Spirit of the Web: The Age of Information from Telegraph to Internet Author : Wade Rowland (Canadian) Literary journalist Current interests include communications

technology, philosophy of science and sources of human values

Amateur radio operator at 15 Quit half way through Honours Economics

Accepted job at Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper specialist at Toronto Telegram Recruited by CTV television news Met wife-to-be at CTV, Christine Collie Blue Cat Design: website development Relationship of humans and human values

to technology

Earliest communication

Gestures, smoke signals, symbols – 3300 B.C. Greek alphabet – 730 B.C. Gutenberg’s Printing Press – 1450 A.D. Visual telegraph – 1794 Morse and electric telegraph –1840 Transatlantic telegraph cable – 1866 (first www) Bell and telephone – 1876

From radio to the www…..

Radio network via phone lines - 1925 Television broadcasts – 1930s Digital computer – Harvard – 1942 ARPANET –links computers –1968-69 Internet proposal – Washington –1972 TCP/IP protocols – dial-up networking- 1974 MS DOS – 1980 Andreessen creates Mosaic (browser) 1994

The Main Ideas

Communication – a basic human need Technological determinism –no more wars Technology builds on technology Networking is the key Information-based economy Don’t be afraid – we are in control An optimistic future

Will the Internet create a new social class? Computer literacy: the uneducated Cost of computer/internet access: the poor “the future is inequality…..western societies

are already witnessing the emergence of a rapidly expanding underclass” Prof. Ian Angell, London School of Economics

It’s the end of the world as we know it…. Information society is still a society

A democratic Internet? Access “not” denied – and Random access Freedom of speech (type) Sharing of ideas, cooperation Individuality – personal webpages “Users” build the Net No time constraints No limits to communication The Net as public space: “Users” own it Phone + Computer = Internet

How will the Internet affect Canada? “A social, economic and cultural revolution is now

transforming the world. A new game is starting, and the older rules no longer apply. It is imperative that Canada move quickly to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of this new age”

Preparing Canada for the Digital World; Final Report of the Information Highway Advisory Council, 1995, p.4

Canada’s Action Plan

Four main components: 1)Building Canada’s Information Highway 2)Growing Canadian Content 3) Realizing the economic and social

benefits for all Canadians 4) Getting Government Right

Preparing Canada for a Digital World; The Information Highway Advisory Council, 1995

Government objectives Create jobs through innovation and investment in

Canada Reinforce Canadian sovereignty and cultural

identity Ensure universal access at reasonable cost Create opportunities for lifelong learning

Preparing Canada for a Digital World; Final Report of The Information Highway Advisory Council, 1995

How will the Internet affect Education? What do students think? On-line learning and home-schooling Will computers replace teachers? Teacher training Resources Global communication Real education versus virtual Parental/Teacher support or resistance? Funding Misuse

What is the future of the Internet?

Will it be at your fingertips? What about the cost of access? Who will be at the controls? Will there be a NewNet? Will it mark our assignments? Will it cook and clean? Will we be out of job? Where will it end……..?