THE VIRTUAL REVOLUTION. THE GREAT LEVELLING?

Twenty years on from the invention of the World Wide Web, Dr Aleks Krotoski looks at how it
is reshaping almost every aspect of our lives. Joined by some of the web's biggest names -
including the founders of Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft, and the web's
inventor - she explores how far the web has lived up to its early promise.

In the first in this four-part series, Aleks charts the extraordinary rise of blogs, Wikipedia and
YouTube, and traces an ongoing clash between the freedom the technology offers us, and
our innate human desire to control and profit.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (about only the first 10 minutes)

1. Africa is defined as the ______________________ of mankind.

2. The presenter wonders whether our digital world is a _____________or a

_____________.

3. Britain’s more active ______________________ are in Swansea.

4. 5 million Britons use a ________________________________ every month.

5. 40% of British men visit ____________________________

6. The Net has been hailed as the great leveler, a new frontier that gives us equal
__________ _______________________

7. What was the “online ideology” of the Web pioneers? ______________________

8. The Net has overturned long-held notions of ______________________

9. Users can _____________________________the contents of Wikipedia

10. What’s the difference between how knowledge is transmitted now and before
the advent of the Internet?

11. According to the author of “Against the Machine”, a lot of people ___________
________________________Wikipedia but still use it throughout the day.

12. What’s the price you have to pay for Wikipedia’s convenience, speed and
availability?

SOME USEFUL VOCABULARY

Plugged in to broadband Social misfits

Hooked up to the globe Overturning long-held notions
Breakthrough To clash
The (digital) haves/have nots Messy and beguiling
Presumptuous Ivy-league college
Reshaped A revolutionary endeavour
To challenge authority To ignite
A new realm of knowledge To undercut (authority)
To hail Free will
A leveling of power To trace back
An empowering tool Mecca
In the grip of the www Counter-cultural libertarianism
By and large
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (about only the first 10 minutes)

1. Africa is defined as the BIRTHPLACE of mankind.

2. The presenter wonders whether our digital world is a BLESSING or a
CURSE.
3. Britain’s more active E-SHOPPERS are in Swansea.
4. 5 million Britons use a DATING WEBSITE every month.
5. 40% of British men visit WEB PORN SITES/ADULT SITES
6. The Net has been hailed as the great leveler, a new frontier that gives us
equal ACCESS, EQUAL VOICE, EQUAL POTENTIAL.
7. What was the “online ideology” of the pioneers? TO GIVE POWER TO THE
PEOPLE.
8. The Net has overturned long-held notions of OWNERSHIP, VALUE AND
EXPERTISE
9. Users can EDIT ANDAUTHOR the contents of Wikipedia
10. What’s the difference between how knowledge is transmitted now and
before the advent of the Internet? BEFORE IT WAS HANDED DOWN BY AN
ELITE FROM ABOVE, NOW IT EMERGES FROM THE MASSES AND RISES FROM
BELOW.
11. According to the author of “Against the Machine”, a lot of people
DESPISE, LOATHE AND ARE APPALLED BY Wikipedia but still use it
throughout the day.
12. What’s the price you have to pay for Wikipedia’s convenience, speed
and availability? ACCURACY.