The Future of Ideas
In his analysis The Future of Ideas, Stanford law professor Lessig made some very stark comments as to the direction the Internet is taking as we move into the future. To be honest, after reading just a small excerpt from the Future of Ideas, I found his insights very depressing.
The Internet inspired a revolution of innovation and new ideas exploded as the Internet progressed and that innovation was fostered by the Internet. Today, Lessig argues that a counterrevolution is taking place, replacing innovation with a general stifling of creative energy and control by powerful conglomerates. These conglomerates take advantage of the law and technology and Lessig argues are taming the Web as we know it.
Lessig offered the opinion that today the Internet is changing from an "open forum for ideas into nothing more than cable television on speed." This insight is an interesting analogy but I am not sure that I completely agree with it.
I am torn because on one side, I do see the rise of blogs, in this country mind you, to be a powerful force allowing people to speak their minds. But then I can also appreciate that the Web is becoming more regulated and the flow of information not be as free as it once was because of corporate interests. Obviously there are no easy answers, but just from reading a brief excerpt I am interested in hearing what else Lessig has to say.
The Internet inspired a revolution of innovation and new ideas exploded as the Internet progressed and that innovation was fostered by the Internet. Today, Lessig argues that a counterrevolution is taking place, replacing innovation with a general stifling of creative energy and control by powerful conglomerates. These conglomerates take advantage of the law and technology and Lessig argues are taming the Web as we know it.
Lessig offered the opinion that today the Internet is changing from an "open forum for ideas into nothing more than cable television on speed." This insight is an interesting analogy but I am not sure that I completely agree with it.
I am torn because on one side, I do see the rise of blogs, in this country mind you, to be a powerful force allowing people to speak their minds. But then I can also appreciate that the Web is becoming more regulated and the flow of information not be as free as it once was because of corporate interests. Obviously there are no easy answers, but just from reading a brief excerpt I am interested in hearing what else Lessig has to say.
posted by dcae at 9:08 AM
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