Howard Rheingold – who is speaking at this very moment on stage in Santa Clara – just said that companies would like the get us back into the role of “Consumers” rather than “Users”. He says:
“Consumers passively recieve what is broadcast by a few. Radio, TV, movies, recorded music. Users actively shape media, create as well as consume, link together for collective action: PC, Internet, Web.”
I’m not sure I buy this. I don’t think companies have any interest whatsoever in specifically trying to define people’s relationships with media, they’re simply trying to protect their businesses. Defining the relationship is simply a means-to-an-end. This negative spin sounds too much like conspiracy theory to me. I think we have to find a way of convincing companies that their financial interest is in being at the forefront of some of these technologies – and I think (to an extent) some of the technologies we are trying to get into the common sphere will be lost or banned along the way. Yes – it’s a combative matter – it’s like in a court or in the political process – it’s important that both sides are able to put their opinions and debate and extend their arguments – but it’s not a black & white, “Good vs. Evil” thing. Ignorance versus Knowledge maybe (other people might say that it’s Business versus Communism, of course)…