Re: CS-234 Discussion

CS234 <cs234@lhmerino.dont-email.me> wrote:

This thread is intended for the students of CS-234: Technologies for democratic society
 
How does Usenet fit into the vision presented by Licklider and Taylor in
"The Computer as a Communication Device"?
 
Reflect on:
- Which aspects of their vision are realized through Usenet?
- What aspects have evolved differently from what they imagined?
 
Feel free to respond to comments made by your classmates as well.

Licklider and Taylor envisioned computers as tools for real-time, interactive collaboration, where people could share and develop ideas together, using dynamic models and processes. While Usenet allowed global communication by letting users post and discuss messages, it was mostly text-based and asynchronous, lacking the live, real-time interaction they imagined. Usenet didn’t offer the kind of creative, model-driven collaboration or the ability to work on complex tasks together, which were central to Licklider and Taylor’s vision. It connected people, but didn’t provide the deeper, interactive experience they believed would revolutionize communication.