET to the web we know today ? she provides numerous predictive quotes from Internet luminaries and stakeholders from the early 90s. She shows us that the experts had the foresight to see both the enormous good that the Internet had the potential to bring as well as the chance for ethical quandaries. The experts saw opportunity for great social interaction and a development of an information economy even before the Internet penetrated mainstream culture. At the same time, the predictions Anderson selected, also show the controversy the Internet can stir-up, including issues of piracy, privacy and security. Now, not all of the predictions made in the early years of the Internet have come true, but those are included too. The point, it seems, is to chronicle the hype about the Internet as it was being developed, perhaps in the hope of finding trends that might produce some insight into where the Internet could develop from where it is now. Computers haven?t replaced TVs yet, as many experts predicted more than a decade ago, but there are signs that it could in the not-too-distant-future. Other similar predictions might still give readers clues as to what?s to come in the future of the web.
Imagining the Internet: Personalities, Predictions, Perspectivesby Anonymous
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September 20, 2005: In less than two decades, our world has been turned upside down by the explosive growth of the Internet. Basic human interactions of all kinds, from commerce to romance to crime, have already changed noticeably in the wake of the rapidly expanding online world. As these changes gain momentum, it is in everyone?s best interest to learn as much as possible so that they can participate in what is to come. Imagining the Internet by Janna Quitney Anderson offers an insightful, comprehensive look into how the Internet has evolved from its humble beginnings to the global network that we know today, and provides informed predictions from numerous experts on how it will affect our lives in the future. Combining informed predictions with sensible explanations, this work is a must-read for anyone who seeks a better understanding of the Internet. Anderson begins by explaining the growth of the Internet within the context of long-term changes in the way people communicate and share information. From the printing press to the advent of the telegraph, radio, and television, she shows how technology has affected the flow of information, which in turn has changed the structure of our civilization. From this perspective, Anderson presents us with expert predictions of the Internet?s future from such knowledgeable sources as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Nicholas Negroponte, just to name a few. Aside from broad predictions about what the Internet will be like, Imagining the Internet delves into multiple topics of interest from a wide variety of viewpoints. These include topics such as personal privacy and freedom, information overload, government surveillance, artificial intelligence, and many others. For readers who are skeptical about the implications of all this advancing technology (or those who simply want to know both sides of the argument), this book readily assesses the dangers as well as the benefits of a growing Internet and allows you to make up your own mind. Past predictions about the Internet are also included, giving us insight into who was accurate or not, and how these predictions have influenced the formation of today?s World Wide Web. Whether you are already an Internet junkie or just curious about all the fuss, this book will help you understand present trends in cyberspace while enabling you to keep pace as it evolves. Anderson has created an incredibly thorough yet approachable guide to why the Internet is so important, how it got to be that way and how it will affect you in the future.
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