January 22nd Article Reading

The first article "As We May Think" by Vannevar Bush really struck me because it was written before I thought anyone had any inkling about the future technology that would be available from cameras and photographs to the "memex" or what would be known as the computer. The biggest idea of this article for me was the fact that ideas that promote big changes are not just implemented and started. It takes time, resources, and motive to pull-off. The article gives examples of how the calculator was thought of, but the financial and labor means to produce it outweighed the benefit of having it. I remember seeing a Pixar film for the first time where three-dimensional, computer animated movies overtook the classic two-dimensional, hand-drawn cartoons. "Toy Story" became the first feature-length Pixar movie in 1994, but the idea and first attempt at producing these kinds of movies dated back to the early 1980's. The idea was there, but the resources (especially the fact that computers were still "new" and didn't have the capacity that they do now) inhibited the process and took so much longer than it does today. Once the benefits outweigh the costs and that initial barrier from idea to finished product is made, replicas and followers emerge and continue that process until it becomes an easier, quicker process.

These ideas are also closely connected to the relationships of people. In order for these ideas to really take off, an interdependent mentality is needed. Not one person knows every part of their idea and how to make it work and flourish, otherwise they would be beginning the project as soon as they thought of it. It needs other people to see potential and to have resources to begin the process. With Pixar, it needed people who were experts in the computer field, people who knew the mechanics of producing a feature film, financial people to watch and maintain the budget, and people willing to experiment with new graphic design software to create the characters. Connections with people of all skill types need to be made and a collective mentality and motivation to complete the project is needed to expand an idea into reality. This is exactly what happened with the web and the article even mentions "Mendala" as an example.

The article "Realizing the Full Potential of the Web" takes off where the last article left off. Bush describes his view of the future of technology where we can now review and evaluate how close he came to what has already happened. This article takes off now with the technology that we currently have and build to what she she's for our generations future of the web. The web has become such an important tool in all aspects of your life. Out of all the ideas that were generated, the one I truly think would be the most beneficial would be the "meta-data" and the "Oh Yeah?" Trust is such a key issue when it comes to getting information on the web. It seems so easy for someone to generate false information on the web and post it as being from a legititmate source. There is no security to find out if the information is reliable, and having some sort of filter that helps verify documents and links information would make the internet a more legitimate source (especially in the area of academics where online information could be banned for some students whose teachers do not trust the sources). The meta-data would also be of great use when trying to find information by transforming browsers to databases that would automatically filter and sort information found (at least this is how I interpreted this). This would compact the vast amounts of information available that you can access through browsing and analyzes that data to give you the best possible information.

All three of these articles have shown me just how long of a process it has gone through to give us the web that we have today. I don't think the web is perfect, and I don't believe it can ever have the subjective capabilities that only humans possess. The more information the web holds and the more involved it becomes in organizations and part of the processes of our lives makes it more of a risk for privacy and security issues -- especially with the growing threat of online identity theft and the potential viruses. So with the new technology and ideas that were presented in the "Realizing the Potential...." should come with new security measures to make sure any changes connect with the issues and problems that could arise.