Travel back in time with me to the very first web site award, which is not certain, but whose intent surely had purposes. The purposes may also not be certain but probably included the following considerations: community, common interests, knowledge and learning experiences, service to others and information retrieval.
When the Internet was in its infancy, before the World Wide Web, main frames were populated by research persons, policy decision makers and national security considerations. These persons exchanged ideas, published papers and commented in a coherent manner or discussion thread. Email too, which came a little later. Personal computers were very expensive, relative to average income. Then the first "affordable" PC, graphical browsers became more plentiful and prices fell. Finally many more people could communicate with each other, the World Wide Web was born and mass world wide communication was possible, via a personal computer. With pictures and information, relevant to individual needs of continuing education and skill development.
The impersonal nature of the infant World Wide was sparse and distant participants lead to reaching out for a common purpose, reason for being or simply a community of interests. Ideas were shared, nurtured, expanded and refined. Those communities split, grew again, communicated with each other and the World Wide Web started a never ending march toward explosive growth. Limited only by expense, ease of use and personal changing habits.
Part time efforts became full time internet enterprises, patterned after successful community building experiences, continued to grow, split and then expand again. In different directions. With different methods as the computer world which includes software for both personal and web building continued to be developed and evolve.
Some where in this beginning, a community building effort encompassed the creation of an excellent graphic which would identify groups of persons, links were reciprocal, the graphic became coined as an "award" and others began to offer "awards" to build alternative communities and an explosive growth began. But the realities of both time and talent required set in, "awards" were abandoned, others took their place.
Then someone wrote "I want to award those who share a common purpose. To receive my award simply read the following and if you comply, make an application."
Certainly there were those who grasped the value of community building via an "award" but wished to set out more exacting requirements. They developed criteria's to make uniform and valued determinations as to "earning" their awards. Others who wished to do the same were drawn to the idea of offering resources and providing their own formal award program. Each participant espoused individual wants and desires, provided teaching and learning resources and refined their individual common goals and ideals. Award groups were formed. Either by nation or international in scope.
By grouping or clustering of web site award givers a thought was to provide a more visible presence, realizing that the sum total of the whole, is greater than the parts. An inevitable formation of alternative approaches developed. Resulting in departure from one group to the other, or dual membership. Initially all groups of award givers grew rather than merely shifting membership. Other groups were also formed.
The earth shook, group focus shifted. Teutonic plates rearranged themselves. The dynamics of the communities faltered as early pioneers left for health or other reasons. The various groups whose forums provided an excellent exchange of ideas, refinement of thought and built community, fell into silence. Unification was shifted to a great undertaking realized, Award Community News (ACN), the World's Top Award (WTA) was abandoned and the award community was being lost in the vast wilderness of the World Wide Web.
Historically the communication revolution is traced to the computer; Moore's Law which stated that computer chip power would double every 18 months but we have seen that it is actually happening much faster; the Photon Law which says that bandwidth triples every year which results in what some experts believe that in a completely networked world which would be virtually free in 10 years or factually as of this writing over a billion Internet users worldwide is expected to rise to about 1.5 billion in the next three years.
This revolution is the longest lasting when compared to the Industrial Revolution, but realizing that we are beginning a third phase of the Industrial Revolution, titled hydrogen harnessed. The Communication Revolution is too beginning another phase, which according to Bill Gates (Microsoft) is about new "unified communications" innovations that will dramatically streamline the way we communicate at work and stay in touch with friends and family at home. While Robert W. McChesney argues that with the Internet and wireless technology set to overtake traditional media, we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a more egalitarian communication system. But those in professional journalism recognize that a concentration in global communication in the hands of few, rather than many is a danger to a free flow of information, diverse opinions and honest discussion.
Web site awards owners are thrust into this mix of change which are varied and not complimentary. They are not becoming lost in the tides of change. Rather the hobbyist web site award owner, their associations entrusted with ethical behavior and protection of copyright and communities which promote making the world wide web a better place for everyone have become more relevant.
Rather than fighting against the tides of "change" web site award owners, roll with the tide. While at the same time are seizing bold new initiatives. Among which are sharpening communication and evaluation skills, enlisting voluntary staff outside of the award community. Honoring those whom they recognize through their individual award programs in mass media such as the Award Community News (ACN), their community forums are become alive with a renewed conviction of original intent and local community news papers, radio and television receive well written laudations. Their renewed spirit set by example of early founders is just now being reshaped.
Within the Award Program (AP) community there are several programs in place which lend themselves to "branding" or a focus point for accumulation of the vast resources, individualized definitions of what constitutes an exceptional web site, uniform standards for group memberships, the diversity of approaches and a many faceted approach which with certainty will give either a person new to web building or a seasoned professional pause for thinking outside of the box and a mass of critical thinking.
The Award Community consists of many organizations whose primary purpose is to assist persons new to the creation of a website presence and introduce them to the wonderful world of award giving and award program creation. We call this Help Now.
This inclusive approach by all organizations will provide peer to peer assistance, resources, areas of interest, expertise, tutorials, web master tricks and tips, it is open ended, by linking in a meaningful way the vast resources within each organization and their individual memberships, subject only to the submission and editorial policies (TOS) of each organization.
As of this writing only three award rating groups, which is but a fraction of those alive and well today, have embraced the Help Now International Resources cooperative endeavor. Each member of those three respective groups, members of Award Community News (ACN) and the public at large are encouraged to enlist the participation of all award rating groups not yet represented.
During the summer of 2006, adults involved in giving website awards published an illustrated book. The little book is not just for infants, but for adults too. A receiver and giver can learn simple truths. Therefore our ABC Book of Award Givers is dedicated to the child in each of us.
At the conclusion of the ABC book campaign, several participants made selective submissions to on line publishing venues which included 'Teacher Resources." Reported uses included a resource for understanding words award program owners use; a furtherance of how to build an effective web presence; what to look for when assessing the reliability of information found on the World Wide Web, just to mention a few.
We are now poised to start 2009 off with a bang and make substantially more submissions to those who are involved in our public school systems in the world. Each original participant might also consider doing the same.
Everything written in and for ACN is spidered, indexed and made available within usually a few hours. All positive information which highlights out our commitment, honors our award winners, spells out the fact that as a community we are international, is "branding" of the highest order. If every member now present voluntarily committed to assisting one more non participant in a year, our actions would certainly speak louder than words. Patting yourself and whom you added would be a grand touch of magic.
To say that activity in the individual forums could be stimulated for the betterment of us all, would be an understatement. But all of us realize that even though a forum posting may not receive an answer, readership is much more than we might expect. Then too, participation the various forums is structured by the participants, rather than the moderator. Also bearing ones soul in asking for a peer to peer review is always entered into with trepidation.
I would almost borrow a line for current thinking about government in general. Throughout the world. Take a real hard look at existing programs. If they work, determine not only why, but how to make them even more successful. Take a real hard look at new initiatives too. But only after a complete inventory and assessment of existing programs.
"The fellow that can only see a week ahead is always the popular fellow, for he is looking with the crowd. But the one that can see years ahead, he has a telescope but he can't make anybody believe that he has it." Will Rogers (1879-1935).
Author: Robert D. Lancaster, Copyright 290125