Web [version excursion]

I’ve been trying to imagine what life was like before the whole world wide web. It’s difficult now. It’s frustrating because I lived half of my life without it, so why can’t I remember what it really felt like? I guess the only way would be to ignore it for a year.

But the web is a boon: it makes things easier, like banking, personal finances and shopping. Things which, I vaguely remember, used to be a drag.

I can hear all sorts of music when I want without having to buy a recording. That hasn’t just allowed me to explore more genres than I would’ve done but it’s saved me a lot of money too. There are also films and other entertainments readily at hand; much much better than the old telly business we had.

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I remember there was a thing called Web 2.0 which implied things were going to be better; better than Web 1.0. Was that the case, or was it like Brexit here in the UK, a lot of idealistic promises, little delivery on those promises and too many disappointing and unpredicted consequences?

I don’t know if Web 2.0 had any great significance on what we have but my feelings on the web were better before than now.

By way of analogy, I went to the Tate Modern, London, when it was newly opened, and there was an installation which comprised a series of interconnected rooms. Viewers entered through a door, much like the street door of a house, and the rooms inside were decorated with objects significant to the artist. One room would contain a collection of old artefacts; the next would be empty apart from a worn armchair; the next would be a display of family photos; and so on until the final door led you back out into the museum. I don’t know about its artistic merit but it was a fascinating and fun experience, anticipating what you would see in the next space and so on.

So my early experience of the Web was very like that. I never knew what the next site would show me, but there were gems to be found all the time; time relatively better spent.

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