The Diversity of the Internet

The Internet is a profound new technology that has changed communication throughout the world. The utilization of the Internet as a means of communicating really grew in the 90’s and has changed the accessibility and movement of information forever. Many people say that the Internet is different from television, or any other mediums of communication for that matter. There are many defining characteristics of the Internet that set it apart from other communication mediums. Perhaps the most significant is its ability for multi-party communicating. Communication on the Internet is primarily visual and not only used for personal communicating but also for public discourse (Adams and Clark 28).
Adams and Clark explain well in chapter two how the Internet does not fit neatly into an academia definition of a communication medium. A technology is constantly evolving, growing, and expanding the sphere of communication, information, and knowledge to all corners of the world (Adams and Clark 30). There are many characteristics of the Internet that make it unique and unlike other mediums. The characteristics are embedded in previous forms of communication, but put together with the Internet is what makes the technology so profound. The Internet is a “network of networks,” and has the ability to open up two-way communication unlike other forms of communication such as the television (Adams and Clark 29).
The Internet is multimediated, interactive, hyptertextual, digital and packet based (Adams and Clark 35). These five characteristics are prominent qualities that set aside the Internet from other communication forms. Rafaeli and Newhagen first introduced these qualities in 1996 as significant qualities, according to Adams and Clark. Multimediated is not unique to the Internet, however, it is taken to new heights and levels when compared to other things such as books with pictures (Adams and Clark 36). The Internet opens of the capability for people to use sound, graphics, 3-D images, life photos, videos, and text all at the same time (Adams and Clark 37). Adams and Clark use the webpage as an example to show the multimedia capabilities of the Internet. One may see video advertisements on the side of a webpage, while reading a textual article, which may include a video box… all while listening to your iTunes, if you want to. The ability to communicate by reading, talking, seeing, and hearing all at the same time is a very defining characteristic.
The Internet is also capable of hypertextuality. This means that one has the ability to link any source of information with any other using the Internet (Adams and Clark 37). Adams and Clark explain how the idea or theory of hypertextuality has been around since the 1960s, but has really only been utilized to a useful potential with the Internet (Adams and Clark 37). When on a webpage, one may have the option of clicking on a picture and it playing a video, or clicking an underlined word or link and being sent to another page with more information (Adams and Clark 37). The ability to link information together increases the accessibility of content and broadens the audience to whom it may reach. This aspect of the Internet has increased the public sphere of discussion greatly.
Perhaps the most interesting characteristic of the Internet is that it is interactive. With the Internet, people can determine where and when and what they do (Adams and Clark 38). You can also have the ability to respond or give back content. The interactive characteristic makes it a multi-party means of communicating. The ability to interact with the Internet is extensive. One can not only chose what to read or see and where to get their content, but they can have private messages or chats between other parties or people. People may also shop and make purchases and sales. You can enter personal information such as interests and receive information catered to your interests back (Adams and Clark 39). The interactive aspect of the Internet seems to be ever growing and expanding and allows a greater audience to utilize this means of communication. People can communicate from any corner of the world.
The Internet is also packet based. Packet switching is the technology used to send information over the Internet. The information is sent in groups or “packets” and therefore makes it secure and reliable (Adams and Clark 40). This unique technology is complex. The information is sent in packs on a route of networks and it is designed to know where it is going and get there…despite any attempts to block it. With that in mind, the content on the Internet is difficult or nearly impossible to censor (Adams and Clark 40). This is a unique characteristic of the Internet because it makes it a true means of communicating.
As confusing as packet switching may be to understand, it is only possible because the Internet is digital (Adams and Clark 41). Digitalizing information and content is why the Internet is possible and functional. Digital devices use numbers and codes to store information, using 0s and 1s. Digital encoding of information has many advantages. The information is clear and less vulnerable to damage and destruction. This makes the Internet unique as well because not only does it have a high capacity for content being sent, used, or stored but also the content is safe because it is digitalized (Adams and Clark 41).
The Internet is unique and has countless capabilities. The characteristics of the Internet combine to make an ultra medium for communication. The ability to give and take information, listen, read watch or write content and store large amounts of content all with one tool is significant to the world of communication.