Project 2 - The Internet

The Wired magazine article, “The Web is Dead, Long Live the Internet” is a side-by-side co-written article by Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired and Michael Wolff a contributing editor to Wired. They both agree that the internet and web are evolving. The article focuses on what caused and is currently causing the evolution. Chris Anderson’s angle is that the web is being replaced by apps because they provide a better user experience than the web. He makes the point that the web is just a part of the internet and that it is following the usual cycle of capitalism to maturity as all markets in the past have gone thru: invention, adolescence, then control. World Wide Web, users are increasingly opting for closed sites on the internet like Facebook, World of Warcraft, Netflix and apps for mobile phones.

Michael Wolff’s portion of the article focuses on the power players involved in the web and internet’s evolution. He highlights how the web was never very lucrative except for Google. He outlines how Facebook and Apple have combined technology with media savvy to make an internet that is both enjoyable for the users and lucrative for the companies involved.

I agree with the article in general. I found Chris Anderson’s part of the article more intriguing. I could identify with it more and was drawn in. I found his use of history very relevant and I liked his analogies to other industries like the evolution of the railroad.  In my perspective, everything he pointed out was true. However, I don’t agree with the phrase “the web is dead”. I believe the web will always be out there and searchable with a browser, and the html website will always exist. For example, I can not imagine not “Googling” for something. I do this about twenty times a day. I enjoy the massive amounts of results. If it is a subject I know nothing about, searching the web is great. For example, I recently was looking for mid-century coffee tables for sale. I searched the web for “Broyhill Brasilia coffee table” and found one for sale in Florida. It was on a “mom-and-pop” website. What would happen to “mom and pop” plain html websites with interesting content if the web was dead? We’d be back where we started.

It’s true, the web is not as enjoyable, sleek, and interactive, but it does serve a purpose. It’s great for reading and gathering information. The web will never be as valuable a part of enriching people’s lives like the new app driven internet. The fact that Michael Wolff points out, which is that moguls have figured out how to make the internet profitable is a good thing. The old adage is true; you get what you pay for. I don’t mind paying a small amount like a dollar for iTunes song if it makes my quality of life better. If an app improves my productivity or just provides some amusement, great, I’ll take it. But I’m still keeping my browser ready to search for outdated stuff on the web too.