[Air-l] we need a new word?

[Joanne Jacobs]

> -----Original Message-----
> I was speaking at a seminar for non-techies at MIT yesterday 
> And I found myself saying -- and my PPTs reading -- "Internet" -- but then
> verbally qualifying by saying, "well I really don't mean the traditional
> email Internet, but also IM, chat, lists, video, etc." (add your favorite
> including Usenet and BBS).
> What to call it? <snip, snip, snip>

Actually Barry, you did the right thing calling it the 'internet'.  The word
is a collective noun which describes all vehicles and applications that
utilise internet protocol communications.  Thus the word 'internet' isn't
synonymous with the World Wide Web as most (incorrectly) assume, and is in
fact, an umbrella term which includes everything from email, newsgroups,
gopher and the WWW, to IRC, IM, P2P and podcasting.  

It has annoyed me for some time that people consistently refer to 'the
internet' when in fact they mean 'the World Wide Web'.  It's time the real
meaning of the word was recaptured.

Regards,
J Jacobs

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Joanne Jacobs
Consultant: E-Commerce, E-Marketing & Communications Policy
Phone: (07) 3868 3134
Mobile: 0419 131 077  
Email: joanne at joannejacobs.net
Internet: http://joannejacobs.net/
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