The Web's Awake - by Philip D Tetlow Hardcover

About the Book

"A John Wiley & Sons, Inc. publication."

Book Synopsis

The central thesis of The Web's Awake is that the phenomenal growth and complexity of the web is beginning to outstrip our capability to control it directly. Many have worked on the concept of emergent properties within highly complex systems, concentrating heavily on the underlying mechanics concerned. Few, however, have studied the fundamentals involved from a sociotechnical perspective. In short, the virtual anatomy of the Web remains relatively uninvestigated. The Web's Awake attempts to seriously explore this gap, citing a number of provocative, yet objective, similarities from studies relating to both real world and digital systems. It presents a collage of interlinked facts, assertions, and coincidences, which boldly point to a Web with powerful potential for life.

From the Back Cover

A fascinating perspective on what the Web is and what it will be

Has the World Wide Web evolved into a new life form? The author of this provocative book, Philip Tetlow, presents a very compelling argument that it indeed has.

Drawing from theories originating in the natural sciences, mathematics, and information technology, The Web's Awake explores how the continued growth and increasing complexity of the Web are quickly outstripping our capability to control it. In other words, the Web has quite literally taken on a life of its own.

Stringently researched and clearly presented, the book examines a number of emergent characteristics and behaviors of the Web that have not been programmed, but rather have evolved. As the number and strength of these new Web characteristics and behaviors continue to increase, the author persuasively argues that the Web should be considered a living organism in its own right, a new post-human species consisting of a single member.

Having established a new understanding of what the Web is, the author next offers a remarkable perspective on how the Web is evolving towards independence. He further argues that understanding the Web's evolution as an act of nature enables us to better harness the Web's resources for the good of society.

While researchers in the emerging field of Web science have attempted to categorize what the Web is, this book takes a radically new approach that will change your understanding of the very nature and essence of the Web--what it is and where it is heading. Whether your interest lies in computing, information technology, evolution, physics, or biology, the author's clearly written, plain-English arguments are fascinating material for thought.

Review Quotes

"I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in how the World Wide Web has developed, and continues to evolve." (British Computer Society Book Reviews)

"...a surprisingly easy and engaging book to read...an essential book for anyone interested in artificial life, artificial intelligence and information studies." (CHOICE, October 2007)

"...a compelling and enjoyable read, enthralling and thought-provoking...a fascinating and provocative perspective on what the Web is and what it will be." (SirReadaLot.org, June 2007)

About the Author

Philip Tetlow is a Senior Certified IT Architect in IBM's Global Business Services Division, a Chartered Engineer, and an Open Group Master IT Architect. He has more than twenty years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in the application of Web-based technologies, metadata, and transformation techniques on large central government systems. He is a member of the World Wide Web Consortium and was responsible for coordinating its task force on the application of the semantic Web in software engineering.