To AndreiVoinigescu? : You are right that I jumped in the article so the reader can not follow. I did not do all the explanation because we kinda covered that during the seminar. Furthermore, it is difficult to explain clearly in a short essay. So I skipped that.

Similarly, I believe that the labels (traditional music industry) could not maintain their monopoly status in the new digital era because talented singers could reach consumers easily via internet (they would not necessarily need middle man - labels). However, it is difficult to predict how the industry will shake out.

In terms of existing advertising as an “industry”, it is based on media (papers, TVs, Internet, and alike), the demise of these traditional media will surely mean an end for the existing advertising industry. However, I am not saying that there will be no advertising, but it will exist in a way totally different.

-- JianweiFang - 25 Dec 2008

To Jason: Just for one example, the seminar is predicting that the FREE software will beat Microsoft and alike. The open software, designed by the community, does not have the defects of the commercial software which does not allow the users to modify. In the free software world, there is no virus, and thus no anti-virus software (which is a huge industry).

You have reasons to worry that disparity between those with and without internet access. I am focusing on the “Net” community here. I am not focusing on, say an Africa country, where there is no computer, no yahoo or CNBC. For the “Net” to be taking over, one prerequisite is the internet community. The presumption of “Net” is that people have internet knowledge and access, which is increasing easier to get.

-- JianweiFang - 25 Dec 2008