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What is it about the web?


Submitted by wolff on Thu, 09/08/2005 - 12:46pm.

You have grown up with the Internet -- indeed, many of you started building web sites as early as 6th and 7th grade. As a result, you have a great understanding of what the web is and what it does . . . but how about its potential for the future? People are always talking about how the web will revolutionize this or that, but why? What is it about the web that makes people think this? What makes people think that the web will be the great equalizer, the location for political and social change, and what makes some groups of people so scared it and its potential? And are any of the right? Does the web hold so much power and influence? How can we be so sure of our claims when only only 14.6% of the world's population uses the internet?

For this post, I would like you to complete and answer the question:

What is it about the web that. . . ?

Please place your full question in the subject area of your heading. Your response should be, at least, equal to 1/2 page of text. Please post your response by 10:00pm, Monday 12 September.

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Submitted by Michael on Mon, 01/30/2006 - 9:59pm.

The web is probably the most important invention invented ever since TV. It has change our society for the good and bad. Today people are closer to one another by a click of a mouse weather you are a student, parent, doctor, just an average person. It is like a virutal world. The power of the web has also made us vulnerable to thieves, stockers, terrorist, etc. Anyone who has knowledge on how to use the web can steal our private information such as credit cards, see what web sites we visit, email address and so on. We to make ourself vulnerable by placing our own personal information on the web site. Such web site are facebook, xange, myspace, or our own person web site. With the internet still growing it will never be great until everyone in the world has aceses to it. From the getto neighborhood of the united states to the third world countries. The internet should be accessable to everyone

Submitted by Brian C on Tue, 09/20/2005 - 8:53pm.

The web has been a big influence because it has revolutionized how we find things. If we needed information for a research paper, we can go on the internet, type in a couple words, and find what we are looking for. Many people have used the internet to chat. Without the internet there would not be an easier way of mass communication. Connecting with other people through the internet has sky rocketed. The web isn't only used for looking up information and chatting. It is the way of the future. You are able to store information that you own with the internet. Having an email account makes it easy to store personal documents. The web has so much power nowadays. You can download almost anything you want. Music is a popular download. Having the web has made things easier for many people and the community that uses it will continue to grow drastically. Who knows what the web has for the future.

Submitted by brittany_andress on Tue, 09/20/2005 - 10:22am.

Even though only 14.6% of the population uses the web, I'm sure that number is changing everyday. It is a medium that is cost effective where you can communicate to people through words, type, sound, or picture anywhere. It saves on the phone bill, it allows you to connect to people that you would otherwise not.
I do, however, understand the concerns about the internet. It has opened up so many opportunities for theft and fraud. It amazed me the other day what I had to go through because there were some folks sending out fake PayPal emails saying that you needed to update your account and through that they got your name, address, phone, bank account information and social security number. The good thing was that my browser closed on me and so I had to restart the internet, log on to PayPal from outside my email and then a message came up telling how PayPal would never ask me for that information. That is really scary because everything looks so legit now.
Overall, I think it was a genius invention. Honestly I don’t know what I would do sometimes if I didn’t have emails to check or something to look up. When I get an idea, it can normally get done somehow through the web. I guess the word “web” is good for a number of reasons to describe the net. Just like a spider web, it is beautifully and intricately made, but it can get sticky.

Submitted by John Christmas on Tue, 09/13/2005 - 12:51pm.

The reason most people think the web will revolutionize this or that is probably because they have seen it happen in almost every aspect of every day life. Look how the web has revolutionized home shopping. You name it, and it is only a few clicks and keyboard strokes away. Not only do you have the product readily available, but you have it at a competitive price. You skip right on by the big name sellers that jack up prices due to lack of market competition. With the addition of eBay to the web, we make transactions from person to person. It competes only with other eBay customers. So, for the most part, we are able to get any item for a great price. The key here is - Options. We are not forced to buy from an overpriced retailer anymore and we can do all this from the comfort of our home. Let's talk about the social/community aspects of the web. There are countless sites out there that are dedicated to interests of all nature. If you have a hobby and want to join a network of others that have the same hobby, all you have to do is spend a few minutes searching the web for a site that fits your liking. How about email/chat programs (AIM, MSNM, YM, ICQ ETC...)? Email is more convenient and faster than relaying a message through the USPS, as long as you don't need to send a physical item. You can share pictures with relatives, share funny articles or sites, and most importantly, you can stay in touch with everyone you would like to. With chat programs you can communicate through text, audio, or video. The internet creates a path for this and defies distances. Lastly, the web is an endless, persistant source of knowledge. When I need to know something, I search for it on Google. There are always people that know more than you about something. The internet connects these people to us. Basically, I think the potential in the Web is limitless. I am definitely one of those people who believe the Web will revolutionize "this" or "that" and more.

Submitted by Michael_LoPiccolo on Tue, 09/13/2005 - 12:59am.

In the early 1990's before the internet really took off and became a household item, it was hard to find information that was truely diverse. Information was usually being influenced in some sort of way, usually to someones benefit. Even when it came to something that was presented as independent, such as the news, it was still being influenced by someone. What makes this influence even more detrimental is that people usually only had access to a few sources of information. So it was hard for people to form truely independent opinions about anything without some sort of influence.
Todays internet is certainly not free of influence. In fact, some could argue that it is as much under the influence of other people as the news is or any other source of information. There is, however, a major difference between theways people would gather there information before and how they gather it now with the internet.
The internet provides major diversity concerning the information it provides. For example, information from one side of a particular issue could be presented on the internet from the view point of someone heavely biased to a certain outcome of the issue. But for every one side there is another, and its just a click away. In other words, a internet user could log on to the internet to find out information about a particular political candidate. Said person could gasther all the information on that candidate from his website but still not have anything to compare him to. That person is at a severe disadvantage when trying to create an informed votng situation, but since they are on the internet they can easily access the same information from the competing candidate and therefore make an informed decision.
The internet is crucial on how we gather our information in todays society. It is a different type of information though in that it is completely diverse. In just a couple of clicks we can find out a diverse amount information on a million different topics. This way we can become better informed citizens ready to make better informed decisions.

Submitted by rose_kuo on Tue, 09/13/2005 - 12:31am.

In a heartbeat, a person is able to use the web to traverse oceans and altitudes and reach information that satisfies all of his or her senses.The web makes implausible relationships achievable, distances miniscule, boundaries irrelevant, and time insignificant. The concept of the internet epitomizes what we call “innovation.” The web enables people around the world to develop, display, and research their interests in any subject or field. For example, in the same amount of time that it takes for a camera’s shutter to open and close, a photograph can be displayed on a website. In a society of pragmatism in which people sometimes need incentives or simply methods to pursue and showcase creativity, the web provides easy self-publication.

The web provides not only static, useful information, but also dynamic, powerful tools for people to network and be creative. Virtual communities can provide a wealth of information a become imperative support for people wanting to jump into new hobbies. Information about any sort of activity can now be reached with a click of the button. That information can be transformed into a thriving, constantly updating entity through forums, chats, portals, and feeds. Websites have increasingly become more and more user-friendly, so that even the most amateur of beginners can create one of his or her own. Creative portfolios efficiently display artists’ work in an organized, extremely accessible manner. New mediums and concepts of art have been born with the rise of the web. Online magazines and journal communities give young artists places to experiment and gain exposure. A whole new concept of journalism was quickly developed as the web revolutionized the way people receive news. The web caters to our society’s neverending thirst for faster methods of completing tasks.

The entire world at a person's fingertips creates great potential for inspiration. The web opens that door to the world.

Submitted by rizko_djong on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 11:17pm.

The web is very popular. Everybody knows it. I think it's popular because it is very convinient to have the web technology. You can do lot of things online from home and it is easier and faster. It is much more convinient. Some of the things that I find convinient to have on the web is the online map, search engine, online banking, and online news.
I did quite a lot of traveling and I print a lot of driving directions from the online map. I don't know how many map I need to buy and how long it would take for me to plan a road trip without using the online map. Search engine is another convinient thing to have. There are a lot of things that I don't know about, but I find it very convinient to have a search engine. I can type a keywords and I could get a lot of information that I need. Sometimes I'm just to lazy to go back and forth to an ATM machine to keep track of my account, pay my bills or transfer funds. The online banking really makes these things easier and faster to do. I can do it all from home. I like reading news but I don't want to subscribe a lot of newspaper but with the web, I can get access to a lot of news including news from foreign country. There are alot more conviniencies that website offers. But I think most people already knows about it so I don't have to explain more.

Submitted by cody_norris on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 9:06pm.

The web may not be used by the whole world, but sometimes it sure does seem like it. The internet was discovered by my in about 3rd grade. Today it’s almost as if babies are born with a mouse in their hand, ready to click away. The internet continues to be revolutionary and the “great equalizer” because of its ability to streamline just about anything. Processes that were once total hassles become simple and efficient using the internet. Just today I witnessed the pure genius of the internet as I sat at my desk and set up a checking account over the computer. I didn’t even have to go to the bank! Any of the University of Texas computer services can serve as a perfect example to the greatness of the internet. Before the Internet, students did not know about applying for college online. They didn’t think about being able to view their class assignments on the computer. They never thought of being able to communicate with their teacher through e-mail. Simply put, the internet is the best invention ever created.

Submitted by michael_ricks on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 9:01pm.

Not so long ago, if someone wanted to order something from a store that was too far away from where they lived, or what they were looking for in the store was out of stock, they would have to order a catalog from the store, wait for it to come in the mail, and then call the company and order the product they wanted over the phone. Once the internet came along, things changed. A new word then came into our language: "e-commerce." Companies saw the advantage of having a website that allowed them to sell their products online. Customers could log onto the company's website, type in whatever they were looking for into the search bar of the company's website, and within a matter of seconds they would be shown the products that matched their search. This was much faster and much more convenient for both the company and the customer. Over time, more and more companies, big and small, have jumped on the bandwagon and started their own websites. Small businesses that might just be starting up, or businesses that offer a specific niche product, and have website that allows customers to order their products online have a huge advantage over ones that do not allow this capability. Intstead of a customer having to be in a relatively close proximity to the business to shop there, a person many miles away can now shop at that business. This increases the amount of customers a business might have and can also increase the amount of profit the business will gain. I mentioned that one can go onto the company's website and search for a product using the company's search function, but one can also go to a search engine like Google and type in the product they're looking for and possibly get many different websites from different companies that offer the same product. This allows the consumer to search and shop for the best price. Also, companies can interact with eachother much easier through the internet. The main advantage the internet gives us is the ability to communicate with others that are many many miles away at an almost instantaneous speed. This also allows everyday people to sell their own goods to others through websites like eBay. It seems like if you're willing to sell something, there's always someone out there on the internet willing to buy it from you.

Without the internet, none of the above would be possible, or at least not as easily. I think the internet has helped the world tremendously in the areas I've described and I think it'll only get better with time. And hey, for all the treehuggers out there, the internet helps save trees since we've reduced the amount of those rediculously large catalogs being sent out!

Submitted by josh_syvrud on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 8:50pm.

It seems so obvious...

The web continues to mirror more and more of the things that we experience in the physical world. I mean, it is an unique experience to search and not find a desired business listed online. Want to see the latest episode of your favorite show, DL it with BitComet.Tired of blind dates? Go online for your free personality profile and fall in love with the most compatible person possible (well, from an electronically sorted list anyway).

Many different kinds of everyday experiences have been converted to into internet form. But really, what is it about the web which allows this phenomenon? My educated guess is the webs versatility. There are so many new and exciting web-based applications out there today. Skype, BitTorrent, Counter Strike: Source, and Google Maps are just a few of my favorites.

As internet connections get faster I've noticed more new media formats being shared between users (which I think is pretty amazing). Just think how many industries have had to change due to the popularity of file-sharing, and remember such sharing could not be possible without the web. It's the versatility which allows so many human experiences to be transformed online, and most of the time, it happens without much resistance.

Submitted by melanie_riddick on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 8:48pm.

The thing about the web is that it leaves the only boundary between every single person in the world a single screen. Anyone can make contact with anyone and anything with the click of a button and a couple key stroke. Globalization became not such a foreign thing with the advent of the web, especially when it comes to integrating it with other technology, for example, internet capable cell phones. We thrive on convenience and the web makes our world more convenient in every sense of the world - from our home, we can pick out window curtains, have a conference with a business confidant in Bangladesh, get any music that suits our mood, and the list goes on and on. All of this without stepping out our front door. As for businesses, the internet can cut costs and improve advertising. With new technologies, a conference in which 20 years ago plane tickets across the world would have been a necessity, all you need now to have this same conference is a couple computers, video cameras, and microphones. Instead of the traditional mediums of advertising, companies can rely on search engines to bring in tons of business, and the company didn't even have to do anything except exist on the world wide web.

Submitted by jennifer_nguyen on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 8:32pm.

[Previous post did not seem to relate to the topic at hand...]

If only 14.6% of people of the world's population use the internet currently, that is still many people. The internet provides valuable educational, entertainment, and communication resources and/or tools that has proved that it is here to stay, and is still being developed to become even better and more influential and pervasive in today's society. The internet can be an equalizer, but in what perspective? What do people want the internet to equalize?

The internet has already shown to be influential for the business world. There was a time when everyone seemed to be starting a .COM business, ranging from selling and delivering flowers, food, a kitchen sink. Anybody can start an online business (hopefully legitimate) as long as they can afford the domain name. Many businesses provide online services such as reputable banks and clothing stores. Therefore, it can be an equalizer for the top management teams of big corporate businesses, as well as your local college student trying to make a successful run of selling books cheaper than the University Coop.

As for the internet being a great equalizer on an informative level, keeping up to date on current events, sure as long as you know where to go. Depending upon what kind of information/news you want to read or learn from, you have to have a certain skillset in order to pull such data from the web. Social and political change can happen via the internet, as there are many sites that list in detail their perspectives, bias, and agenda. Google the word "failure" and hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button for example. In order to reach such a end, the people must read, or have people tell them what articles they came across. The internet can help to facilitate that process, and encourage those types of discussions - but the public has to be willing and fairly educated.

I believe the internet can be a great equalizer - so long as everyone has access to it and can read. Given the state of poverty in the world, this is likely to not happen anytime in our lifespan, or our children's.

Submitted by Bianca_Jackson on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 8:59pm.

We use the web for many things these days and so much people are learning how the web can help make projects nad other forms of work so much easier. While the web is still new and upcoming, there are ones that already scared of its potential. Why? Since The web is being widely used now people can be sure that in the near future everything that we do will be accessible over the web. As we read in chapters 1&2 the web is always being redesigned and done to fit the rampet changes of society. Trying to make the web easier for all to be able to access will always be an ongoing probelm. If we keep makeing so much information available over the web the only thing we can hope is that we never have any kind of melt down or just any problems with the web. This may be one of the reasons why so many individuals are scared of the potential of the web today. Though the web will be a great asset to everyone it can also be believed as a down fall in our society today or in the near future.

Submitted by frank_huang on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 8:07pm.

People often regard the web that will revolutionize the way we live. I think the basis for this is that the internet is a fast, easy, and free way to get information across the globe instantly. Companies can expand their market from locally to internationally with a very small budget expense. The web can be an equalizer for political and social change from dot com businesses expanding globally and breaking government tension with business relations. Examples of this can be seen from companies like google and yahoo, opening expansions overseas. Some people are timid about the internet because it is so vastly available, easily accessible, and anything can be published that they often fear privacy. Also, part of the fear is also driven from hackers illegally accessing company databases to retrieve social security, passwords, etc. Identity theft has become a major issue in internet security. The web does hold a great deal of power and influence because millions can be reached instantly.

Submitted by jennifer_nguyen on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 8:02pm.

Remember the time before nearly all your friends had internet, or even computers alone? You would go outside and play, hang out at each others' homes, and go places and experience the life outside. Now it is highly probable (speaking from my own experience) that going out means going back in. Back into someone's home to go play on the computer - LAN party or just going online.

The internet has revolutionized the way that people interact and communicate with one another and even just meet one another. The continual development of the computer and internet has provided a widely used medium for the introverts to slip into a state of comfort as they can safely communicate to other people via forums, online games, and messenger services (AIM, MSN messenger, ICQ) without the feeling to be apprehensive. After all, if you are embarrassed, nobody can see your face. I was that introvert who liked to hide behind the computer screen. To those who didn't know me in real life, they believed me to be a very outgoing and outspoken individual (which may or may not be the case today). That is how I feel on the inside, but allowing myself to exhibit such character was somehow scary and against how I was raised (to be quiet and softspoken).

Extroverts are also likely to love the web because it has valuable tools and resources that would help in their daily lives. Email for example, is a convienant way to contact an individual. It allows for a thoughtful and timely response, because most people do not expect you to reply as quickly you would if you were having a conversation in person or on the telephone. Introverts and extroverts alike would be able to use the web to become more knowledgable in a conversation (Someone out there has got to have done what I have in some conversations - when an unfamiliar topic arises or you are asked a question you do not know the answer, you google it. Come on, admit it!)

The only thing I dislike about the web, is that for some people it is becoming their handicap. It would be no surprise to me if those who rely heavily on the computer to communicate to people they see in their lives on a day to day basis cannot communicate as effectively in person. Or for entertainment, they stick to online games where they can meet and become online friends with anybody around the world. I have known from personal experience (that gamer being me and my friend) that sometimes they enjoy the game so much, they stop or decrease being with friends in real life.

It also can have the reverse effect of causing a certain lack of quality to friendships and relationships. How many people can relate that they are supposed to find out about some kind of party or invite, via an AIM profile or away message?!? Whatever happened to personally inviting people, or even just picking up the telephone? Alright, this is starting to sound like a mini rant. Rant over. =D

Submitted by Octavio_Corral on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 7:04pm.

The reason many of us believe that the internet will revolutionize the world in a big way is because it gives people of all types the chance to access an unlimited amount of information at the click of a button. Much of the world’s poverty and third world countries’ status can be attributed to the lack of education and knowledge of its people. An example of this is the country of Africa. It is plagued with increasing birth rates and a widespread epidemic of HIV. This unchecked population growth and infection of HIV has become a serious impediment to economic growth. The root of this problem can be centralized to lack of education of Africa’s people. I believe that the quickest way to spread information and educate people on issues such as birth control and economic growth is through the power and speed of the internet. The speed of the internet is also a useful tool for any countries economy world wide. The ability to do international business and transactions in just a matter of seconds is another reason the internet has come to revolutionize the business world of today. In a more personal way, schools such as UT have made use of the internet in such a big way that almost the entire class is documented online for any student to reach at anytime they want. It has made learning easier and communication faster than ever.

Submitted by sameer_karim on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 6:09pm.

I'm sure everyone agrees with the assertion that the web has unlimited potential to revolutionize our lives. And the basis behind this is very obvious because since its development it already has. And it has so much so, that in its short existence it has become the way of life/best friend/crutch/crucial asset to 14.6% of the world's population. And as it expands and is exposed to more and more of the world, more brilliant minds like the ones that have developed some of the things we depend on daily (online banking, directions, researching, schooling, file-sharing, etc) will revolutionize it even more. As children we are not introduced to computers but we are introduced to the Internet. We begin using it to play games, and as time progresses and we age and the Web ages with us. It serves as another authority figure and even a parent because you learn so much from it. It eventually becomes arguably the most valuable source of knowledge in our life, because it is our only source for absolutely anything and everything. And for one entity to have this type of power and control in our lives is rather scary. Even though only a small percentage of the world has access and uses the internet, those who do have access, have the ability to effect the majority who doesn't through the means of internet. Almost everyday I find another way to use the Internet as a crutch in life, I depend on it and I honestly do not believe it is possible for any college student to survive without it. Its potential, maybe it can be scary but at the same time it has to be exciting as well. Change is not a bad thing, and the changes that have came from it thus far have been great and made life much more easy and accessible, one should be anxious to see what the future of it endures.

Submitted by John_Rainbolt on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 5:22pm.

The development of the internet has changed the way of life of almost every person in modern culture. There are a multitude of reasons people use the web. Personally, I try and do as much as I can on the web as possible because of the time saving advantages it has. It is amazing to think of how many daily tasks you can complete on the web today. I use the web for banking, keeping track of records, purchasing items, watching the news, transferring files, registering for classes, taking classes, communication with friends and family, and of course sending e-mail. Look at how efficiently our daily tasks are completed today as opposed to ten or twenty years ago. Sending e-mails and instant messaging is immediate, whereas the postal service can take days or weeks. On a much larger scale, the same applies to companies and corporations. With the increased efficiency brought upon by the internet, companies have and will continue to grow at unprecedented rates. The internet will contine to grow as technology makes it easier to access the web. For example, cell phones can now access web pages. Also, Local Area Networks are becoming more common. It is possible that someday people will be able to wirelessly access the internet from any location on earth. If only 14% of the world's population currently uses the internet, imagine the growth potential when the other 86% discovers it!

Submitted by ryan_dennis on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 1:36pm.

The web is a living thing that is always being molded to suit different uses based on the needs of the public. The web is whatever we need it to be; a library with millions of books, a community gathering spot that houses the population of the world, a store with billions of products, a bank, a post office, a newspaper, a jukebox, a television, a photo album, a telephone, and plenty more. Obviously, we would still have all of the above items without the web, but what makes the web so interesting is its scope. Without the web, it would be difficult to imagine all of the above items or services in a global sense, but not only does the web take on the global scale without a problem, but it also aids us with its speed and convenience. From our living room we can send a letter, pay a bill, buy a new oven, read the newspaper, visit with the family, grab a few books, and listen to a new song before you could get in your car and drive to the post office. It’s for the reasons of scale, speed, and convenience that we all enjoy the web, but it’s because of the new possibilities always available which keep us wondering what will be in store for the future that continues to spark our interest.

Submitted by shenalol on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 1:35pm.

I think the web has already revolutionized most of modern culture. Companies spend and organizations urge members and employees to "go paperless" and keep more information based on the internet. Instead of saving files to spare back-up disks and cds, people are investing in webspace. No longer do people (or at least those in modern cities) go to flea markets or garage sales - Ebay is the place to be! With the loss of music establishments and privacy through illegal copulation of songs and information, it would be foolish to say the internet isn't affecting our culture. This is not to say the Internet has only bad results. Never has it been easier to find information any given topic or item. Whether than information is reliable is another story. As far as power is concerned, even though only 14.6% of the world's population uses the internet, perhaps power is attributed to its title because of who the users actually are. Those who have access are the people who have are financially able to own a computer or two - or a hundred. If those in power know how to use this tool that ties people and information from every country, and the other 84% doesn't, that's another level of dominance over them.

Submitted by jonathan_reingold on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 10:41am.

I believe that people think that the Internet is a place that has such great potential for a multitude of reasons. These of which include: The sharing of information for research purposes, The fact that all that information is at your fingertips instantly with the push of a button, The sharing of ideas and political philosophies, etc. Having all of this together in the same place allows for a type of communication between people that is unprecedented. It allows people/universities/military and everyone else in the world a chance to communicate with one another on any topic they would like, and I really mean ANY, the web can also be a scary place at times as well. I believe that in the future we will not only be able to do what we currently can do with the web, but that that will in fact grow to encompass so much more. Bringing the world community together on issues that need solving, academically, politically, and socially. I personally use the Internet on a daily basis, for the purposes of communicating with friends for social activities, co-workers for work purposes, professors for academic reasons, etc. I also use it to do research for projects for school/work, and many, many other things as well. If the Internet were to not be available anymore for whatever reason, the world would be at a great loss.

Submitted by jonathan_reingold on Mon, 09/12/2005 - 10:39am.

I believe that people think that the Internet is a place that has such great potential for a multitude of reasons. These of which include: The sharing of information for research purposes, The fact that all that information is at your fingertips instantly with the push of a button, The sharing of ideas and political philosophies, etc. Having all of this together in the same place allows for a type of communication between people that is unprecedented. It allows people/universities/military and everyone else in the world a chance to communicate with one another on any topic they would like, and I really mean ANY, the web can also be a scary place at times as well. I believe that in the future we will not only be able to do what we currently can do with the web, but that that will in fact grow to encompass so much more. Bringing the world community together on issues that need solving, academically, politically, and socially. I personally use the Internet on a daily basis, for the purposes of communicating with friends for social activities, co-workers for work purposes, professors for academic reasons, etc. I also use it to do research for projects for school/work, and many, many other things as well. If the Internet were to not be available anymore for whatever reason, the world would be at a great loss.