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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Web inventor fears for the future | Web inventor fears for the future |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The British developer of the world wide web says he is worried about the way it could be used to spread "misinformation and "undemocratic forces". | The British developer of the world wide web says he is worried about the way it could be used to spread "misinformation and "undemocratic forces". |
| The web has transformed the way many people work, play and do business. | The web has transformed the way many people work, play and do business. |
| But Sir Tim Berners-Lee told BBC News he fears that, if the way the internet is used is left to develop unchecked, "bad things" could happen. | But Sir Tim Berners-Lee told BBC News he fears that, if the way the internet is used is left to develop unchecked, "bad things" could happen. |
| He wants set up a web science research project to study the social implications of the web's development. | He wants set up a web science research project to study the social implications of the web's development. |
| If we don't have the ability to understand the web as it's now emerging, we will end up with things that are very bad Sir Tim Berners-Lee | If we don't have the ability to understand the web as it's now emerging, we will end up with things that are very bad Sir Tim Berners-Lee |
| The changes experienced to date because of the internet are just the start of a more radical transformation of society, he said. | The changes experienced to date because of the internet are just the start of a more radical transformation of society, he said. |
| But Sir Tim is concerned about the way it could end up being used. | But Sir Tim is concerned about the way it could end up being used. |
| He told the BBC: "If we don't have the ability to understand the web as it's now emerging, we will end up with things that are very bad. | He told the BBC: "If we don't have the ability to understand the web as it's now emerging, we will end up with things that are very bad. |
| "Certain undemocratic things could emerge and misinformation start spreading over the web. | "Certain undemocratic things could emerge and misinformation start spreading over the web. |
| "Studying these forces and the way they're affected by the underlying technology is one of the things that we think is really important," he said. | "Studying these forces and the way they're affected by the underlying technology is one of the things that we think is really important," he said. |
| Social phenomenon | Social phenomenon |
| He insisted his new web science research initiative would be more than just computer science. | He insisted his new web science research initiative would be more than just computer science. |
| When you look at university courses, web science isn't there - it seems to fall through the cracks Sir Tim Berners-Lee | When you look at university courses, web science isn't there - it seems to fall through the cracks Sir Tim Berners-Lee |
| He said he wanted to attract researchers from a range of disciplines to study it as a social as well as technological phenomenon. | He said he wanted to attract researchers from a range of disciplines to study it as a social as well as technological phenomenon. |
| Sir Tim added that he hoped it would create a new science for studying the web, which he believes would lead to newer and more exciting system. | Sir Tim added that he hoped it would create a new science for studying the web, which he believes would lead to newer and more exciting system. |
| "All kinds of disciplines are going to have to converge. People with all kinds of skills are going to have to work together to build a new web which is going to be even better," he said. | "All kinds of disciplines are going to have to converge. People with all kinds of skills are going to have to work together to build a new web which is going to be even better," he said. |
| He also said employers are now beginning to complain that there are not enough people who fully understand the web. | He also said employers are now beginning to complain that there are not enough people who fully understand the web. |
| "There aren't any courses at the moment and it hasn't really been brought together. | "There aren't any courses at the moment and it hasn't really been brought together. |
| "We're hearing complaints from companies when they need people that really understand the medium from both the technological and social side. | "We're hearing complaints from companies when they need people that really understand the medium from both the technological and social side. |
| "When you look at university courses, web science isn't there - it seems to fall through the cracks. | "When you look at university courses, web science isn't there - it seems to fall through the cracks. |
| "So we'd like to put it on the curriculum so that there are a lot more people who understand this." | "So we'd like to put it on the curriculum so that there are a lot more people who understand this." |
| Social challenges | Social challenges |
| The US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Southampton, UK, will launch the long-term research collaboration that will have a direct influence on the future development of the world wide web. | The US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Southampton, UK, will launch the long-term research collaboration that will have a direct influence on the future development of the world wide web. |
| The Web Science Research Initiative will chart out a research agenda aimed at understanding the scientific, technical and social challenges underlying the growth of the web. | The Web Science Research Initiative will chart out a research agenda aimed at understanding the scientific, technical and social challenges underlying the growth of the web. |
| Of particular interest is the growing volume of information on the web that documents more and more aspects of human activity and knowledge. | Of particular interest is the growing volume of information on the web that documents more and more aspects of human activity and knowledge. |
| The project will examine how we access this information and assess its reliability. |