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.

As Licklider and Taylor predicted, the computer was the communication device of the future.
They were right about many things. UseNet is a good illustration of some of them.

As we could see Tuesday, UseNet was used to share information, talk and debate of some themes.
It has a system of NewsGroup that clearly helps to share on precise subjects.
Licklider and Taylor talked about the fact that the computer would mainly unite people not
by groups of people living far away from the others, but by subjects and
common interest of the users, so they can share data and work together.

Another main point was the access, equal participation. On UseNet, except the moderators or the,
there isn’t a clear hierarchy, everyone can participate as much as the others.

However, they forgot many of the inconveniences that could cause those devices. And I think they
exaggerated all the team work that would be done far from the others. It is sure that we don't
travel as much as before for work reasons,but sometimes it can be better to speak in front of
the other and help each other more easily in presential.