What is the Internet? This is a difficult question to answer because the internet has multiple meanings depending on the use and importance it has on someone. The Internet can be described as various things. The question became even more difficult after reading a section about the document in the first chapter of “Small Pieces Loosely Joined” by David Weinberger. The discussion about what a document is and how the meaning of it has changed over the years and I think the Internet could be seen the same way. The definition that I would’ve used for the Internet a decade isn’t the same as the one I would use now.
Where it is and the amount of Internet’s there are, I’m not so sure. In a way, I think there could be multiple for each country or area. Whenever you’re in one, what pops up for you tends to be specific to that area. But what would that be multiple internets or one giant Internet that is catered to or specific to the area it’s in, narrowing down its information to be the most relevant to what the user is looking for. It could be considered everywhere due to being able to access it on any device.
What is it becoming? Over time, the Internet has become more than just a source of information or a way to communicate with others. It has become a necessity in many people’s lives, a source of income, a way for for them to show their creativity, a place for fun and recreation, or to consult about an issue, and more. With the advancements in technology, society had become reliant on its infinite uses to get through their day to day lives. Because we are so reliant on it, it has become intricately intertwined with many parts of our lives that it would be hard for us to let go or adjust to not having it around as much.
The Internet is what we drive it to be, what we want to make it to be. It is versatile and able to do so many things, allowing users to do what they want and making the Internet want they want it to be, catering the Internet to their wants and needs.
Is it alive? I’m still not sure if I would consider the Internet being alive, because then what would the definition of alive become? Being alive is typically described as a person, plant, or animal that is living, or a person and animal that is alert, active, animated, has awareness, and responsive. Where and when would the Internet fit into that? Should I consider it alive now with where we in the technological world or should I consider it alive when technology and the Internet starts to function without the assistance of us, when it can communicate and become responsive on its own, when it knows what we want without information being inputted? What about when it’s responsive and active like an Alexa or Siri, mobile like in the movies where robots, cyborgs, and AI attempt to take over?
Even though I don’t think the Internet is not ‘alive,’ there are times when it feels like it is. The way it works and how quickly it completes tasks, makes it feel alive. The way personalized ads or very specific videos for you pop up or how you can type two words into the search engine and the exact question with an answer is there. There are times when I mention something to friends and family only to find an ad or something related to that thing just few hours later. It feels it’s listening when really is it the algorithms to take in, record, and use our information to make our Internet experience better at work.
What do you love and what scares you about the Internet? When it comes to the Internet, I think I love how it allows for people to connect and do things beyond what is available in their home. However, that does have it’s downfalls. Since it has become easier to find others and contact them, to find and gather information, it has created numerous issues and situations users have to watch out for. There are now safety and privacy concerns when being online. It can be easy to forget that whatever is posted online could be there forever and that information could be used for something to someone else’s benefit. People are becoming comfortable with not needing to leave their homes because it’s convenient to do everything from grocery shopping, working and getting an education, to purchasing tickets to an event online.
The Internet is a very intricate place that raises a lot of questions that don’t have one definitive answer.
