JZ: The Future of Internet…Part II

Zittrain drew some risks that Internet face in Part II.  For one, there the rise of Internet appliances: mobile phones, Kindles, and X-boxes. These gadgets can provide non-risk environment and they are costly to restrict programmers’ ability to be more creative. Also, he sees a danger in network type with Web 2.0 platforms: Google Maps, Facebook, and other programming environment are conditional it hinders creativity.

He seems passionate about what the Internet has become. However, but he doesn’t seem happy current digital trend on some issues. For example, Web 2.0, commentators from Shirky to Lessig to Tapscott and even to Benkler, he attempts to provide a unified Internet culture. Lessig is optimistic about it with a hybrid economy with these motivations, and Benkler too, does not seem to be pessimistic about the future with this tool. However, Zittrain clearly analyzes that commercial Web 2.0 platforms threaten creativity. I have to disagree.

Unlike Zittrain’s concerns, the mobile Internet is on the verge of Web 2.0 system can offer. I do not think that there is such need to worry for mobile phone vendors as they keep their managed devices securely. There are the iPhone, the BlackBerry, and other devices allow using the operating system securely without accessing third-party applications. I think that Zittrain’s worry that we face an Internet of closed appliances and closed services is that these can be dismissed easily. After all, don’t we all know that generative devices and communications tools can co-exist in parallel? Zittrain rejects this particular compromise, and I do not understand why:

I think we all know that his view here was too narrow. He says we are in a world of locked-down PCs there will remain old-fashioned generative PCs for professional technical audiences to use. Really?  I believe the possibilities and benefits of PC generativity accessible to everyone who are merrily learn new applications and even creates new applications on their own. If there is no ready made market, how would professional developers reach mass clients with their new projects?

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