How the Web Was Won: An Oral History of the Internet

(Click on the title to read the article.)

The beginning of this article surprised me. It was curious to me that the beginnings of the web, no matter how infantile, started in the late 50s. It was almost just as startling to think that only 15 years ago, the internet was starting to be in the hands of ordinary people. It seems like things have changed so much that it should be longer than 15 years.

It seems mainly sad that like probably too many things, war and conflict started the idea of the internet. Being able to fire missles back if we were fired upon started an idea that would change how we communicate and interact, and even how we read and write.

It was interesting to read how there were not many sites online because of the complexity of connecting and adding this information. When I think of how blogs, Twitter, You Tube, and so many other programs make sharing and connecting easy-- most with the click of the "share" button, it is amazing that we've come so far along.

Bob Metcalfe talks about two things that I think technology gurus or futurists must relate to. The experience of having a system crash while you are presenting it to important people, (Haven't you been to a technology meeting when the server was down and you all watched the presenter's screen?) and the moment when AT&T's reps laughed at him. The fact that people couldn't see that this was going to be a large part of our future, in hindsight, seems like folly, but so many inventions have been treated in such a manner. It makes me wonder what things lie ahead for us.

This was my favorite quote of the article:" Steve Case: We always believed that people talking to each other was the killer app. And so whether it was instant messaging or chat rooms, which we launched in 1985, or message boards, it was always the community that was front and center. Everything else—commerce and entertainment and financial services—was secondary. We thought community trumped content." I like the idea that the purpose of the internet in the beginning was about connection and communication. A lot of things have spun off of it, but it was made to connect us. At our hearts, we are still storytellers who want to share stories.

It was also amusing that like most other technology or product stories, there was heavy competition between Microsoft and Netscape. This reminds me of the VHS and BETA debates, Blueray or HD DVD, Mac or PC, Coke or Pepsi. It seems like every good idea has some rival. In some cases, one dominates and drives the other out, but in other cases the competition helps the companies thrive and push to develop new ideas.

The Internet is the most important democratizing invention since the printing press, 500 years ago.  This quote really stuck with me because I think that it is true. Notice that the comment was linked to "old" technology of the printing press. Being able to print books and make them available to people who weren't rich opened up doors for education and learning and sharing ideas. The internet now allows people that same freedom on a totally different level. The only issue that we have is whether people have access to the internet. It seems like those gaps are quickly closing.

This article was interesting not only from an historical overview point of view, but the fact that it demonstrates how quickly humans can take an idea and then see how it applies to their field. Musicians, Companies, Movies, and other people all saw that the internet would have an impact and changed what they did to accomodate that change. We have to see the change and do the same for education.