A common theme has emerged over the past couple of months. This theme has been discussed by opinion leaders, business leaders, celebrities, more celebrities and, more importantly, Wired Magazine. The argument is the death of/dying World Wide Web. The premise is that mobile and tablet computers have increased the number of applications (“apps”) available to the consumers. Because these apps use a limited area of the Internet, it walls off the Internet to create a better user experience for the consumer. This walling off of the Internet is similar to the methods used by AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy in the early 90’s. To extend the point because people are more likely to use apps, they would be less likely to use a traditional browser. Therefore, we are slowly moving towards the death of an “open web.” Adding to this mix is the increase of content creators using paywalls as another method of increasing revenue. The paywall is just another barrier creating a closed web experience. The final point to add to the death of the web is the gradual elimination of Flash from mobile/tablet browsing and the lack of a replacement WYSIWYG development platform. A good number of developers are/were training in the Flash development platform, and it remains the simplest way of creating interactivity online. So with all of these points, the question becomes, “is the open web dying?” The answer is yes and no. Here’s why:
1.) We use “technologies of convenience.”
The reasons that are seems that the open web is dying is because of where we use the Internet and how we connect online. When I just what to consume content, my tablet seems like the natural choice. However, when I create content, it’s a different story. For me, the laptop and traditional desktop are how I create most of my content and access the Internet. I am currently typing this out on my laptop, and it allows me to create this post relatively easily. This process is made easier because I have access to a browser and can select which pages to access. In my view of the Internet, the Internet is a system of files and folders that allow for the simple point of connecting between two/many people. Since I am sitting down in my house and writing this post out, I can quickly put this file online and give everybody access to it who wants to read it. When I’m on the road, I can use my tablet to create the post. However, I give up some of the benefits of having a full operating system, for example…
2.) Multitasking, multitasking, multitasking.
The reason that I’m writing this post and because I saw an email from Benton.org, which one of the stories lead me to the Chris Anderson and Michael Wolff’s debate on the reason that the Internet was dying. One the same screen, I can look back refer to the article and click a tab which allows me to continue to write this post. If I had a tablet/mobile computer, this process would be made harder.
3.) Creation vs. consumption
Most of the promoters of the death of the open web are looking at it from the viewpoint that we go online to get our information, check in with our friends and maybe post a picture or video. If this were the case, the closed web would have won years ago. However, we like the ability to create works from time to time and love have a way to share it with a larger community. The app-based system of uploading content is relatively simple, which is the good and the bad point about the system. You can share content as it is in the real world; however it is moderately hard to edit it and add a creative mark to the content. An open web system gives access to online editors and content creation tools. The closed system, for the most part, lacks these qualities.
4.) Not everybody has access to “app-based appliances.”
What is typically forgotten about in these discussions is the concept of general access. I live in a relativity impoverished area of the United States, in the Appalachian region. Because of this viewpoint, I don’t see that many people interested in smartphones and tablet computing. Those who have wireless communication maybe interesting in texting, but nothing more than that. A majority of their computing experience and access to the outside world comes from using the library’s computer or renting a netbook. Their only points of access come from an open web system.
5.) The pendulum will allow swing back and forth.
Finally, it seems that technology and public policy swings back and forth from open to closed system. This shift in policy is why the government shuts down monopolies. This shift is also what spell the end of AOL and the other Internet service providers of the 90’s. People realized there was an Internet outside of the one provided by the ISP and they wanted access to it. Now, the pendulum is swinging the other way. People are tired of the static and “porn” that is available online and wanted a safer environment with a better user experience. However, there will come a time when people are tired of the limited access their apps to give them, and the pendulum will swing again.
Based on these points, I would argue that the Internet is changing forms, but the open web will still be around because there always will be a fundamental need for open access to information and communities.
