CANU Gallery of Science and Technology hosted a panel ”The Evolution of Internet: What can we expect?” that addressed some of the most important topics of our era[:]
A quarter of century ago, on March 1989, while dealing with a frustrating problem, a computer expert, Tim Berners-Li, unintentionally created the World Wide Web.
Marking the occasion, CPN organized a panel: ”The Evolution of Internet: What can we expect” on March 20, 2014. The panel was part of the exhibition, ”Impossible Design”, at SANU Gallery of Science and Technology.
However, the event attracted a lot of interest from the local media, and it gathered many interested spectators.
Among the attendants on the panel were: Zoran Stanojević, from RTS, Petar Kočović, CEO at Gartner in Serbia, and Slobodan Marović from RNIDS. The panel was moderated by Slobodan Bubnjević, on behalf of CPN.
Looking back to the beginnings of the Internet as we know it today, Petar Kočović reminded us of the of the Eurodata’s attempts to conquer this technology back in 1987, as well as the fist information cable used to connect the computers. Pointing out many crucial moments. Kočović displayed a gradual progress of the Internet, starting from the 60s, and continuing in this direction after Timothy Berners-Li made his discoveries.
Slobodan Marković, from RNIDS, used this opportunity to share his experience with the audience. He spoke about the time when the development of the Internet in Serbia faced with very difficult circumstances, during the Imposition of all-inclusive sanctions against the country. But the Internet found its way into Serbia, mostly through civil protest, although it was mainly reserved for the academic society, but later, in the mid 2000s, it became widely accessible throughout Serbia.
Zoran Stanojević, from RTS, discussed the early life of Internet, saying how it was used as a ”free zone” during the times of civil protests, but circumstances have changed later on. He also pointed out the differences between the conventional media and the Internet, as well as the ways it affects our everyday lives.
- Left to right: Slobodan Bubnjević, Petar Kočović, Slobodan Marković and Zoran Stanojević
The participants also addressed a rather important question, which is the future development of the Internet, but also the issue of online safety and security. They stated that the Internet in Serbia is highly developed, and that the number of users is well above the number in neighboring countries, but also, the way it’s being used does not necessarily mean progress.
Petar Kočović reminded us of new technological trends, including the initiative ”Internet of things” while Marković presented a series of potential scenarios, regarding the Internet development, including the question and the issue of ”national internet”.
The speakers focused on the fact that ”Internet space” is ”maybe even more important to a country then its territory”. Marković and Kočović both agreed that Internet market growth can never be fully anticipated, and that, in one hand, it depends on certain brand users.
On the other hand, Stanojević explained that ”reporting” on social networks can not replace traditional journalism and he also said the era of privacy is over. He addressed the issue of, so called, ”Bubble” which is created by the Internet users, who tend to isolate themselves in their own ”virtual space”, by choosing friends who think alike and the content that suits them, ”If we just wait, we will never get what we want“, said Stanojević, implying that users should consider their actual needs when facing new technological solutions.
