How To Use The Internet

If you came across a book with that title, would you read it? In May of 1994, computer-book publisher Ziff-Davis Press released Mark Butler’s How to Use the Internet. Have you ever heard of it or seen it in the stores? This was way before the time of website development and apps. Here are some of the things that you can find in the book. We have certainly come a long way:

Joining mailing lists: “Although it is polite to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to a human, do not include these words in the messages you send to a listserv. They may confuse the machine.”

Newsgroups: “Remember, a news reader is a program that enables you to read your news.”

Online etiquette: “Flaming is generally frowned upon because it generates lots of articles that very few people want to read and wastes Usenet resources.”

“Surfing” the Internet: “Surfing the Internet is a lot like channel surfing on your cable television. You have no idea what is on or even what you want to watch.”

Searching the Internet: “If a particular search yields a null result set, check carefully for typing errors in your search text. The computer will not correct your spelling, and transposed letters can be difficult to spot.”

Apple Store Brawls

How bad do you want that new iPhone? The Los Angeles Times is reporting that arrests have been made after two men began fighting while in line outside an Apple store in Pasadena. Police also told the paper about a second fight breaking out between a man and some people the man had paid to stand in line for him. Those people claimed the man didn’t pay them enough to stand in line for the phones. Would you pay someone to stand in line for you for a phone? The new iPhone was not all it was cracked up to be to be honest. As far as the different phone services go, it was about a big a let down as when the 4S came out. I do have to admit that the operating system is by far one of the best to use but it still comes down to what exactly you are going to use it for. In short, hope that phone was worth the scuffle.

Tech Companies and Big Issues

It seems to me that tech companies are not really out to solve the big problems in the world, they just want to get the smaller ones out of the way and move on. This is with the exception of internet phone services because it has reaches that have yet to be seen. When communication services become that much more affordable, it is easy to see it as a solution to one of the biggest problems. This idea was highlighted by how the CEO of Facebook and other large companies have been pushing for internet access in remote places. Anyone who does not live under a rock has heard the quote, "With great power comes great responsibility." There is an imbalance in tech companies and therein lies the problem. Power without responsibility corrupts. The leaders of tomorrow are the young college graduates that need to not just learn how to create the innovative technology but the extent of their responsibilities with that type of power.