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Re: Tossing out something for discussion...
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T. Cunningham
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Feb 08, 2001 12:17 PST
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The essay at the link suggested by Kevin Jamieson
http://cryptome.org/bandwidth-gl.htm brings forth something that has
been rattling around in my brain for a while, namely, that the
integration of the fundamental properties of networked conversations is
fundamentally a question of human interaction, and not a question of
technology, or commerce, or "new" media experiences (although all of
these elements are present at times).
The idea that we are undergoing a fundamental transformation in
communication has been oft repeated. Yet, as humans, the patterns remain
the same, regardless of the method of communication. These patterns
repeat themselves over and over again at various scales, like fractal
generation, creating orderly patterns from non-linear phenomena.
The true essence of the Internet is found in the ability to have
multinodal communication between and among people irrespective of
geography in a relatively time-insensitive way. The initial "killer"
apps are obvious, e-mail, search engines, online communities of common
interests. All of these are extensions of other means of human
communication, rendered different by the medium even as their essence
remains the same.
The forward and backward integration of multinodal communication is
moving into commerce with a vengeance. This isn't on-line selling, as
such. It's online conversations between and among buyers and sellers,
buyers and buyers, and sellers and sellers. It may facilitate a sale and
it may not. The sale may take place online, or it may not. Who cares?
It's messy, and it's organic, but it is happening, and happening fast.
These are not fundamentally new to the human condition, however. The
whole set of hotly debated arguments about text vs. rich media,
broadband vs. dial up, Old Economy vs. New, geeks vs. entertainers and
so forth seems less important and interesting to me than the fundamental
issues conditioning networked communication patterns.
Tim Cunningham
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