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Title: The Control Revolution How the Internet is Putting Individuals in Charge and Changing the World We Know by Andrew L. Shapiro ISBN: 1-891620-86-X Publisher: PublicAffairs Pub. Date: 15 May, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (17 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The Control Revolution - Andrew L. Shapiro
Comment: If Andrew L. Shapiro's postulation is correct, the rise of the Internet will herald a decline in centralized power and a parallel rise in democratization within the United States and the World Community. Heretofore the exclusive prerogative and the domain of news agencies, publication moguls, politicians and governments, control of information and its use as a tool for control is waning. As the Internet, especially in its more commonly known interface of the World Wide Web, wires our lives and we become more accustomed to its presence, Shapiro presents us with a compelling argument that brings forward ghosts of Rousseau's "The Social Contract" in a newly packaged, computer-esk mantra.
Shapiro produces a compelling argument for the increased democratization of society in the emerging computer and information era. Examining the social, political and economic realms, he highlights the various practices, policies and trends that are providing these arenas with form and content. Addressing a general audience, Shapiro delves away from techno-jargon or legalize that tend to cloud the issues at hand. Relying instead on clear examples in a concise writing fashion, Shapiro positions himself into a controversial position between futurist and alarmist.
Of the myriad of arguments he presents, his discussion on the impact personalization will have on society especially is both exciting and frightening. Increasingly we are witnessing a personalization revolution in all aspects of computer related interfaces. From e-commerce to the "My Computer/My Documents/My Music" icons in Microsoft, delivering individuality to millions is big business and profit share. In the face of the dehumanizing effects of numerical identification, whether it is one's social security number, a PIN number or an IP address, such personalization provides society with a reminder of its human quality. With the same ease one has in individualizing, customizing and censuring their personal news delivery, one can also individualize, customize and censure out the diversity of the society. No longer are we forced to, even in passing, glance over articles and headlines (thus being exposed to them) as we leaf through a newspaper. No longer are we forced to listen to new voices through our radio as we travel (new technology is currently dawning that will allow us to listen to our favorite streaming Los Angeles Stations while sunbathing in Hilton Head). No longer do we have to converse with a wide variety of people, hearing different perspectives and different cultural influences; we can now censure our conversations to only those who fit our criteria. While in keeping with the increased control that the new Control Revolution is placing in our hands, such roses may have some large thorns.
Shapiro's tomb is thought provoking and well worth the time. His organization is easy to follow and his concise chapters are well suited for reading as time allows. As a primer to the new era, this volume should be included in a professional library. Certainly, Shapiro's book will produce enough cocktail conversation to satisfy a season of parties.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great survey of Internet impact on society.
Comment: Being in the industry (Director of Technology at an Internet start-up) and thinking about the impact of the Internet every day, I wouldn't say that I've learned anything terribly new reading this book. On the other hand, I think some of the subtleties in the thesis are quite original. Many technicians in the industry will be amazed with the social, political and economic implications of what they are doing. And if you are NOT in the industry, you will find it VERY interesting.
I really like the overall organization and I find the step-by-step logic very tight, thorough and compelling. Finally, the research Andrew Shapiro has done is wonderful. This is not just breathless techno-hype or theoretical b-shcool drivel; this is real historical literature rich with detail, supporting arguments and rich sources.
Rating: 1
Summary: Pessimistic point of view
Comment: The only new thing I learned with this book is: "Don't ever buy a book without taking its wrapping off and reading a few lines first."
Except for the chapter about Microsoft (about 20 pages), I consider this book useless. Seems like the author grabbed a list of all the advantages that can be found on the use of the internet and formulated a number of weird reasons to question each one of them. Some of those "reasons" were just so small and insignificant that his efforts to fill 10 pages with it 'no matter how' are so evident. For example, in one part he critizes the capability that the internet has when finding the meaning of a specific word, without having to browse an entire list of words in a place like a dictionary. His "reason"? He says that "we might lose the pleasure of those strange accidents when we look for a word but find another one on the road that leds us to new and unexpected feelings" or something like that. Give me a break.
Yup, that old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" fits perfectly here. The title is somewhat tricky.
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Title: Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace by Lawrence Lessig ISBN: 0465039138 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: June, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.50 |
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Title: Being Digital by Nicholas Negroponte ISBN: 0679762906 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 03 January, 1996 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Future of Ideas : The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World by Lawrence Lessig ISBN: 0375726446 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 22 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Data Smog : Surviving the Information Glut Revised and Updated Edition by David Shenk ISBN: 0062515519 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 01 June, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Beyond Our Control? Confronting the Limits of Our Legal System in the Age of Cyberspace by Stuart Biegel ISBN: 0262025043 Publisher: MIT Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $38.00 |
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