Virtual networks and democracy

How the internet age changed our lives

by Phillip Wilke

Overview:

1. Short history of virtual networks2. How networks work – some rules

3. Networks, public sphere and society

Short history of social networks

Short history of social networks

• Development of data based computer started after the 2nd world war

• First costumer computer Xerox Altro (1973), Apple II (1977) and IBM PC (1981)

• The IBM PC clones made the idea popular in the 80s

Personal computer (PC)

Short history of social networks

• created 1960 by the Univesity of Illinois

• A project to open education• Chat-rooms in use since 1974

PLATO

Short history of social networks

• made two way disscussion use possible for everybody

• connected people from all over the world

• Frist private BBS around 1970

Bulletin board system (BBS)

Short history of social networks

• build 1969 for the US-armee• Open 1988 for the public

• First web browser around 1993

Internet

Short history of social networks

• First chat-room in the PLATO-System• Famous since the www development

in the 90s

Chat-rooms

Short history of social networks

• Technological background developed in the 60s

• Became popular around 2003• Famous messenger: MSN, ICQ and

Skype

Instant messenger

Short history of social networks

• First platform „The Well“ started 1985• „Classmates.com“ developed 1995• Web 2.0-hype let them grow

• Facebook started 2004 in the USA

Social network communities

Short history of social networks

• Process just started• Twitter invented by Evan Williams, Biz

Stone, Jack Dorsey in 2006• Monthly 55 million visits

Micro bloggin

Short history of social networks

• Fast and cheep hardware• Fast and cheep software• Fast and cheep connection

Technological inventions

Short history of social networks

• First ideas with GMS-net in the 90s• W@p 2.0 created in 2002

• Real internet on mobiles by UMTS technology• iPhone first managebly mobile-web since 2007

Mobile web

How networks work

Some collected rules

How networks work

• You can‘t create them• What can you do for them?

• Help the community means become part of it

They are a social phenomenon!

How networks work

• No patronising• No abuse• No laugh out• No dominations

Every virtual me is a human!

How networks work

• People want to be autonomous• It‘s there leisure time

• No observer

No or only a low hierarchy!

How networks work

• People want to be involved in the process – e.g. per open source

• People what to show there personality – present and share informations

Freedom, cooperation and interaction!

How networks work

• Clear layout• Good inner page linking

• Nobody want to waste time

They must be easy managebly!

How networks work

• Pay situations coast time• A expensive community is smal – a

good community is huge• The pay process must be possible

everywhere

They must be free of easy to pay!

How networks work

• Applications use possible with every kind of internet accessor

• Access must be easy, without a lot of passwords

They must be accessible everywhere!

How networks work

• The trust triangle must work – admin trust people, people trust admin and

people trust people• Personal data must be saved

Trust and appreciation!

Networks, public sphere and society

Networks, public sphere and society

• Transparent humans• Individualised humans• Areal distance shrinks

• Reachability and access erverywere

Main changes

Networks, public sphere and society

1. Do you think a more complex network system will makes the society better?

2. Social capital or social skills become more important. Do you think they can replace the old currency system and

how do you feel about this process?3. Do you see a problem for our society when it is parted in

smale independent groups which use there own interaction ways?

Questions

Good bye!