大象传媒

Social Impact of the Web

• By Paul Crichton
• 3 Nov 06, 01:58 PM

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the internet, is .

Yesterday he announced a project, , to study the social implications of the web鈥檚 development.

Much of the focus of the announcement has concentrated on Berners-Lee鈥檚 statement that, 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 have the ability to understand the web as it鈥檚 now emerging, we will end up with things that are, um, very bad.鈥� Most of us are aware of major examples of this like repressive regimes limiting what content seeps through their national firewalls.

But Berners-Lee also talked about how the web was a social as well as a technological phenomenon. That鈥檚 the bit that really caught my eye. Of all societies groups, surely it is those with disabilities that have benefited most - or, at least, should have benefited most. Information and social interaction has never been easier, even if four in five websites are still thought to be 鈥渋naccessible.鈥�

When Sir Tim talks, people listen. He鈥檚 earned that right as the father of the web. Therefore, I hope that the work of The Web Science Research Initiative spends time considering and then pronouncing on the subject of accessibility. As we鈥檝e noted before, with developments on the web, it鈥檚 essential that everyone gets to join in. Berners-Lee and The Web Science Research Initiative have the chance to bring further awareness of the issue to the wider public, and back it up with some serious academic research.

So come on Tim, speak out, get things moving some more.

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