|
Number
5: June 4, 2003
Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues and friends. If
someone sent this to you,
now so you don't miss an issue.
This week in Katydid:
How to Capitalize on the Web
So, is it the 'World Wide Web' or the 'world wide web?' (Technically,
it's 'world-wide Web, but I let that argument go some time back.) The
question is when should we capitalize the words 'internet' and 'web'.
Since most style manuals still refer to the web as a kind of press, it's
left to us to work it out on our own.
The early standard was to always capitalize 'Internet' and 'Web' and
most writers stick to that standard. However, they slip often enough to
examine the issue. Whenever writers commonly fall into pattern of
mistakes with style, I think it's worth examining whether the style
should be updated.
The issue hinges on whether you consider these words to be proper
nouns. Is the Internet a place or a concept? Accompanying the
development of the Internet was a sense of wonder about its
capabilities. Usually introduced with the definite article as 'the
Internet,' it connoted our sense of awe. Similarly, the 'World Wide Web'
held its rarified status even as we came to refer to it as 'the Web.'
Of course, we don't capitalize 'the biosphere' or 'the government'
because they are abstract concepts and should only be capitalized when
personified (e.g., "The Government watches over you.") With
familiarity, we refer to the Internet more often as a concept than a
place.
I'd prefer to never capitalize these words, but I have to consider
convention. Doing it right when everyone else is doing it wrong, only
makes one look wrong. Therefore, I capitalize the Internet and the Web
when referring to them as (virtual) place names. When used generally or
as an adjective, I use lowercase.
Here are some usage examples:
- When Dell sold their computers on the Internet, business took
off.
- Most businesses should take advantage of web services.
- The price of web servers is coming down.
- Those internet-ready digital TV recorders are cool.
- Let's put up a web site on the Internet.
Top »
I Seek You
AOL Time Warner and Microsoft have promised
to make nice and find a way to make their instant messaging (IM)
services work together. AOL owns AOL Instant
Messenger and ICQ;
Microsoft owns MSN
Messenger. Both systems allow you to type messages to other members
on the network. The concept is about as old as the Internet, but the
packaging is slicker these days. Currently, the companies maintain
separate memberships, so there's no way to talk to members of the other
service.
Instant messaging is a valuable business tool. While it's true that
as these services gained popularity, CEOs grumbled at the idea of
employees wasting time chatting with their buddies, and IT groused about
bandwidth, none of these concerns outweighs the advantages.
Many teams use instant messaging to chat with each other about
work-related subjects. In quiet cubicles, the chatter of keyboards has
provided that social outlet necessary for humans. Managers pushed toward
the windows can communicate with their staff inhabiting the cubicle
farms deep inside the office. In fact, they can even tell at a glance
who's manning their station, and who may be processing
data for SETI.
Conference calls now have three threads going on at any one time.
Teams open their wireless laptops and pass notes to each other
containing encouragement, reminders, or warnings, while carrying on
their vocal conversation with the group across the country. Of course,
the other group is doing the same thing.
For those working out of their home offices, instant messaging
provides a real-time presence in the main office. Telecommuting is so
much easier when one's co-workers have the ability to connect at any
time.
Additionally, for those of us working independently late into the
night, it is comforting to see the green glow of our compatriots equally
hard at work. Even if we rarely break our pace to chat, it's good to
know others are around.
If I had my wish, I'd have AOL and Microsoft to develop a truly
universal IM platform that included the SMS services of Blackberry
devices and mobile phones. Make sure it's done before my daughters
become teenagers, so I can monitor their whereabouts at all times.
Top »
Does the Matrix Make Sense?
Okay for those of you who have seen the movie, here's a question beyond
the philosophies proposed by the latest Matrix sequel: If the Matrix has
been destroyed and repopulated seven times, what happens to the people?
They can't destroy all the humans because that's their power source. We
know that people also 'live'
in the matrix, making decisions, going to work, and essentially
populating the virtual world. When the system restarts, at what point in
their consciousness are people brought back online?
Also, where is the software stored? Since human consciousness
participates in the Matrix through their decisions, does it also serve
as a code repository?
I'm beginning to wonder if the Matrix is real or just some Hollywood
movie put on for our entertainment. If it is real, they probably should
take more time with the technical specifications because I think they
neglected some crucial elements.
Top »
Thanks for Reading
This e-mail newsletter spreads mainly by word of
mouth. Please forward it to your colleagues and friends. Also, you can
read other back issues.
If you have suggestions of web sites to review, writing that buzzes,
or a new way of looking at things, let me know. Send your suggestions to
.
If you received this newsletter from a friend, please
today. Our subscriber lists are confidential; we never sell or rent our
lists to third parties. If you want to
from this newsletter,
please let us know.
Kind regards,
Kevin Troy Darling
Top »
|
