The invention of the computer, a transformational invention, has lead to the creation of an entirely new world we now refer to as Cyberspace. In The Master Switch, Tim Wu states that the computer’s, “general purpose would be to augment human intelligence and help humans negotiate life’s complexities” (Wu, 171). While the computer has allowed for new opportunities, large corporations, because of their dominance over the Internet and the world of Cyberspace, alter the way in which we can use our computer. These mega corporations have so much control over the Internet that they have become more powerful than the Internet users. William Gibson, author of Neuromancer, imagined a world where console cowboys and gentleman losers controlled the Internet. Unfortunately, the future actually lies in the hands of the mega corporations, as demonstrated by the history of the cycle and our inability to separate from our own human qualities such as crying.
The cycle demonstrates the idea that, throughout history, new technologies have emerged by the individual inventor but then taken over by mega corporations. Wu defines the cycle as, “the oscillation of information industries between open and closed systems” (Wu, 6). Larger companies with more power and money are in control of the ideas of individuals. Individuals have to either sell their idea to a large company, so they can market the product, or they can try to challenge the companies. Either way the mega corporations dictate what the individual can do. One example of this corporate dominance is the battle of the Mesa Telephone Company versus the Bell Company. Edmund Burch, a farmer living in the country, decided to wire his own telephone network (Wu, 309). Because of his isolated location Bell would not build a telephone network in his area. Burch’s idea grew and he began to build more wires where Bell would not. His group gained a lot of power and became known as the Independents, rivaling the largest telephone company in existence (Wu, 309). However, their success was short lived, and eventually Mesa and the Independents gave up and sold out to the mighty Bell Company (Wu, 53). Despite the idea that, “markets are born free," in reality, "no sooner are they born than some would-be emperor is forging chains” (Wu, 310). Burch’s idea was free, but he soon had to succumb to Bell because an infant company can rarely rival an emperor and claim victory.
The cycle and dominance by a larger power also holds true in the invention of the FM radio. It was a conflict of interests between the individual inventor, Edwin Armstrong, and the most powerful man in American Broadcasting, David Sarnoff. Armstrong invented FM radio and decided to present the idea to Sarnoff. Sarnoff thought the FM technology would be a revolution, not something he wanted, as he believed AM radio should remain in control and the invention of television should be promoted (Wu, 129). Sarnoff convinced the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to restrict FM broadcasting to one, narrow band. These restrictions placed on FM technology, “shows that perhaps the most effective way to gain power over the future is to dictate popular assumptions” (Wu, 130). The government and people in powerful positions and companies can control new technologies and how we are allowed to use them. Since Sarnoff was the king of American Broadcasting, he was able to be the sole decider of the introduction of a new technology. He determined that AM technology should remain the source of radio and the television should entice the public, thereby convincing the public of his beliefs and in turn shaped the future. The examples found in the Master Switch demonstrate how the cycle keeps repeating; large corporations always overtake the subordinate inventors. The cycle will hold true in the future because there will always be a desire for a company to eliminate competition. The mega corporations will grow in power by controlling Cyberspace and dictating how we are permitted to use it. I think the aspiration to be the best, to make the most money, and to wield the most control is the driving force behind today’s inventions. I believe that the mega corporations will continue to tower over the individual, as they will not succumb to citizens taking over their world of business. These mega corporations regulate innovation and, while that can mean we are not introduced to all new innovations, it does leave the world less chaotic. Individuals competing against other individuals in Cyberspace would result in the type of atmosphere described in Neuromancer. Gibson’s future was portrayed as dark and sinister, where as Wu’s, while slightly less depressing, was at least a stable environment. The cycle is predictable, and I think the future will be more similar to what we know, rather than a switch in power. History demonstrates the continuation of the cycle and there is little hope for deviation.
The continuation of mega corporations that will be more powerful than the users of the technological devices is based on the idea of open and closed systems. Lessig, author of “Open Code and Open Societies” explains the open society of the Internet mentioned in Neuromancer as, “A space built on a commons… where the resource of the net was left open for innovation; all could draw upon its riches; no one could close another out” (Lessig, 14). An open society allows for new innovation, an explanation for why Gibson presented so many innovative technologies in his book. In a closed society, innovation will still take place, but it does not reach the potential it could in an open society. Although open now, the cycle explains that in the future the Internet will become a closed system run by mega corporations. Individuals are limited in their innovation and in their potential by the control of the mega corporations because the closed system pushes its regulation on the openly designed Internet. Thus negating the comments of John Barlow, author of “The Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace,” who opposes a closed system, argues, “We must declare our virtual selves immune to your sovereignty, even as we continue to consent to your rule over our bodies. We will spread ourselves across the Planet so that no one can arrest our thoughts. We will create a civilization of the Mind in Cyberspace. May it be more humane and fair than the world your governments have made before” (Barlow, 2). Barlow is addressing mega corporations and expressing his desires to be free in Cyberspace without any type of regulation. He wants to live in a society similar to what Gibson imagined and become a console cowboy.
Gibson and Barlow both describe a future where the players have the most power and larger corporations fall at the wayside. Console cowboys and gentlemen losers have power and intelligence, something that I believe we possess now. However, it is their mindset and ability to separate themselves from normal human qualities that allows them to gain power and enforce an open system in Cyberspace. I think that to become as powerful as Molly, a tough character in Neormancer, we will need to adopt her way of life. We will need blades to come out of our fingertips and glasses that stop our tear ducts (a sign of weakness); in essence, we will have to become inhuman to overtake the mega corporations (Gibson, 122). This is why the cycle will continue; we still want the connection to the natural world and to the characteristics that make us human, like our personality and our ability to cry. I doubt that the vast majority of individuals will consider it acceptable to jack into a matrix, let alone alter themselves to survive and become more powerful in cyberspace. I believe we still want separation between Cyberspace and the natural world. While Cyberspace does consume some people, the majority still enjoys what the natural world has to offer, like human-to-human contact and conversations. I think more people will become addicted to alternative virtual worlds in the future, but I believe these gamers will be outnumbered by people still fully living in the natural world, people that value the outdoors, a real family, a real education and the pursuit of a degree and job. If we were to live in virtual words our need for education would become obsolete, no one would have time to pay attention to watch the world news or even read a book. I do not think the majority of people could give up these luxuries to immerse themselves in an alternative world, where nothing is actually real.
Interestingly, Gibson does not mention any “regular humans” in his projection of the future, ones that enjoy the outdoors or getting an education. I think this is because to finally break the cycle of mega corporations we will have to cut our ties to humanity and our need for the natural world. We will have to become cold and heartless to be as powerful as the large companies in control of technology now. Molly states, “Except sometimes I do hurt people. I guess it’s just the way I’m wired” (Gibson, 25). Gibson projects that humans will become wired; we will mesh flesh with technology. In contrast, Wu’s idea of the future describes the mega corporations in control of the wires of the Internet and Cyberspace. A closed society will exist with changes in technology being tightly restricted, but we will still have our human like qualities and characteristics instead of living in an open society where we become almost inhuman. Cyberspace and the introduction of consensual hallucination would mean a whole new world where the dynamic of our society would change. Change is not bad, just like the introduction of cellular technology in cyberspace has allowed for more opportunities. However the future looks different than what Gibson presents.
Based on the history of the cycle, and our inability to disconnect from the natural world to become less human, I believe that mega corporations will always be more powerful than the users of the technology. We would regress to an era where cowboys, men on horses, would be powerful on the open range. Today, the open range has been replaced by a closed system. In the future, under mega corporations’ control, more people will be addicted and consumed by virtual worlds as their desire to extend their existence into cyberspace grows. This will occur because cyberspace equals opportunities regardless of your profession or image and allows each person involved in a virtual world to maximize their potential. In the future I believe, as the mega corporations become more powerful and leave less room for individuals to become successful and innovative, individuals will try to find alternatives through gaming. While I believe Wu accurately predicts our future, I think that the some of these new found abilities of becoming successful in cyberspace are ways in which individuals will gain some power, just not to the extent of those of mega corporations.
Works Cited
Barlow, John Perry. A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace.
San Francisco, CA: Electronic Frontier Foundation, 1996. Web.
Gibson, William. Neuromancer . New York: Ace Books, 1984. Print.
Lessig, Lawrence. “Open Code and Open Society.” Lessig Unpublished Work, 1 June 2000. Web. 25
February 2011. Web.
Wu, Tim. The Master Switch. New York: Knopf, 2010. Print.
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