Website and Graphic Design
Website and Graphic Design
When I first heard about the Internet and the 'Information Super Highway' (or whatever crass name was being bounded around by pale experts on the tele) I knew it was special and potentially able to change the world. I remember explaining to a couple of friends that one day you will be able to shop using a computer along with getting news as it happens, maybe it would replace the TV one day. "Really?" was their open-mouthed response. Open-mouthed because of their fascination or (more likely) I was beginning to be too enthusiastic for their liking.
Nonetheless - I had an idea of this new technology's potential but not a clue to what the Internet what to offer in 1995.
It was the winter of 1996 before I began to increase the share price of my telecoms supplier by spending way too much time on the Internet. That first night I had no true idea what to expect as I listened to the blips and beeps of the connection process that sounded like some kind of experimental electronica.
Finally I was on the Internet (what ever that meant) albeit via CompuServe's own software on a slow 75Mhz Power PC Mac, with a mind-numbing slow 14.4 modem.
I soon learnt that I could read stuff, download stuff but not much else - then I set up my email, which seemed pointless as I had no-one to email - so back to reading stuff I went.
Next I discovered the joys of chat. That was truly amazing - here I was in Northern England chatting to numerous people around the world all for the cost of a local call.
That is where the problem lay - the cost - it had to be said that while this new world was very exciting it was increasing my phone bills exponentially. At least I had 'met' a few nice people in the chat rooms and I had someone to email which could be done 'offline'.
I stayed cocooned within the confines of CompuServe for a couple of months, unbelievable thinking back as it was so limited. Until this point I had not even browsed a website but when that day came I thought that this is where the true potential of the Internet was to be found.
The possibility of a relatively easy publishing system that would allow a worldwide audience to view whatever you distributed using this new media was something to get excited about and involved in.
Before too long I was 'viewing source' in an attempt to understand html and soon published my own website, having ditched CompuServe and had a battle to leave AOL having used their free month's trial to find a more suitable ISP.
My new ISP (NetDirect) included some webspace to which I uploaded my first website attempt. It was fairly basic and the layout depended heavily on using tables, but I was happy. There were two areas of this website that proved to be the most popular; my portfolio of digital art and my musings about Bolton Wanderers Football Club. The latter section was soon listed second on Yahoo, first being the then superfluous official BWFC website. If only it was that easy these days.
10 years on and just how much has the Internet evolved? Computers have become more powerful while becoming more affordable. Internet connections are also much faster and cheaper than ever.
Now I use the Internet more than I watch television (not that I have ever watched much tele). I write more emails than I make phone calls. I buy more music online than I do from shops, the same applies to books, software, clothing... Occasionally I shop for groceries online too.
Then there is eBay on which I have played seller and buyer - overall buying via eBay has saved me a lot of money over the years and has enabled me to declutter for profit too. Bloody marvellous!
Overall I would say that the Internet (especially the web) has changed my life in numerous ways and not only the way I part with my cash.
I read and watch the news daily online. I download podcasts and vodcasts for entertainment and education. I read way too many blogs and publish a few of my own. If I ever want to learn about something I turn to the web. It has helped me get organised (almost). It helps keep in touch with my family. It even helped me get the house in which I reside.
Almost anything I do could involve the Internet - it has become an essential part of my life. As for my children, they do not know a world without it. The closest equivalent for me would be that I do not know a world without jet planes that transport the masses around the world.
Like air travel the Internet has made the world seem smaller. We are all better equipped to learn about our world and that surely has be a good thing.
January 7, 2009
