Internet Culture
While it may seem the Internet is a new phenomenon, its history actually stretches back to the 1960s. And while it's popular to believe the Internet started exploding a few years ago, it has actually been growing at about the same (phenomenal) rate for 30 years.
The ARPAnet, as it was called then in honor of the government agency that sponsored the early research, began as a government project to study how computers could be linked with a resilient, easy to grow network. Initially it linked a dozen or so government and university computer science labs. This initial work developed many of the concepts we now take for granted about computer communications (like packet switching, use of protocol layers, etc.) and designed the core
protocols used on the Internet even today.
But perhaps the most important stamp that these networking pioneers put on the 'net is its distinctive culture. Being mostly academic, they believed the 'net should be:
- Essentially free - as a result, even today, there are no "distance" charges and most carriers don't charge for volume. Compare that to the other major communications network--does a telephone call to Japan cost the same as a call to the local sushi bar?
- Information oriented - Most of the early work on the 'net was, or supported, research. Today, 4 of the top 5 uses for the World Wide Web involve getting information. Although there are many other uses (downloading software, socializing and even buying), all these things take on a distinct "web flavor" when they are combined with value-adding information.
- No selling allowed - This moral is breaking down somewhat now that the web has become big business. But the cultural norm is still that "I give you permission to sell me." Anyone that sends out unsolicited e-mail ads will quickly find themselves flooded with replies that people want to keep it that way.
Why does this culture matter to you? If you are trying to use the Internet to further your business or organization's goals, you'll find some strategies, many of which are popular in the "real world," just don't work in cyberspace. And others you may not be familiar with work very well. If you look at the opportunities on the web, you'll see they are rooted in this "net culture."