Re: [2] commercialization of the Web

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

Hi All;

Mark McBride said...

>If it was possible to have a totally commercial free internet, would the
>sponsors then break-in every few weeks, shut down e-mail and newsgroups
>for several hours, and pester the heck out of all of us for donations?

Arlen responded with...

>The debate now is simply over whether it will continue to be that way, or
>move to being user-supported in some manner. My guess is that the latter
>is inevitable, so we'd better be ready to accept the democratization
>(small d) of the Internet Community.

Let's see if we can all agree on three things:

   o More and more Technical Communication is occuring over
     the Web (and Internet).

   o The Web costs money.  This money has to come from somewhere:

        - If it comes from the government, we risk socialism of the Web.
        - If it comes from our own pockets, we risk bankrupcy of the Web.
        - If it comes from business, we risk commercialization of the Web.

     There may be a few other choices - but the point here is that
     _any_ choice involves a risk.  The only thing we can do (even
     in theory) is optimize the cost/benefits.  TANSTAAFL - everything
     has a cost.

   o The current trend seems to be a commercialization of the Web.

If we all agree, then great!  The real question then is how should
Technical Communicators respond to it?

I browse the Web a lot - and the best sites I see are from
enginners and artists.  Thus, my own response is fairly simple.
We'd better adapt to the Web quickly, or prepare to get eaten.



David (The Man) Blyth
Technical Writer
Qualcomm

The usual disclaimers apply - I don't speak for QUALCOMM, they don't speak
for me....