This post is about a podcast available on the BBC regarding the evolution of the internet. Listening to this great podcast was a pleasure, since the subject was concerning the emergence of the World Wide Web and the invention of the internet, an invention perhaps as profound and having deep and far reaching implications just as the invention of the wheel and agriculture, both of which played a tremendous role in shaping up the human civilization. In our era, it is the web that is now playing an equally significant role in creating the contours of the age of information that began at the end of the twentieth century. Sir Tim Burners Lee may have given the internet the shape in which the common users of the web today recognize it, however, it is important to note how the root of all such significant inventions such as the internet has its roots in the military, as the internet was developed by the Allied forces to contribute to the war effort. Same is true with the nuclear bomb, another significant invention and also the invention of the steam engine, to some degree a byproduct of the age of colonialism, as goods and resources from the colonies were needed to be transported swiftly to ports. The almost ‘prophetic’ manner in which Douglas Adams describes the concept of the web in general and the applications, so ubiquitous in today’s world, in particular, in a sitcom is something revelatory. It reminds me something that I had seen way earlier wherein it was claimed that the events of 911 were vividly described in the ‘Simpsons’, telecasted in the US years before the actual events of 911 took place.

Listening to Selena’s poem in the podcast, it opened up a sensitive side of the human emotions regarding the interaction between the World Wide Web and the human species. Not very far in the future, it is imperative when the technology of artificial intelligence will be perfected, this facet of interaction between man and the machine will acquire a new dimension, and cross the ethical boundaries as they exist today, that are still grey areas in the realm of what is right and what is wrong. For example, if someone is mauled by a car on autopilot, who is to blame for the loss, or if a Robocop of the future goes berserk and hurts people, will merely pulling the plug on such devices be enough to compensate the victims so that they can have a sense of justice delivered? Selena’s comments about how the artistic expression has become ‘trivialized’ in the form of status updates or tweets also opens up a whole new dimension of the evolution of the web, where in not only has she dwelled on the negative aspects of the web, but also talked about the positive aspects, in which with tools like Google translate and crowd funding has opened up new avenues for the artists. However, Selena’s poem also provoked my thoughts on the implications of the deep web, which has been understandably not been mentioned in this podcast. This also aptly demonstrates the fact that technology is like a doubled edged sword, and it can be used both for construction and destruction, like the web being used for distributing and encouraging child pornography on one hand and on the other hand being used for telemedicine. However, the positive aspects of the ‘deep web’ could have been explored in this program, wherein its implications for people opposing repressive and dictatorial regimes could have been explored, and also it is noteworthy to mention that most of the valuable material available on the deep web is free and open for everyone.

The evolution of the internet of things and its implications on the human psyche, wherein a frightening scenario of everything getting ‘tagged’ and humans becoming much more mechanical emerges is something to be pondered upon seriously. No wonder, the IOT may have its advantages, but the revelations made by Edward Snowden as mentioned in the podcast have also raised such kind of fears, wherein the ‘death of privacy’ have also pushed the ethical limits of the use of technology and whether its implications would be more harmful or useful to the humans, just like the debate that is raging on the benefits or the perils of the stem cell research.

The insights provided by the podcast on the digital divide and the proliferation of the mobile technology, most prominently the rapid popularization of the ‘smart phone’ has also been dealt effectively in the podcast. However, it is another story whether the ‘smart phone’ has made us smarter or dumber, and this needs to be explored as well. But its role in bridging the digital divide cannot be underestimated, as mobiles are playing a significant role in bring the fruits of the World Wide Web to the common man. The comment in the podcast that the web is just like democracy and it needs to be constantly worked upon and receive inputs of positive contributions so that the web can become more open, accessible and an equalizing force was especially thought provoking. In addition, the end comments made by Selena regarding the implications of the web for artists and writers in the form of increased worldwide audience, emergence of self publishing and crowd funding and the positive effect it has on the morale of the artist was good as well. The master stroke of this podcast was however aptly revealed at the end, wherein the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web has been beautifully described by an analogy of the railway tracks and the trains. This podcast was quite informative, and listening to one of the key inventors of the web was a treat. This effort of the BBC is highly appreciated.

Image courtesy: http://mytech786.blogspot.in/2012/09/what-is-world-wide-web.html