Sir Timothy Berners-Lee, the British scientist who invented the World Wide Web, wants to turn the Internet into a science: Web science.
In keeping with this, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Southampton on Thursday announced the launch of the Web Science Research Initiative, a panel that will understand the scientific, technical and social challenges underlying the growth of the Internet, reported news.com.
The WSRI will have its headquarters at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT and at the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton.
The two collaborating universities will raise funds from the corporate world and set up a research centre 'that will sponsor Ph.D. students and ultimately create undergraduate curricula in Web science,' news.com reported.
In a recent article, Berners-Lee had said that the Web has changed the ways people communicate, collaborate, and educate. But with the Net evolving rapidly, it is necessary to understand its potential impact in the future too.
He said that since humans are the creators of Web pages and links between them, their interactions form emergent patterns in the Web at a macroscopic scale. These human interactions are, in turn, governed by social conventions and laws. Web science, therefore, must be inherently interdisciplinary; its goal is to both understand the growth of the Web and to create approaches that allow new powerful and more beneficial patterns to occur.
Do you think its necessary?
Notice from vizskywalker:
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! IT IS BAD! YOU WILL BE FOUND OUT! YOU WILL ANNOY THE STAFF! YOU MAY LOSE HOSTING! Thank you and have a nice day.
Yes, I think "web science" is neccessary. Web is such a huge phenomena and has so much impact on our lives and livestyles that it needs to be studied not just from technological OR humanist point of view, but also with something in-between too. That sounds like something I might have chose to study had it been available when I started my university studies.
I read the article yesterday about MIT beginning a curriculum on web science. It is pretty interesting to consider. Computer science, which is now taught in every major university in the world, did not exist a few decades ago. Web science is a logical evolution in computer science education, reflecting the impact computers and the Internet have made in our lives. We may take the world wide web for granted as a chaotic amalgamation of web sites and services; but just as academia focuses on the study of virtually anything (from insects to solar systems), the web is a perfect subject matter to study from engineering, philosophical, and anthropologic standpoints.
Necessary? It depends, really. I mean, Web Science would be probably be something like Economics or Social Sciences. Many people think these are helpful sciences, ones that can help define AND refine our present and future. But they certainly aren't necessary in the conventional sense. After all, going back in time, there was no such thing as Economics or Social Sciences, and yet the sun kept shining .
So I believe the question is not whether Web Science is necessary or not. It's more about how useful it can be. And, if we keep on comparing it to current sciences, I believe it'll prove to be one of the most useful sciences yet.
You see, the Internet has changed basically every aspect of our civilization. The change hasn't been restricted to information exchange and collaboration, or even to financial and business matters. It has affected our psyches and thinking methodologies to a degree no one would've imagined even 5 years. Take a quick look at the exponential spread of blogs to get a glimpse of what I'm talking about. Go to Internet-Business forums and watch kids under the age of 15 discussing ways to build money-making Websites, and coming up with new techniques to use Google AdSense and PayPal. Seriously, the Internet changed everything!
I'm not familiar (yet) with the inner aspect of what Web Science is going to be like, but I imagine it to be the forming of rather complex relationships between our current sciences (such as psychology, social sciences, IT, economics, law, etc.) and a new paradigm of thinking that hasn't been named yet. There's a rather entertaining, yet accurate, description of this paradigm in a book called Cyberia by Douglas Rushkoff. You guys should read it; it's a true eye-opener in many ways.
QUOTE(talktime @ Nov 3 2006, 04:36 PM)
These human interactions are, in turn, governed by social conventions and laws. Web science, therefore, must be inherently interdisciplinary; its goal is to both understand the growth of the Web and to create approaches that allow new powerful and more beneficial patterns to occur.
I think "patterns" is a word that shouldn't be lightly used in this context. So far, the Internet has proved to be more like a "fractal," where patterns are but a building block for other, much more complex structures. The word "pattern" implies predictability. And while Web Science is, naturally, about understanding the Web and its implications, expecting "patterns" at this point would be, I believe, too much to ask. Perhaps it'd be best if we simply look forward to "temporary trends" .
Phew... Sorry for being such a big mouth. It's just that there are certain subjects which I find too good to miss . I'll leave now before I get drawn back in. Have a great day/night, everyone.
I don't exactly know much about what this will mean but it sounds like a good idea.
At a first glance I thought it meant they were going to take a look and try and improve the internet in general (hardware as we do, software and maybe even the standard protocols we use), but perhaps not, I'm actually a little bit confused lol.
What is the weirdest thing you have seen on internet? /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle"
emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)"
border="0" alt="wink.gif" />...
hello every body. Im spending lot of money to international calls, and i have decided to use calls
like Skype and Pc to Phone calls but i dont know good sites. Good sites i mean cheap for usage!!
please if someone knows about this issue, helpme! Put here your opinions about this question and
Link that can be used.... May be someone knows free ways to call.... At moment i have 512K
connection....
do you think you are paying too much for your internet and not getting the proper speed, i had it
once when i was on adsl but now have moved to proper broadband now witch is 4mb witch is really
fast. like that uk online its too good to be that speed at its price but ill keep with who im with.
/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />
Notice from m^e:
Try and keep your topic titles more relevant to your post
content. This is the 4th post by you that I've had to edit the title. Your title sh...
I have this strange problem. Everytime I visit my site (http://jovolka.wutske.astahost.com), I
can't surf for 30-60sec. and my site never loads it's pictures. I have no idea what I could
be. My firewall is set to 'enable all', so that can't be the problem. I'm using
opera (don't know if it happens in IE, gonna check that out later). Anybody knows what the
problem is ??? No one else seem to have the problem, so plz help me, because I can't administer
my site anymore /mellow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mellow.gif...
well at the moment iam on the internet and feeling bored... i relised a while ago the internet got
very boring to me. and i just wondered who people can keep themselves occupied on the internet for
ages. instead of waiting for a very long download. dont you find the internet boring?...
Hai , I have introduced a Bandwidth Speed Test Service in my website located @ http://www.jbi.in
I request you to post your speed test results here : First let me start : Service Provider
Details : Service Provider : Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited . Pvt / Govt. : Government Service.
Location : India. Promised Speed : Upto 2 mbps Rental : Rs 250 per month ( nearly $6 per month )
Speed Test Results : My Ip : 59.92.113.38 ( Note your ip will be displayed when speed test result
is shown ) My Speed : 784.90kbps Download Speed : 98.11 KB/sec Postion : DSL. Plea...
Ie 7 Beta Pics!
- Pics of the upcoming Internet Explorer 7 (13)
Here is a link to some 20 screenshots of the new IE 7 browser for those interested. Personally I
generally use Opera, but will doubtless give this new IE one a tryout when it's released....
There are many people fighting over which one is best. So, I think it is best if we clear this idea
up once and for all, lol. Use the poll at top to decided which one is best. Oh and in my
opinion... . GO FIREFOX!!! /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0"
alt="tongue.gif" />...
Start posting the most bizzare sites on the internet... white closet rappers whom live in their
parents basements, odd, personal bios, unintentional cheese, and anything else you can think of.
Lets see em. What is debt consolodation doing here? http://www.elfpanties.com/
http://members.at.infoseek.co.jp/tampon/tampon2.html ...
thanks anna. This tips I got from my frenz,maybe useful for u : If u often surf or download files &
get troubles like : 1. Slow internet access, lag & timeout. 2. Your IP is banned / restricted to
visit. 3. Afraid if your IP will be Logged. 4. Download result often errors. 5. Download frequently
is limited (like at rapidshit, etc). And u hope great changes like this : 1. Connection more FAST
(example to access https://). 2 . Connection more SECURE (Your IP address will be changed 100%
GUARANTEED, HIGH ANONYMITY). 3. You can DOWNLOAD MORE FILES on internet! (May unlimi...
I've been with TONS of free web hosts, and most of them suck! I'm kinda picky, because I
want my site to be cool! but one day i found the perfect host, Pengs, and they were SUPPOSED to
send me an activation thing, but I'm still waiting...it's been 6 days...then i found THIS
site! i luv it! THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET!...
Mapping the great network that is the internet was never going to be an easy task. There would have
to be as many connections as there are in the human brain. But for a group of web architects based
in Japan, it is worth a go. Modeled on the fiendishly complex Tokyo Metro map, the latest Web Trend
Map organizes some of cyberspace's movers and shakers into an easy-to-read chart.
http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/ar...eb1_254562a.jpg
http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article2931747.ece ...
What happens if participants in a business meeting behave like Internet commenters? It's funny
because it's so true. 90% of the comments people make in forums etc. would not be made in real
life, where other people could (in theory at least) actually retaliate physically or at least
identify the person making the comment. Warning: crude language.
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1771556 This is the same office that had that 'Lit - I'm
Not Sick But I'm Not Well' home-made lip dub music video. It's even funnier if you
happen to regularly l...
Hey guyz! Do you hate Internet explorer? or do you want other people to stop using Internet
explorer and make them switch to another browser? If yes, then here's the time to show your
support. I've started a campaign in which I am requesting people to stop using Internet
Explorer, I am sure that most of us know why we've got to do this...I know most of us are
intelligent /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> I
think if anyone thinks the way I think..must take part in this campaign and must make other people
awar...
The Illusion of (Free) On The Internet Just like the real
world, the Internet has its ups and its downs, its good and its bad. Just like the real world, the
Internet is made of decent folks and crude folks, respectable Website and sleazy Websites, truths
and lies. And just like the real world, the Internet has a rule that has invariably proved
itself correct ... Nothing Comes For Free! But if that’s true, then how come we seem
to see this word, FREE, everywhere we look? Free membership, free subscription, f...
have u guys ever heard of Avant Browser.... its a cool browser, its codings are the same with
internet explorer(so it dont need additional plug-in downloads) , the only thing different is that
it opens pages in tabs , just like in firefox..... and it had been approved that it is faster than
Internet Explorer 7... try it ur self......
http://www.internetmarketingsingapore.com/...eting-Strategy/ This is a very good resource for
internet marketing strategy articles. Check it out. /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle"
emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />...
QUOTE Advertising and full-length content should figure prominently as News Corp and NBC go
forward with their plans to offer online video that, unlike the enthusiastic fan uploading taking
place on YouTube, will arrive on the Internet with corporate blessings and ads attached. Cisco,
General Motors, and Intel are among the early advertisers announced by News Corp in its statement
about the service. Their distribution channel spans what they tout as 96 percent of the monthly
unique US users on the Internet: AOL, MSN, MySpace, and Yahoo will carry the content. Yahoo...
Partners include AOL, MSN, MYSPACE AND YAHOO. QUOTE youtube Courtesy: youtube.com (NEW YORK) -
News Corporation and NBC Universal will launch the largest Internet video distribution network ever
assembled with content from television and film, it was announced today by Jeff Zucker, President
and Chief Executive Officer, NBC Universal and Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer,
News Corporation. The video site will debut this summer with thousands of hours of full-length
programming, movies and clips, representing premium content from at least a dozen n...
What is the most trivial use you made of your internet connection ? I just went online to look for
how to make ordinary "microwaved" custard (we had thrown the packet with the instructions out) What
have you searched for in such a trivial vein Regards...
This is my story about how I am accessing the Internet at my current location, which is Ayutthaya,
Thailand. I spend most of the year in Vienna, Austria, where I was born more than half a century
ago. But I certainly can do without the European winter and therefore enjoy spending time together
with my wife on her home turf. If you want to see pictures, please check this link . Sorry, the
captions of the pictures are in German only. When I was staying here before, I used to go to an
Internet Café that was open 24/7, and the hourly charge is only 15 Baht (some 35 Euro-C...
Microsoft has publicly released internet explorer beta 3 a couple weeks ago. Is any one here using
it? If so, what do u think? Some peaple are saying that microsoft copied its competitors like
firefox and opera. personally i think that is a dumb criticism. Most security holes have been fixed
in ie7, but some still remain. The official site for ie7:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx If you cannot wait for the release of vista to
use ie7, it can be downloaded/ordered on microsoft's web site which i posted above. Some minor
changes include a name ch...
I've seen it before (although it was most likely a joke) of a bloke on the official World of
Warcraft fora taking suggestions how to name his newborn child after a WoW character. While
reactions shifted from enthousiastic to negative (concerning addiction etc etc) I saw some cool
names there like "Nathanos" for a guy. Anyways, this morning I acquired a new pet. However, I
can't come up with a decent name (or rather, assume I can get a great one here) for cuteness
incarnate. My plan thusfar was to make pictures, craft a topic and take suggestions. While it isn&#...
I have satellite internet from direcway. There are several companies that offer wired-broadband
internet where I live and I don’t know if I should change companies. Is there anyone else out there
that had direcway but made a switch? How does it compare to wired connections. Is there that much
of a difference between them?...
Web hosts aren’t just flooding the Internet- casinos are too. I was doing a bit of research about
online casinos, and I found that they pay most per click for advertising and dominate the whole top
100 CPC list. I don’t know about you but I have never gambled on an online casino, Internet poker
website, or even downloaded any poker software. There income must be extremely high or they just get
more than $5.00 per customer visiting their website, as casino adds average on about $4.50 per
click! If I did gamble I think it would be better to gamble in person as websites lik...
Pretty much just what the title says. I'd love it if there was a way to download or get it some
way to have the actual songs on my hard drive from internet radio. This site is where it has the
links. It would be cool to get that music on my mp3 player so I could fall asleep real easy. Check
the link and listen to understand what I mean....
Looking for web, science, improve, internet, web, science, improve, internet
. I'll leave now before I get drawn back in. Have a great day/night, everyone.