Notes on Michael Dertouzos' forward

The press, radio, and television never got close; all they can do is spray the same information out from one source toward many destinations. Nor can the letter or the telephone approach the web's power, because even though those media enable one-on-one exchanges, they are slow and devoid of the computer's ability to display, search, automate, and mediate.

This passage in Micheal Dertouzos' foreward speaks volumes!

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Dertouzos also sheds some light on the next stage of development:

thinking of the web as a medium that would codify, in its gigantic distributed information links, human knowledge and understanding

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It's important to note how Berners-Lee's interests in the web have nothing to do with personal gain. He has remained 'altruistic and steadfast to his dream' of weaving a web that is for everyone - that is good for society.

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Keep in mind that WTW was written back aroung '98-99 when the web was even younger than it is now.

Here's a look at the growth pattern compared to other technologies.

Today about 700 million users access the web (source: InterGov International).

UPEI, University of Prince Edward Island