The Internet: A Web Of Disconnection

Аннотация

The Internet is a wonderful tool for making connections. Getting onto the Internetprovides a fast, easy way to access information, images, and people from all over theworld without having to invest much time, effort, or physical interaction in the research process. No more having to go to the library, bookstore, singles bar, or the mall; almost everything is online, just a mouse-click away. Not so long ago, the Internet was little more than an arcane communications medium to which relatively few had access. Its use was dominated by academics and government personnel, the primary focus being on faculty research and communication. However, less than a decade after it leapt swiftly into our lives from almost complete obscurity, the Internet has grown exponentially. It has become a ubiquitous fixture in the home, the school, and the workplace, and its worldwide user population has grown to over 400 million.1 It enables us to perform routine tasks quickly and efficiently; making flight plans, purchasing new books and clothing, checking movie schedules, searching for employment, catching the latest news, and performing research are but only a few of the many tasks that now require little more physical effort than the click of a mouse. (Weiser, 2001, p. 723)