Creating Ghettos

I consider that in the following years we will presence a more fragmented Internet, consolidating its main function as a channel, where users can get whatever they want, depending on their needs: some will be needed of information or free expression and others will be looking for experiences regarding a specific topic of interest and identification.

Besides the fact that the technology will enhance the interaction with different users, Internet is currently an underexploited channel, since some of its applications are not used massively by the society (due to the ignorance of certain applications or simply because of the impossibility to access to the Internet – like in developing countries) and the relative standardization of the hardware used (just a PC or notebook and a connection point), therefore, some current practices will continue in the following years.

Definitely, technology, as mentioned before, will enhance the possibilities for interaction, communication and business, but at the same time current technologies are still going to be used, however the main issue is to detect the specific ghetto and approach it in an imaginative way to fulfill its necessity.

Some of the webs mentioned below probably are not innovative nowadays, but they really provide users at least what they expect. In the future, definitely the convergence between these types of necessities will challenge Internet sites in the future.

Information: For example, those that really like music can find good and lots of information in http://www.allmusic.com/ and can download entire albums of different genres in the following peer to peer http://www.slsknet.org/

Expression: Certain groups are using Internet as the best way to communicate ideas regarding specific topics. The following weblog is an example: http://www.metafilter.com/

New Experiences: Because of the technology, some users are capable to experience different sensations about a specific issue. In the future, the Internet will be able to be only the extent of the eye and ear, but also of the complete sensitive system. They will create a unique feeling in each user. Some web currently in use that follow that trend are the following (the first two are just works of Internet art and the final one is an old webpage -2000- of album a British ‘indie rock’ band): http://www.computerfinearts.com/collection/campbell/annesykes/index.htm

http://www.computerfinearts.com/collection/campbell/fractured/index.htm

http://www.primalscream.org/