Berners-Lee argues for humanity connected by technology
Give the web back to the people. This is the essence of what Tim Berners-Lee, considered one of the fathers of the modern World Wide Web, said at the September 14 launch of the World Wide Web Consortium, or W3C for short.
“When you think about how the Web is today and dream about how it might be, you must, as always, consider both technology and people,” said Berners-Lee. “Future technology should be smarter and more powerful, of course. But you cannot ethically turn your attention to developing it without also listening to those people who don’t use the Web at all, or who could use it if only it were different in some way.”
Noting that 80% of the world do not have access to the Web, Berners-Lee concluded that the web has been largely designed by the developed world for the developed world but that it must be much more inclusive. “Ultimately the Web should serve humanity,” he said.
To further this goal the W3C will focus especially on two key areas namely eGovernment services and the role of mobile technology in developing economies. But it is mobile technology that Berners-Lee sees real potential for change (see our story The end of the Digital Divide). Calling for world-wide collaboration, Berners-Lee again highlighted his original vision of the Web: humanity connected by technology.
You can track the Foundation’s progress on www.webfoundation.org.