Questions for "Virtual Revolution" by BBC Part 1, 2, and 3

1. The web is celebrated as the revolutionary technology that is great
leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal access, and equal
potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the earth who
can use it. How do you explain the controversial augment here?

The controversial augment is that the web does not offering all of these possibilities since only a quarter of people on the earth can access it and find information. The only way for the web to fulfill equality is allowing everyone on the world to have the benefits of technology as well as complete access.

2. How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the
Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the
Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the
digital convergences?

Wikipedia is the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of the 1960s because like the Libertarianism movement, it expressed a mixture of both left and right wing ideas combining and rejected censorship, state control, and mainly focused on individual free will which allows everyone to share their ideas and opinions. It is a way for people to have a freedom to write what they want. This is exactly related to the idea of Libertarianism. It also explains some of the digital convergences because it is bringing ideas together on digital media.

3. How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital
convergence?

The web makes it possible for different kinds of digital convergence because the web takes ideas from unimaginable locations and combines them into one revolutionary technology. On the web, we can search for information via google, we can play games, we can communicate and connect with friends via social networking, and the possibilities are endless. The web is a place where everything comes together to make life and communication more convenient.

4. How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use
the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your
answer.

The Internet can become a challenge for traditional authority because there is no single individual who has complete control over the what can be posted. Nowadays, almost everyone is a journalist somehow by writing or sharing stories on the internet. In such a digital world still, the control on the internet is very limited, however the government can still block people from certain types of sites.

5. Do you believe that getting information free can set us free eventually?
Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete freedom or
self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?

I believe that getting information free can set us free eventually because the world will become a more literate place. If people are able to think for themselves, that is a freedom. The internet has given us the freedom to learn, connect with other people, and gain some knowledge. There are some concerns of the complete freedom and self-expression without limit on the Internet because millions of people share it, it is publicly owned. If there a story on the web and someone does not approve it, there can be some issues, especially with hackers. One of the most risky operations would be the search for government information the Internet.

6. In traditional media communications, it has the “vertical” authority. In the
Web commutation, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the
change? How does this create the possibility for digital media
convergence?

The change in web communication is horizontal now because everyone has a chance to share their ideas and opinions on the Internet. We all contribute to the web and are creators of our own media. Traditionally with vertical authority, there was one person with the majority of control and authority. This creates the possibility for digital media convergence because everyone is coming together to form the web and it is providing ways to collectively become involved. The digital world is convergences all the previous types of technologies and media to reach media convergence.

7. Why is that the Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself? How
does that clash with the corporate business philosophy? How does that
pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will happen
if the Web is not free?

The Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself because without these freedoms, people would lose their opportunities to get out their word and communication will dramatically decrease. The users have a vast amount of contribution to the internet so it basically works off what people create. Also without freedoms, the internet would lose popularity and digital media will slowly fade. The internet would return to almost a dictatorship and the world would be instantly different technologically and most likely socially as well. It clashes with corporate business philosophy because the Internet was unimaginable at one time, it is an incredible and exhilarating experience. The accessibility on the internet is dominant, but there is no single dominator who is making money. Large corporations are rather disappointed since there goal is to make money off of what they create. That poses challenges for copyright issues at the same time because once a user posts something on the internet, it immediately becomes public information even if it is private. Many people can access this information and steal it for their own satisfaction. This makes it extremely difficult for the government as well. If the web wasn't free, its amazing qualities would be lost. Some do not realize how much of a convenience the Internet is  today. It would be a devastation to enter a digital world where accessibility was limited. One of the major problems is that a monopoly would form and society's ideas, dreams, and thoughts would vanish or be controlled by vertical authority. The Internet is most known for being the greatest achievement of humanity and perhaps without the freedoms it has, the equality of all people wouldn't exist.