The World Wide Computer, Monopolies and Control 129
Ian Lamont writes "Nick Carr has generated a lot of discussion following his recent comments about the IT department fading away, but there are several other points he is trying to make about the rise of utility computing. He believes that the Web has evolved into a massive, programmable computer (the "World Wide Computer") that essentially lets any person or organization customize it to meet their needs. This relates to another trend he sees — a shift toward centralization. Carr draws interesting parallels to the rise of electricity suppliers during the Industrial Revolution. He says in a book excerpt printed on his blog that while decentralized technologies — the PC, Internet, etc. — can empower individuals, institutions have proven to be quite skilled at reestablishing control. 'Even though the Internet still has no center, technically speaking, control can now be wielded, through software code, from anywhere. What's different, in comparison to the physical world, is that acts of control become harder to detect and those wielding control more difficult to discern.'"
So just start a ... (Score:2, Informative)
So just start a solar/wind/hydro/? powered wireless world wide net.
The Peoples Net
Using off the shelf hardware (solar), it would be a one time cost of (US) $500.00 - $1000.00 to set up self powered node.
I'm shooting from the hip on the costs here, but I used to install solar/hydro, so I'm prolly close.
And the deep cycle batteries would have to be replaced after 5 - 8 years (with good maintenance, if wet cells).
But that would be a truly non centralized network.
Amateur Packet Radio works in a similar way, as I recall (but I'm a lowly Tech, so I can't know anything).
This is not Nicholas Carr's First Attack on IT (Score:5, Informative)
Carr's current article's argument that IT functions should be taken over by functional units only perpetuates the silo thinking of most organizations. Budgeting IT resources on a departmental basis perpetuates islands of automation, redundant/conflicting rules, ridiculous internal interfaces., etc. Outsourcing some or all IT functions may be reasonable in some cases, but turning control of IT over to the various functional units in an organization is insane.