It is very
easy and cheap to publish on the Internet, the barriers to
entry are virtually nil. Web pages are hosted free of charge,
and authoring and publishing software tools are incorporated
in most word processors and browser applications. As the
Internet acquires more impressive sound and video capabilities
it will proceed to threaten the monopoly of the record
companies, the movie studios and so on.
The second development is also technological. The oft-
vindicated Moore's law predicts the doubling of computer
memory capacity every 18 months. But memory is only one aspect
of computing power. Another is the rapid simultaneous advance
on all technological fronts. Miniaturization and concurrent
empowerment by software tools have made it possible for
individuals to emulate much larger scale organizations
successfully. A single person, sitting at home with 5000 USD
worth of equipment can fully compete with the best products of
the best printing houses anywhere. CD-ROMs can be written on,
stamped and copied in house. A complete music studio with the
latest in digital technology has been condensed to the
dimensions of a single chip.
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