This was an overall interesting reading. I came away with a
much better understanding of how all the awesomeness that is the internet, was
born. It wasn’t an easy journey, or a pretty one, but now we can be thankful
for everyone who came in and contributed.
It was interesting to learn that the encyclopedia was
devised by a French philosopher named Denis Diderot in the 18th
century. His encyclopedia is viewed similarly to an old form of hypertext
because it joins textual concepts by referential links. Interesting…. Just like
how a lot of people including myself go on a Wikipedia tangent clicking on
links and learning different information on a whim. I see the comparison; we
are privileged to be in digital age.
It is also interesting to learn about Vannevar Bush and the
Memex. The Memex was a proposal on paper that consisted of a work desk with
viewing screens, a keyboard, buttons and levers. It’s main focus was the notion of
association, which was the pattern the human brain utilizes in assimilating
information. Pretty cool considering Bush published some of his work in the
1940’s.
Stuff likes this makes me wonder, how would the internet be
different if just one of these people that added to the history did something
different. What if Douglas Engelbart never invented the mouse? What would we
use? What if Ted Nelson never introduced the word “hypertext” to the world?
Would it still be called HTML? Very interesting to learn that the first email application
was created by ARPAnet in 1972. It said emails were very popular among
researchers.
Overall, cool reading about the history of the World Wide
Web. I am so thankful that we have progressed into HTML5.
How does your understanding of these histories influence how you see/understand the www/Internet?
ReplyDeleteWell, in regards to all the physical components, I am glad everyone envisioned and created better machines. Back then we didnt have the technology we do now, so they continue to transform into better machines.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to links and encyclopedias, it shows me that humans do things in patterns. We do things the same way over time but different ways. I recall the usefulness of referential links in the back of phone books when I couldn't find a particular store or service. Now phone books are going to one day become obsolete.