The Machine is using us

A message “The Web is us” keeps lingering on me after my viewing of the YouTube video “The Machine is Us/ing us”. The machine, of course, refers to the Web. No matter how absurd it may sound, but there is actually truth in saying that we are the Web. The core and the most impressive element of the Web is hyperlinking, an organized means to access all possible related knowledge on the same theme. This embedded structure of webpages is indeed a demonstration of human’s brilliant knowledge extended across time, territories, and topics. After XML has replaced HTML, composing e-texts is no longer a privilege of the computing codes professionals. With the unbundling of content and format, almost everyone can start a webpage and upload their views to the Web with ease. With billions of bloggers and browsers using the Web every day around the world, humans are literally feeding new knowledge to the Web and telling it what information is sought or considered significant by the mankind. Through participating on the Web, whether creating, downloading or interacting, humans are connected, in both the perspectives of human to human, and human to computer exchanges. In fact, to generations like us who grow up with the Internet, the Web is never a ‘virtual space’ but a part of reality. Online communication is not only natural, but is even more intense and efficient than the conventional in-person interchange. Via the Internet, we make friends, receive online education, and collaborate in work. It is common for us to get entertainment from the Web, to trade, and even start or break a romance there. The Web is our shared memories after we have uploaded so many of our photos and experiences to the Internet. The Web is more than a tool to us; it is part of our life. We are so used to its being around and we are more and more addicted to it. We have so merged with it that we can be considered half human-half machine. With our vast extent of devotion and contribution, I think it is justifiable to acknowledge ourselves the Web.