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The Metaphors of the Net

I. The Genetic BlueprintA decade after (=applets, small applications). Anytime
the invention of the World Wide Web, Tim the user wishes to use one of the
Berners-Lee is promoting the "Semantic functions of the application, he will
Web". The Internet hitherto is a siphon it off the central computer. When
repository of digital content. It has a finished - he will "return" it.
rudimentary inventory system and very Processing speeds and response times will
crude data location services. As a sad be such that the user will not feel at
result, most of the content is invisible all that he is not interacting with his
and inaccessible. Moreover, the Internet own software (the question of ownership
manipulates strings of symbols, not will be very blurred). This technology is
logical or semantic propositions. In available and it provoked a heated
other words, the Net compares values but debated about the future shape of the
does not know the meaning of the values computing industry as a whole (desktops -
it thus manipulates. It is unable to really power packs - or network
interpret strings, to infer new facts, to computers, a little more than dumb
deduce, induce, derive, or otherwise terminals). Access to online applications
comprehend what it is doing. In short, it are already offered to corporate users by
does not understand language. Run an ASPs (Application Service Providers).In
ambiguous term by any search engine and the last few years, scientists have
these shortcomings become painfully harnessed the combined power of online
evident. This lack of understanding of PC's to perform astounding feats of
the semantic foundations of its raw distributed parallel processing. Millions
material (data, information) prevent of PCs connected to the net co-process
applications and databases from sharing signals from outer space, meteorological
resources and feeding each other. The data, and solve complex equations. This
Internet is discrete, not continuous. It is a prime example of a collective brain
resembles an archipelago, with users in action.B. The Intranet - a Logical
hopping from island to island in a Extension of the Collective ComputerLANs
frantic search for relevancy.Even (Local Area Networks) are no longer a
visionaries like Berners-Lee do not rarity in corporate offices. WANs (wide
contemplate an "intelligent Web". They Area Networks) are used to connect
are simply proposing to let users, geographically dispersed organs of the
content creators, and web developers same legal entity (branches of a bank,
assign descriptive meta-tags ("name of daughter companies of a conglomerate, a
hotel") to fields, or to strings of sales force). Many LANs and WANs are
symbols ("Hilton"). These meta-tags going wireless.The wireless intranet
(arranged in semantic and relational extranet and LANs are the wave of the
"ontologies" - lists of metatags, their future. They will gradually eliminate
meanings and how they relate to each their fixed line counterparts. The
other) will be read by various Internet offers equal,
applications and allow them to process platform-independent,
the associated strings of symbols location-independent and time of day -
correctly (place the word "Hilton" in independent access to corporate memory
your address book under "hotels"). This and nervous system. Sophisticated
will make information retrieval more firewall security applications protect
efficient and reliable and the the privacy and confidentiality of the
information retrieved is bound to be more intranet from all but the most determined
relevant and amenable to higher level and savvy crackers.The Intranet is an
processing (statistics, the development inter-organizational communication
of heuristic rules, etc.). The shift is network, constructed on the platform of
from HTML (whose tags are concerned with the Internet and it, therefore, enjoys
visual appearances and content indexing) all its advantages. The extranet is open
to languages such as the DARPA Agent to clients and suppliers as well.The
Markup Language, OIL (Ontology Inference company's server can be accessed by
Layer or Ontology Interchange Language), anyone authorized, from anywhere, at any
or even XML (whose tags are concerned time (with local - rather than
with content taxonomy, document international - communication costs). The
structure, and semantics). This would user can leave messages (internal e-mail
bring the Internet closer to the classic or v-mail), access information -
library card catalogue.Even in its proprietary or public - from it, and
current, pre-semantic, participate in "virtual teamwork" (see
hyperlink-dependent, phase, the Internet next chapter).The development of measures
brings to mind Richard Dawkins' seminal to safeguard server routed
work "The Selfish Gene" (OUP, 1976). This inter-organizational communication
would be doubly true for the Semantic (firewalls) is the solution to one of two
Web.Dawkins suggested to generalize the obstacles to the institutionalization of
principle of natural selection to a law Intranets. The second problem is the
of the survival of the stable. "A stable limited bandwidth which does not permit
thing is a collection of atoms which is the efficient transfer of audio (not to
permanent enough or common enough to mention video).It is difficult to conduct
deserve a name". He then proceeded to video conferencing through the Internet.
describe the emergence of "Replicators" - Even the voices of discussants who use
molecules which created copies of internet phones (IP telephony) come out
themselves. The Replicators that survived (though very slightly) distorted.All this
in the competition for scarce raw did not prevent 95% of the Fortune 1000
materials were characterized by high from installing intranet. 82% of the rest
longevity, fecundity, and intend to install one by the end of this
copying-fidelity. Replicators (now known year. Medium to big size American firms
as "genes") constructed "survival have 50-100 intranet terminals per every
machines" (organisms) to shield them from internet one.One of the greatest
the vagaries of an ever-harsher advantages of the intranet is the ability
environment.This is very reminiscent of to transfer documents between the various
the Internet. The "stable things" are parts of an organization. Consider Visa:
HTML coded web pages. They are it pushed 2 million documents per day
replicators - they create copies of internally in 1996.An organization
themselves every time their "web address" equipped with an intranet can (while
(URL) is clicked. The HTML coding of a protected by firewalls) give its clients
web page can be thought of as "genetic or suppliers access to non-classified
material". It contains all the correspondence, or inventory systems.
information needed to reproduce the page. Many B2B exchanges and industry-specific
And, exactly as in nature, the higher the purchasing management systems are based
longevity, fecundity (measured in links on extranets.C. The Transport of
to the web page from other web sites), Information - Mail and ChatThe Internet
and copying-fidelity of the HTML code - (its e-mail function) is eroding
the higher its chances to survive (as a traditional mail. 90% of customers with
web page).Replicator molecules (DNA) and on-line access use e-mail from time to
replicator HTML have one thing in common time and 60% work with it regularly. More
- they are both packaged information. In than 2 billion messages traverse the
the appropriate context (the right internet daily.E-mail applications are
biochemical "soup" in the case of DNA, available as freeware and are included in
the right software application in the all browsers. Thus, the Internet has
case of HTML code) - this information completely assimilated what used to be a
generates a "survival machine" (organism, separate service, to the extent that many
or a web page).The Semantic Web will only people make the mistake of thinking that
increase the longevity, fecundity, and e-mail is a feature of the Internet.The
copying-fidelity or the underlying code internet will do to phone calls what it
(in this case, OIL or XML instead of has done to mail. Already there are
HTML). By facilitating many more applications (Intel's, Vocaltec's,
interactions with many other web pages Net2Phone) which enable the user to
and databases - the underlying conduct a phone conversation through his
"replicator" code will ensure the computer. The voice quality has improved.
"survival" of "its" web page (=its The discussants can cut into each others
survival machine). In this analogy, the words, argue and listen to tonal nuances.
web page's "DNA" (its OIL or XML code) Today, the parties (two or more) engaging
contains "single genes" (semantic in the conversation must possess the same
meta-tags). The whole process of life is software and the same (computer)
the unfolding of a kind of Semantic hardware. In the very near future,
Web.In a prophetic paragraph, Dawkins computer-to-regular phone applications
described the Internet:"The first thing will eliminate this requirement. And,
to grasp about a modern replicator is again, simultaneous multi-modality: the
that it is highly gregarious. A survival user can talk over the phone, see his
machine is a vehicle containing not just party, send e-mail, receive messages and
one gene but many thousands. The transfer documents - without obstructing
manufacture of a body is a cooperative the flow of the conversation.The cost of
venture of such intricacy that it is transferring voice will become so
almost impossible to disentangle the negligible that free voice traffic is
contribution of one gene from that of conceivable in 3-5 years. Data traffic
another. A given gene will have many will overtake voice traffic by a wide
different effects on quite different margin.The next phase will probably
parts of the body. A given part of the involve virtual reality. Each of the
body will be influenced by many genes and parties will be represented by an
the effect of any one gene depends on "avatar", a 3-D figurine generated by the
interaction with many others...In terms application (or the user's likeness
of the analogy, any given page of the mapped and superimposed on the the
plans makes reference to many different avatar). These figurines will be
parts of the building; and each page multi-dimensional: they will possess
makes sense only in terms of their own communication patterns, special
cross-reference to numerous other habits, history, preferences - in short:
pages."What Dawkins neglected in his their own "personality".Thus, they will
important work is the concept of the be able to maintain an "identity" and a
Network. People congregate in cities, consistent pattern of communication which
mate, and reproduce, thus providing genes they will develop over time.Such a figure
with new "survival machines". But Dawkins could host a site, accept, welcome and
himself suggested that the new Replicator guide visitors, all the time bearing
is the "meme" - an idea, belief, their preferences in its electronic
technique, technology, work of art, or "mind". It could narrate the news, like
bit of information. Memes use human the digital anchor "Ananova" does.
brains as "survival machines" and they Visiting sites in the future is bound to
hop from brain to brain and across time be a much more pleasant affair.D. The
and space ("communications") in the Transport of Value - E-cashIn 1996, four
process of cultural (as distinct from corporate giants (Visa, MasterCard,
biological) evolution. The Internet is a Netscape and Microsoft) agreed on a
latter day meme-hopping playground. But, standard for effecting secure payments
more importantly, it is a Network. Genes through the Internet: SET. Internet
move from one container to another commerce is supposed to mushroom to $25
through a linear, serial, tedious process billion by 2003. Site owners will be able
which involves prolonged periods of one to collect rent from passing visitors -
on one gene shuffling ("sex") and or fees for services provided within the
gestation. Memes use networks. Their site. Amazon instituted an honour system
propagation is, therefore, parallel, to collect donations from visitors.
fast, and all-pervasive. The Internet is PayPal provides millions of users with
a manifestation of the growing cash substitutes. Gradually, the Internet
predominance of memes over genes. And the will compete with central banks and
Semantic Web may be to the Internet what banking systems in money creation and
Artificial Intelligence is to classic transfer.E. The Transport of Interactions
computing. We may be on the threshold of - The Virtual OrganizationThe Internet
a self-aware Web.2. The Internet as a allows for simultaneous communication and
Chaotic LibraryA. The Problem of the efficient transfer of multimedia
CataloguingThe Internet is an assortment (video included) files between an
of billions of pages which contain unlimited number of users. This opens up
information. Some of them are visible and a vista of mind boggling opportunities
others are generated from hidden which are the real core of the Internet
databases by users' requests ("Invisible revolution: the virtual collaborative
Internet").The Internet exhibits no ("Follow the Sun") modes.Examples:A group
discernible order, classification, or of musicians is able to compose music or
categorization. Amazingly, as opposed to play it - while spatially and temporally
"classical" libraries, no one has yet separated;Advertising agencies are able
invented a (sorely needed) Internet to co-produce ad campaigns in a real time
cataloguing standard (remember Dewey?). interaction;Cinema and TV films are
Some sites indeed apply the Dewey Decimal produced from disparate geographical
System to their contents (Suite101). spots through the teamwork of people who
Others default to a directory structure never meet, except through the Net.These
(Open Directory, Yahoo!, Look Smart and examples illustrate the concept of the
others).Had such a standard existed (an "virtual community". Space and time will
agreed upon numerical cataloguing method) no longer hinder team collaboration, be
- each site could have self-classified. it scientific, artistic, cultural, or an
Sites would have an interest to do so to ad hoc arrangement for the provision of a
increase their visibility. This, service (a virtual law firm, or
naturally, would have eliminated the need accounting office, or a virtual
for today's clunky, incomplete and consultancy network). The intranet can
(highly) inefficient search engines.Thus, also be thought of as a "virtual
a site whose number starts with 900 will organization", or a "virtual
be immediately identified as dealing with business".The virtual mall and the
history and multiple classification will virtual catalogue are prime examples of
be encouraged to allow finer spatial and temporal liberation.In 1998,
cross-sections to emerge. An example of there were well over 300 active virtual
such an emerging technology of "self malls on the Internet. In 2000, they were
classification" and "self-publication" frequented by 46 million shoppers, who
(though limited to scholarly resources) shopped in them for goods and
is the "Academic Resource Channel" by services.The virtual mall is an Internet
Scindex.Moreover, users will not be "space" (pages) wherein "shops" are
required to remember reams of numbers. located. These shops offer their wares
Future browsers will be akin to using visual, audio and textual means.
catalogues, very much like the The visitor passes through a virtual
applications used in modern day "gate" or storefront and examines the
libraries. Compare this utopia to the merchandise on offer, until he reaches a
current dystopy. Users struggle with buying decision. Then he engages in a
mounds of irrelevant material to finally feedback process: he pays (with a credit
reach a partial and disappointing card), buys the product, and waits for it
destination. At the same time, there to arrive by mail (or downloads it).The
likely are web sites which exactly match manufacturers of digital products
the poor user's needs. Yet, what (intellectual property such as e-books or
currently determines the chances of a software) have begun selling their
happy encounter between user and content merchandise on-line, as file downloads.
- are the whims of the specific search Yet, slow communications speeds,
engine used and things like meta-tags, competing file formats and reader
headlines, a fee paid, or the right standards, and limited bandwidth -
opening sentences.B. Screen vs. PageThe constrain the growth potential of this
computer screen, because of physical mode of sale. Once resolved -
limitations (size, the fact that it has intellectual property will be sold
to be scrolled) fails to effectively directly from the Net, on-line. Until
compete with the printed page. The latter such time, the mediation of the Post
is still the most ingenious medium yet Office is still required. As long as this
invented for the storage and release of is the state of the art, the virtual mall
textual information. Granted: a computer is nothing but a glorified computerized
screen is better at highlighting discrete mail catalogue or Buying Channel, the
units of information. So, these differing only difference being the exceptionally
capacities draw the battle lines: varied inventory.Websites which started
structures (printed pages) versus units as "specialty stores" are fast
(screen), the continuous and easily transforming themselves into
reversible (print) versus the discrete multi-purpose virtual malls. Amazon.com,
(screen).The solution lies in finding an for instance, has bought into a virtual
efficient way to translate computer pharmacy and into other virtual
screens to printed matter. It is hard to businesses. It is now selling music,
believe, but no such thing exists. video, electronics and many other
Computer screens are still hostile to products. It started as a bookstore.This
off-line printing. In other words: if a contrasts with a much more creative idea:
user copies information from the Internet the virtual catalogue. It is a form of
to his word processor (or vice versa, for narrowcasting (as opposed to
that matter) - he ends up with a broadcasting): a surgically accurate
fragmented, garbage-filled and targeting of potential consumer
non-aesthetic document.Very few site audiences. Each group of profiled
developers try to do something about it - consumers (no matter how small) is fitted
even fewer succeed.C. Dynamic vs. Static with their own - digitally generated -
InteractionsOne of the biggest mistakes catalogue. This is updated daily: the
of content suppliers is that they do not variety of wares on offer (adjusted to
provide a "static-dynamic reflect inventory levels, consumer
interaction".Internet-based content can preferences, and goods in transit) - and
now easily interact with other media prices (sales, discounts, package deals)
(e.g., CD-ROMs) and with non-PC platforms change in real time. Amazon has
(PDA's, mobile phones).Examples abound:A incorporated many of these features on
CD-ROM shopping catalogue interacts with its web site. The user enters its web
a Web site to allow the user to order a site and there delineates his consumption
product. The catalogue could also be profile and his preferences. A customized
updated through the site (as is the catalogue is immediately generated for
practice with CD-ROM encyclopedias). The him including specific recommendations.
advantages of the CD-ROM are clear: very The history of his purchases, preferences
fast access time (dozens of times faster and responses to feedback questionnaires
than the access to a Web site using a is accumulated in a database. This
dial up connection) and a data storage intellectual property may well be
capacity hundreds of times bigger than Amazon's main asset.There is no
the average Web page.Another example:A technological obstacles to implementing
PDA plug-in disposable chip containing this vision today - only administrative
hundreds of advertisements or a "yellow and legal (patent) ones. Big brick and
pages". The consumer selects the ad or mortar retail stores are not up to
entry that she wants to see and connects processing the flood of data expected to
to the Internet to view a relevant video. result. They also remain highly sceptical
She could then also have an interactive regarding the feasibility of the new
chat (or a conference) with a medium. And privacy issues prevent data
salesperson, receive information about mining or the effective collection and
the company, about the ad, about the usage of personal data (remember the case
advertising agency which created the ad - of Amazon's "Readers' Circles").The
and so on.CD-ROM based encyclopedias virtual catalogue is a private case of a
(such as the Britannica, or the Encarta) new internet off-shoot: the "smart
already contain hyperlinks which carry (shopping) agents". These are AI
the user to sites selected by an applications with "long memories".They
Editorial Board.NoteCD-ROMs are probably draw detailed profiles of consumers and
a doomed medium. Storage capacity users and then suggest purchases and
continually increases exponentially and, refer to the appropriate sites,
within a year, desktops with 80 Gb hard catalogues, or virtual malls.They also
disks will be a common sight. Moreover, provide price comparisons and the new
the much heralded Network Computer - the generation cannot be blocked or fooled by
stripped down version of the personal using differing product categories.In the
computer - will put at the disposal of future, these agents will cover also
the average user terabytes in storage brick and mortar retail chains and, in
capacity and the processing power of a conjunction with wireless,
supercomputer. What separates computer location-specific services, issue a map
users from this utopia is the of the branch or store closest to an
communication bandwidth. With the address specified by the user (the
introduction of radio and satellite default being his residence), or yielded
broadband services, DSL and ADSL, cable by his GPS enabled wireless mobile or
modems coupled with advanced compression PDA. This technology can be seen in
standards - video (on demand), audio and action in a few music sites on the web
data will be available speedily and and is likely to be dominant with
plentifully.The CD-ROM, on the other wireless internet appliances. The owner
hand, is not mobile. It requires of an internet enabled (third generation)
installation and the utilization of mobile phone is likely to be the target
sophisticated hardware and software. This of geographically-specific marketing
is no user friendly push technology. It campaigns, ads and special offers
is nerd-oriented. As a result, CD-ROMs pertaining to his current location (as
are not an immediate medium. There is a reported by his GPS - satellite
long time lapse between the moment of Geographic Positioning System).F. The
purchase and the moment the user accesses Transport of Information - Internet
the data. Compare this to a book or a NewsInternet news are advantaged. They
magazine. Data in these oldest of media are frequently and dynamically updated
is instantly available to the user and (unlike static print news) and are always
they allow for easy and accurate "back" accessible (similar to print news),
and "forward" functions.Perhaps the immediate and fresh.The future will
biggest mistake of CD-ROM manufacturers witness a form of interactive news. A
has been their inability to offer an special "corner" in the news Web site
integrated hardware and software package. will accommodate "breaking news" posted
CD-ROMs are not compact. A Walkman is a by members of the the public (or
compact hardware-cum-software package. It corporate press releases). This will
is easily transportable, it is thin, it provide readers with a glimpse into the
contains numerous, user-friendly, making of the news, the raw material news
sophisticated functions, it provides are made of. The same technology will be
immediate access to data. So does the applied to interactive TVs. Content will
discman, or the MP3-man, or the new be downloaded from the internet and
generation of e-books (e.g., E-Ink's). displayed as an overlay on the TV screen
This cannot be said about the CD-ROM. By or in a box in it. The contents
tying its future to the obsolete concept downloaded will be directly connected to
of stand-alone, expensive, inefficient the TV programming. Thus, the biography
and technologically unreliable personal and track record of a football player
computers - CD-ROMs have sentenced will be displayed during a football match
themselves to oblivion (with the possible and the history of a country when it gets
exception of reference material).D. news coverage.4. Terra Internetica -
Online ReferenceA visit to the on-line Internet, an Unknown ContinentLaymen and
Encyclopaedia Britannica demonstrates experts alike talk about "sites" and
some of the tremendous, mind boggling "advertising space". Yet, the Internet
possibilities of online reference - as was never compared to a new continent
well as some of the obstacles.Each entry whose surface is infinite.The Internet
in this mammoth work of reference is has its own real estate developers and
hyperlinked to relevant Web sites. The construction companies. The real life
sites are carefully screened. Links are equivalents derive their profits from the
available to data in various forms, scarcity of the resource that they
including audio and video. Everything can exploit - the Internet counterparts
be copied to the hard disk or to a R/W derive their profits from the tenants