I read a blog by Nicholas Carr about the amorality of Web 2.0 with the focus on Wikipedia hype. I decided to write a blog with some reflections on it. Please read it for a full discussion of the problem. Do not get me wrong, I truly believe in the power of the users and applaud the new Web 2.0 movement. However is it free from complexity? I think everything cooks down to if we are ready for it or not. Unfortunately I at present time do not think we as humanity on the whole are fully ready yet. I however could be convinced…
Technology is a tool, nothing else. We should never forget the purpose of technology is to help us, not the technology in itself. If we want to save (or at least change the world), we have to do it ourselves, but probably with the help of technology. Yet technology in itself actually does very little, which is one component of the complexity. Another component is that "technicians" always have to reflect on the awareness and readiness of the users to be exposed of new technology of the users that we develop these new technologies for. That is the problem lies in us as well as the new technologies.
Before we can assure that we are ready to handle the new technology and we have adjusted the technology so that it reflects how we work, the ultimate vision will not be fulfilled. We are getting there, and it is the right direction to go as we are then going back the read-and-write web again as it goes back to what Tim Berners-Lee and his colleagues intended from the beginning..
Only time will tell if Web 2.0 is the "salvation of the problems of the web", but I think we cannot be totally blind to the fact that it is much easier to destroy than to create, but I also know as the telling goes: “Rome was not built in a day…" Nevertheless, I am truly excited to see what happens…
I love rocky rides, so count me in!
