The Web at 25 | Web Directions

The Web at 25

• By: John
• Tweet: @johnallsopp
• March 13, 2014

As you have almost certainly seen, (not least in Maxine’s post yesterday) in a sense the Web turns 25 today (though it’s really more the anniversary of its conception rather than birth). 25 years ago today, Tim (now Sir Tim) Berners-​​Lee presented his then boss at Cern Robert Cailliau (whom I had the privilege to meet at CERN last year) with a proposal Robert considered “vague but exciting” (I’ve actually held the copy with Robert’s handwritten note in my hand, another great privilege).

Various folks have sent their greetings to the Web on this day, and I feel like sending one too.

Thank you, Web, for changing my life infinitely for the better. I literally cannot imagine my life on any level, personal or professional, without it.

But more importantly, thank you, and providence, that you arrived when you did, as the world really faced the accumulated debt of Humanity’s behaviours over the last few decades and centuries. We face truly global challenges that if we do not address, we will in all likelihood not survive as a civilisation, or perhaps even a species.

At a time where we vitally need free and open ways in which to connect the planet, and help us address these challenges, you arrived. You are possibly our last great hope not to completely f#ck up the one planet in the universe where we’re certain there’s life, and the only planet we’ll ever in all likelihood inhabit

Thank you.

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