- Network Age Briefing: “Is The Web REALLY Exceptional?”
- September 23, 2009 — 10:00am PDT / 1:00 pm EDT
- Web and chat: http://tobtr.com/s/699836
- Call-in Number: (347) 945-6578
On September 23, I'll be chatting with Berkman Fellow Dr. David Weinberger on the topic of "web exceptionalism." I'm really hoping you can join us.
“Exceptionalism is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is ‘exceptional‘
(i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not conform
to normal rules or general principles. Used in this sense, the term
reflects a belief formed by lived experience, ideology, perceptual frames, or perspectives influenced by knowledge (or lack thereof) of historical or comparative circumstances.” (source: Wikipedia)
Join us for a thought-provoking Supernova Network Age Briefing with David
Weinberger on September 23 at 1pm EDT / 10am PDT to discuss “Is The Web
REALLY Exceptional?” On August 28 of this year, David wrote:
“We hear “Internet” and we think an
infrastructure of cables and radio signals, when in fact the Internet
is a set of protocols that can be implemented over anything from copper
wires to carrier pigeons.”
But then he goes on to say:
“In fact, I find myself
understanding issues ever more frequently in terms of traditional
structures becoming networks or taking on the properties of networks.
E.g., news is a network, not a set of stories. Businesses ought to view
themselves more and more as networks. Expertise is a property of a
network. Leadership is a property of a network. Markets are networks
within which conversations take place, natch. Networks are very much
becoming our new paradigm.”
So, it appears we’re at a crossroads. Is the web just more of the
same, just another communications medium, that happens to be in a
trendy, well-funded wrapper? (Remember, there was a time when
Citizen’s Band – CB – radio was going to change broadcasting, too.) Or
are the web, and the Network Age, truly “exceptional?”
Join us!
Want to know about future Network Age Briefings? (We do them about once a week.) Here's the link.