Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The World Wide Web And Its Role In The Large-Scale Decentralization Of Information

By Adam Tollnervis


Back then if you need to research on something, the first place you would go to would be the university or local library. Then again, most of us simply do not have the luxury of time to skim through several books just to find the information we need. This cumbersome and often time consuming search process inherent to physical library use, effectively make researching on Google and other search engines very enticing. True, libraries often offer better quality and more germane resources. Then again, one could also not discount the fact that using the Internet is far more convenient, and that most people are willing to overlook its shortcomings in terms of content quality and relevance since it provides unparalleled accessibility.

On a different but related scenario, requesting public documents, like Oklahoma death records, a decade or so ago, required going to the state office that keep and issue them. Requesting for very old Oklahoma death records can sometimes involve searching through the hardcopies of the files by hand which is a very arduous and time consuming process.

But thanks to the Internet, requesting for public records, and conducting genealogy researches and background checks these days can be done with a click of a button and at the comfort of your home or office, and at a time of your choosing. There are plenty of vital record databases online which are maintained by either the government or by private organizations or businesses. These websites provide either paid or free services.

Indubitably, the emergence of the World Wide Web has effectively enabled the decentralization of information on such a large scale. With the increasing availability of high speed Internet connectivity and the emergence of portable Internet-ready devices, one can truly access any kind of information, anytime, and anywhere. The World Wide Web is teeming with documents, images, and other resources from users all around the globe which are otherwise unobtainable without such platform.

Internet technology makes it possible to swap opinions, knowledge, and skills easily, quickly, and in an affordable manner. It also encouraged the growth of DIY groups and makes self-directed learning possible as well. Educational materials for all levels from preschool to postdoctoral can also be found online. With the increasing number of households and businesses that are connected to this information superhighway, it is also significantly easier to accomplish collaborative efforts or projects.




About the Author: