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Call for a Better Web

callforabetterweb.org

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21–30 of 68 posts

Re: Call for a Better Web

#21

Post by Nervetattoo »

I think just about everyone here will agree that what you describe is more of an ideal web that we want. However, the problem is finding motivation for regular users to sacrifice, and if they wont then you need the big corporations to sacrifice to get there. How can we find motivation for either part?

I think this will be an extremely long process that is slowly happening on a minor scale, but that we will never see a fully open web - ever - just because of the lack of motivation from its central actors: users and providers.

Things like Wikipedia, OpenID/OAuth, FluidDB, more open API-s (although we don't own the data) are all pointers to the web maybe being more semi-transparent in the future. I mean, things are getting more open, but it will simply never be fully open, no matter how much us developers and geeks want it. If however someone like google or apple were to find a model were they could still earn their money while being transparent and open, then I would start believing.

The best way to facilitate this process is by doing your part by implementing your site/service in an open and transparent way. If you get successful people will take notice.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#22

Post by marc28443 »

tdavis wrote: post #19

Call me crazy, but I like the way things are. Having huge, centralized bodies with easy access to all of my information sounds awful. The government knows enough about me already, why would I trust I private corporation with all of my data? What happens when they're hacked? How about when somebody decides to make millions illegally selling identities? Facebook can keep my photos and status updates and pokes. Twitter…

This information should not need to reside on the net and be owned by a private corporation. One of the problems mentioned in the article is that every individual should own his/her data.

I think to adress the issues correctly all this info should be stored locally and/or on your phone.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#23

Post by nuweborder »

This is right up my alley. I applaud you for writing this piece, and putting it out there as to what is wrong with the web, and what needs to happen. This issue is that the current web model is being regurgitated through all these sites that think they are doing something new and innovative, and are actually just repeating the same form that is proven to be arcaic, and does not work well anymore. We cannot expect a different outcome, by producing the same old actions. Its time to truly be innovative and come up with something different, more efficient, and that gives more power to the user. We often attempt to do this over the years, and then we revert back to the old format.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#24

Post by markup »

marc28443 wrote: post #22
tdavis wrote: post #19

Call me crazy, but I like the way things are. Having huge, centralized bodies with easy access to all of my information sounds awful. The government knows enough about me already, why would I trust I private corporation with all of my data? What happens when they're hacked? How about when somebody decides to make millions illegally selling identities? Facebook can keep my photos and status updates and pokes. Twitter…

This information should not need to reside on the net and be owned by a private corporation. One of the problems mentioned in the article is that every individual should own his/her data. I think to adress the issues correctly all this info should be stored locally and/or on your phone.

Yeah, that's more or less what I'd like it to work, but I think using phones or other devices that may get offline would be unworkable (at least in the present). You could, however, act as your own gateway just like you can do with OpenID right now

Re: Call for a Better Web

#26

Post by jnorthrop »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #5

Sigh...where to start? First, I applaud your passion for making the web a better place, and for being willing to put yourself out there and be open with your views. That said, there's a number of problems with what you're saying and the proposed solution, but let me point out just a few: 1. Normal people don't care. Seriously, my mom uses a handful of websites and doesn't really care about any of the problems you men…

"Sigh...where to start?"

I wish you wouldn't have started off with that. It's insulting and doesn't add to the discussion. Just because you see the author's conclusions as somewhat naive (which you've articulated) doesn't make it OK to belittle his effort. FWIW, Other than that snide start it's a thoughtful post.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#27

Post by apotheon »

Two points:

1. If we assume for a moment that the quoted JFK speech was actually written by JFK (and not by a speechwriter), you've actually proven you're better at penning inspiring words than JFK was. The sentiments in the JFK speech are rousing and inspiring enough that they overcame the wording at the time they were uttered to the world, but the phrasing itself is clumsy and distracting. "And the other things"? Seriously? I've never liked that speech, but I like the passion expressed in this call for a better Web, and it is not as marred as JFK's wording by a long shot.

2. I think a far better idea than using gateway providers is coming up with a way to store the data locally (on your own computer) and authorize (or not) particular Websites to access particular parts of it. You have to develop a protocol that can be used by visited Websites to access the data when they are authorized to do so, anyway; why not make it a protocol that definitively keeps the stored data in your own hands? Either way, the real challenge will be getting the visited Websites to refrain from storing the data in violation of your wishes once they get the data, but if I got to keep the data in encrypted form on my own computer I'd be much more likely to want to get on board with the idea.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#28

Post by apotheon »

mixmax wrote: post #8

For this to work you would have to convince all (or at least a lot) of established players to do things differently than they do now. They will only do so if they see other major players doing it. It's a classical chicken and egg problem. The technology is the easy part.

Until we have the technology, there's nothing to use to convince anyone to go along with the idea.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#29

Post by psnajder »

All you have to do is create a network under these guidelines. One system to do whatever you can in that awesome system that does a batch of particular things. Then you invite your friends and say, look, you can do all these awesome things just by being in my awesome system/network! They, understanding its awesomeness, will have to join. You offer them even more things that are progressively more awesome. And more people join. And more people surf under one unique sign-in.

One night you get home and feel happy, satisfied, knowing that your network of users has finally experienced the greatest possible, most efficient, most awesome system ever invented. And before you go to sleep, you pick up a phone and call your mom to tell her how happy you are.

Re: Call for a Better Web

#30

Post by zandorg »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #5

Sigh...where to start? First, I applaud your passion for making the web a better place, and for being willing to put yourself out there and be open with your views. That said, there's a number of problems with what you're saying and the proposed solution, but let me point out just a few: 1. Normal people don't care. Seriously, my mom uses a handful of websites and doesn't really care about any of the problems you men…

Maybe your 'Mom' doesn't like it, but that doesn't mean everyone, just your 'Mom'!
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