Home >  Archive >  2011 >  February >  19

Previous / Next

Tech is ready to redefine news
By Dave Winer on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 8:11 PM.

Technology on the march#

For a long time, the tech industry kept to itself -- only defining what it means to process data and program computers.  #

A picture named microserfs.gifBy the end of the 80s, things had changed. Laser printers and desktop publishing software, at first just toys -- were all of a sudden able to replace expensive typesetting equipment at a fraction of the cost. All of a sudden publishing was open to people with a lot less money. #

Movies were being redefined by Pixar and other animation studios. #

Then, in the mid-90s, came the web, and publishing became almost free.  #

Starting in the late 90s it was time for tech to redefine what it means to be a musician, with Napster and then iTunes.  #

We took our first step at redefining news with RSS, also in the late 90s. #

Publishing was free by the mid-90s but it wasn't easy until blogging software matured.  #

By the mid part of the next decade we were ready to redefine radio, with podcasting. #

BitTorrent is redefining the distribution of movies. #

And now, finally -- it seems -- tech is ready to fully redefine news.  #

A picture named newsOnTheMarch.gif #

What it will look like is still up for grabs. But the time is now. Just look around. #




Christmas Tree
This site contributes to the scripting.com community river.


© Copyright 1997-2011 Dave Winer. Last update: Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 8:32 PM Eastern. Last build: 12/12/2011; 12:57:47 PM. "It's even worse than it appears."

RSS feed for Scripting News

Previous / Next