Internet evolution: From passive browsing to active engagement
The other day, I stumbled upon a pop culture relic entitled “The Kids’ Guide to the Internet.” Produced in 1997, the video follows Peter and Dasha Jamison as they introduce their friends Andrew and Lisa to the joys of cyberspace. The sites they visit are static affairs filled with low-resolution images and text in Times New Roman. They’re relentlessly utilitarian and often devoid of interactivity (though Peter does send an email to President Clinton at one point!). Fast forward almost 30 years later, and the Internet looks very different. And it’s not just a matter of aesthetics, either. The modern Internet is a far more collaborative place where engagement and interactivity reign supreme.