A clean web ecology
Thinking ecologically means thinking user friendly, the well being of all the participants, the environment and global consequences of our actions, our interconnectedness, interdependence, and the butterfly effects of actions .
Ecology is usually associated with our physical world. It has been extended to corporate ecology that looks at organizational culture and the interrelations between its components, its business and profit making mechanisms and the human aspects of its operations.
As the web increasingly becomes our digital habitat, we can talk about a web ecology as well, and relate to the same factors that comprise ecology as such – where a web of connections and interdependencies should cater for the well being of each participant and the global good of this interconnected web fabric.
A clean and green web ecology assumes a web culture and conduct where all the factors of the interactions are open and clear to all participants. It is based on full transparency, authenticity of declarations and business and practice of these declarations. These are the basis for trust – a cornerstone in clean ecology.
In the Icentered paradigm, green web ecology is not just about emancipating us from dependency on good intentions of providers with walled gardens, but about renewing a fundamental pact of trust and authenticity that will result in transparent reciprocity and mutual respect.
The Icentered web ecology assumes an Icentered context based web where users and providers alike are aware of the value of personalization, are equally privacy sensitive and want to act in a free marketplace for context based interactions, based on transparency of needs, the currencies for their fulfillment and the way to accommodate them. It will lead to a clean web ecology based on authenticity, mutual sharing and trust.
The Icentered new power balance between users and providers does not necessarily harm providers. Although they lose automatic “user stickiness” and control, they gain from such a paradigm shift as well. Replacing the search for business superiority in collaboration, contributing to the quality of web life by virtual environmental concern to preserving the interests of all parties involved.
With the change of direction from push to pull, providers can gain a much more intimate understanding by looking at what people ask for. They no longer need to stereotype their audience in order to evaluate what it is that they want. E.g. I would still welcome targeted ads – but under different conditions – better preserving the interests of all parties involved.
