Article Reponded To: “Lessons from the History of the Internet”
[Castells, Manuel. The Internet Galaxy: Reflections on the Internet, Business, and Society. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001. 9-34. Print.]
Word Count: 596
The idea of Internet is still confusing and mind blowing. I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon. The cloud in the sky is expanding at an exponential rate and everyone adapts to it quicker and quicker. Well, most of us who are in the generation. Those who missed the transition may have more difficulty as we suggesting class, but after reading “Lessons from the History of the Internet” by Castells it’s pretty easy to say that’s an odd phenomena that expanded so fast without our exact perception of how it was going to transform society, and also that in its most definite explication it is a cultural creation.
In the reading, Castells touches on the main events establishing the level that technology has reached today- all being dependent on the prior events (which I find to be most fascinating). From the ARPANET in the 60’s to the eruption of the world wide web (www) in the 90’s, the Internet is the paradox of simplicity and complexity. While all of these discoveries were appearing worldwide by scholars and engineers, my generation was sitting back and learning slowly how to adapt to every incoming piece of technology or mode of transportation. The references given in the article only emphasize the domino effect and rapidity of evolution, which Castells emphasizes clearly in describing the discovery of Internet and what it has done for society up until today. Initially being a tool for military and governmental communications across borders to maintain efficiency now a tool for creating sometimes a new identity and correctly presenting one’s self in a profile digital form. These "gentlemen of technological innovation" who thrived to "learn and share" their discoveries sought ultimately to keep the openness of the network while really Castells claims they did not achieve this through government institutions or the "chaos of decentralized structure" ... They did this through a different discipline (33).
One part that I found to be clever wording was what Castells stated as “the openness of the Internet’s architecture was the source of its main strength: it’s self-evolving development, as users became producers of the technology, and shapers of the whole network” (27). The fact that users are required for its evolution is modern enough to explain not only the past and the rapidity of the rise of the Internet, but what is continuously developing in current time.
In being alive during the real integration of Internet communications into society, I only feel that I was not completely conscious of the modernity that was developing. The way I communicate now is dependent on prior discoveries that happened following each discovery world wide. The desire to efficiently communicate was always a strong need for global communication and with each step society has developed and redeveloped their systems of communicating with one another. One thing leads to the next- in the most simplest of explications. With the cliché example of Apple, the computer lead to the iPod, which lead to the iPod touch, which lead to the iPhone which now lead to the iPad which is affecting computer companies in general due to the influx of technological knowledge, and the need for people to possess such gadgets to be able to properly communicate amongst each other. I remember the Apple black and white gray brick-like laptop of my dad, and it’s hard to believe I was in Middle School discovering voice recording. Now I create videos on my iPhone and upload them directly onto YouTube. I'm anxious to be alive for even more discoveries and adaptations of gadgets.
then...
and now...
In her analysis of Manuel Castells article, “Lessons from the History of the Internet”, Meg Gagnard provides a distinct perspective as a member of the Generation Y, the most technologically-capable generation today. She exhibits a comprehensive understanding of Castells’ article and arguments within. The analysis begins with her initial reaction to the article; she acknowledges the ubiquitous presence of internet and digital technology in every day life, as well as the rapid adoption rate of said technology.
RépondreSupprimerMeg carries on to give an overview of the article; mentioning a quick historical evolution of the Internet. She provides insight on the fact that the Internet is a “paradox of simplicity and complexity”. Developing this idea further, she compares the immensely complex work of engineers and academics to the effortless mainstream adoption of technology, especially in our generation. Meg pulls examples from the article to support her analysis of it. Though she doesn’t present a specific example from the text, she uses selected quotes to illustrate the general arguments of Castells. Meg identifies that Castells believes that the users are one of the key factors in the Internet’s success.
What I think is so interesting about Meg’s response is her strong perspective as a frequent Internet and digital technology user. In the last section of the analysis, Meg gives a brief overview of her opinion on the evolution of the Internet. She discusses her lack of awareness in the development of modern technologies, when she was a younger person – stating our generation’s immersion in technology as a reason for this, which is something I fully agree with. Meg also gives a personal example of how she has seen the evolution and adoption of Internet communications in her life. She mentions the rapid succession of Apple products and how these products have affected our ability or, at least desire, to communicate. Remembering her father’s bulky, outdated Apple laptop, she compares this to the way she can record high quality videos and upload them to YouTube with her iPhone, with ease. Meg has written a very comprehensive and compelling analysis of the “Lessons from the History of the Internet”, by Manuel Castells, making many points that I personally agree with.