The first chapter explains the advantages and disadvantages of the widespread web; the creation of the web opens a new world, new culture which infiltrates and shapes human life; it is the source for spreading democracy, knowledge and sharing ideas. The development of the web hence has brought a vast capacity for solving shared problems by combining inteligence, insights of millions of people who are connected to the web.
Besides the valuables the web can bring to human race, it has also risen the fear for security, such described as "tool for stalkers, paedophile, terrorists and criminal to organize for purposes beyond our control." (p3) The more connected we are to the web, the more vulnerable we are likely to be attacked by hackers, viruses. The argument further shows that the web will corrode what is valuable in our culture, destroy established business models that invest in talent.
The web development is reaching to a new phase, where we shall gradually be able to see how it influences our society. If we are able to control, and find ways to work together, the potential of the web is remarkable as it allows for the expansion in individual participation, and constant circulation of ideas. If not, the web could lead to an anarchy.
The author further emphasized the positive side of the creation of the web, about how we can make the most of the web's potential to combine our ideas, resources to expand everyone's prosperity, to allow us to participate collaboratively and organize our intelligence.
Using a website "ilovebee.com" and "wikipedia" as examples, the author made a strong analysis that a mass of individual with different informations, skills, point of view and backgrounds can co-ordinate, combine ideas, and work collaboratively to solve the main puzzle.
Questions and points to ponder:
In the example "I Love Bees", the author wrote: "So if some ingenious west coast designers can create the conditions in which thousands of people around the world collaborate to solve a trivial puzzle, could we do something similar to defeat bird flu, tackle global warming, keep community safe, provide support for disaster victims, lend and borrow money, conduct political and policy debate, teach and learn, design and even make physical products?"(p12) This statement is misleading in a sense that the trivial puzzle is created within virtual world, thus there is a solution to the puzzle; participants can discuss, share ideas, information freely. Regardless of the conclusion, at some time, the creator would give a hint, thus giving a new direction to the discussion. Whereas political debate, natural disasters cannot be solved solely by discussion.
If we take bird flu as one example, we don't have the vaccine as solution for the problem, but it is more a local responsibility. We can help to prevent the flu to be spread by providing researchers, and equipments. As for political and policy debate, we can discuss all we want, but the final decision is made based on what would be benificial to the control parties, organizations.
Moreover, the virtual puzzle doesn't affect benificial parties, whereas real world problems have major affect on political parties, organizations, and individuals.
