The Man Who Invented the Web - Part 2

by Dick Reiman, Historian

 Tim Burners-Lee of CERN had successfully created the memory software for finding things which would grow into the World Wide Web. He had demonstrated that his "Enquire" software could run on a NeXT computer, and if the links or signposts between documents were left even though the document were deleted, a global network could follow.

 Burner-Lee developed three technical keystones for the Web: the language for encoding documents (HTML, hypertext makeup language}, the system for linking documents (HTTP, hypertext transfer protocol}, and the WWW.whatever system for addressing documents (URL. universal resource locator}.

 Burners-Lee also wrote the first server software. It was he, and not Andreesen of Netscape who wrote the first "graphical user interface" Web browser. Andreesen's browser was the first to put pictures and text in the same window, a key innovation.

 Ted Nelson with his “Xanadu” project had pursued the idea of a global hypertext system. Nelson wanted to make a profit on the venture and this complicated things. Burners-Lee, however, persuaded CERN to permit the use of intellectual property for the Web, and this was the significant difference. His browser was given to the public domain. What should it be called? Infomesh? World Wide Web? Or www? World Wide Web won out.

Burners-Lee meant for the Web to be a social place for working together with others. It became impersonal, a passive consumers tool. The failing is that the procedure for Website-editing software is so cumbersome.

 Burners-Lee cites the Web as an example of early random forces that would dominate the development. The early uses were browsers, not editors, while Burners-Lee's first Web tool was an editor-browser. Tim chose to stay above the competition, and decided against starting a browser software company, and opted to stay neutral and try to bring technical harmony. He was not after the money.

 Burners-Lee has no regrets on his choice. He is grateful that Andreesen co-authored a user-friendly browser, and thereby brought the Web to the public. He regrets that the third generation browser lacked the basic editing capabilities.

 Burners-Lee's goal for the Web was as an organic expanse of collaboration, for the good of all. It could go the other way to let destructive cults tear down the society. He couldn't force people to nurture the global interests, or even for neighboring aids. He admits that technology can't make us good.