Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 11:38:58 +0200

From: John Hopkins John.Hopkins[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSC.FI

Subject: 'InterNOT' as a 1997 WOTY nomination ...



Dear All,

Perhaps particularly in followup to Gareth's WOTY suggestions, I would

like to nominate 'Internot' (sometimes seen with the NOT part highlighted)

as a WOTY for 1997.



It seems to me that during 1997, particularly in academia but also in the

business world, the line was crossed between usage of the internet being

perceived as a new or leading-edge technology (bearing in mind how slowly

things change among the academic mainstream, as opposed to ADS-L

subscribers) to both familiarity and active usage of the internet being

'expected' if not 'assumed' as a basic qualification for those working in

higher education -- and also in business marketing -- to the point where

those NOT on the internet are viewed as dysfunctional with respect to

internal university communications, teaching and scholarly development and

a host of other considerations.



In short I feel there was a very rapid and remarkable shift of status to

internet proficiency now being a basic, mainstream literacy qualification,

with those who are NOT such now viewed quite pejoratively.



Related to this has been the shift in meaning of words like 'geek' from

almost-exclusively pejorative to contexts approaching admiration for one's

proficiency with technology (seen in turn as a current/future key to

upward mobility and success).



'Internot' has been used in computer publications such as InfoWorld and

PC Magazine (plus BYTE, etc) for at least two years, but increasingly this

year has been used in mainstream newspapers and magazines.



Yours,

JOHN



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John D. Hopkins Hopkins[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]csc.fi http://www.uta.fi/FAST/JH

University of Tampere, Finland Phone +358-3-2156116, FAX +358-3-2157200

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