Vision Thing...it's all about the people.
Nothing like being linked (and requested for feedback) in a blog post title 'The Vision Thing' (admittedly, this post was from a pal, Paul Robinson, who is kindly inaccurate in including me, I think).
Still, as always, he asks a good question; has the Internet turned erm, a bit shit? (cf. web2.0 zillion-dollar valuations, investments and general turd-like crapware sites)
I remember the absolute wonder and awe when I first started using the web in 1995/96.
Although prone to good old British cynicism at times, I'm pretty positive about the potential of networked 'things' - what we're ultimately talking about is the freedom of information and connecting people and ideas. That's powerful fucking stuff...and it's happened in our lifetimes...we were close to the beginning of this.
The weariness I share with Paul about crapware is just well, a slice of humans - remarkably the web still works, in spite of spam, bad hackers, viruses, nasty porn, phishing, etc etc.
Except if you're in certain nation states of course.
I really believe that mostly, most people are doing good stuff, most of the time.
And I'm a huge fan of tools (no, that's not a pun) - and I think the internet (or rather, people AND the internet) provides any of us the opportunity to use and sometimes build great, cheap tools.
The internet flattens my world, connects me with people and ideas I would never have known otherwise. The internet is me, and you, and everyone.
Ok Paul, I'm loathed to link to five people, but I will list five things (in no particular order) that keep me believing in the power of the people internet people and the internet:
Ken Robinson
I'm sure you've seen this talk, but watch it again. On video, over the internet. For free.
Reboot
Ok, so this is a physical conference, but it's all about connecting people and ideas and the internet. It and the people who make the effort to attend are rather special and the whole concept makes me feel very good inside.
Mobile Web stuff
I think the next revolution evolution revolution is here. Small devices, always connected, people, ideas, information, cafes, political uprisings, undermining control of price information, video reportage.
Wikipedia
Come on. I mean, it's mind-bogglingly wonderful.
MySociety
Maybe it takes a charity to fix our government. TheyWorkforYou WhatDoTheyKnow and FixMyStreet are wonderful examples of the transformative power of the internet.
Anyway, it could be worse. You could work in the Arts sector.
