commercialization of the Web

[David Blyth <dblyth -at- QUALCOMM -dot- COM>]

Hi All

>The history of radio outside the US was primarily one of government monopoly,
>often with a license fee on receivers--commercialism came late to most
>countries, not at all to a few even today.

The history of the Web is bound to be somewhat different than the
history of radio - just as the history of radio is somewhat different
from the history of TV.  But my point revolves around how they are
similar, not different.  So far, all these communication technologies
became commercialized media.

(BTW, the continuing success of PBS shows that it is perfectly possible
to have worthwhile art/eduction within a comercialized media.)

>As for whether the Web should be commercial, we cannot look at the
>US as the only paradigm: it is a world-wide phenomenom exempt from
>national laws and mores.

I don't look at the US as the only paradigm.  However, the Web is
constrained both by technology and by cost.  It is NOT a "world-wide
phenomenom" because the superstructure required to support the Web
does not exist (literally) "World-wide".

For some strange reason, I tend to first consider technologized countries,
especially in the West.

>But really, David, if the Web today is equivalent to television just before
>"I Love Lucy," who wants to see the future?

I do.  ;)  You don't have to _like_ "I Love Lucy" to understand its
impact on Television and US culture.

David (The Man) Blyth
Technical Writer
QUALCOMM

Standard disclaimers apply.  QUALCOMM and I don't represent eachother.