This Week in Startups E1111: Brewster Kahle on archiving the entire Internet, creating the Wayback Machine, protocols over platforms, microschools & more
Sep 18, 2020
Brewster Kahle, a digital librarian and founder of the Internet Archive, discusses his groundbreaking work in creating the Wayback Machine. He emphasizes the importance of preserving digital content amid copyright challenges, advocating for universal access to information. Kahle highlights the nostalgia of classic video games and the impact of the app revolution on ephemeral content. He also explores innovative approaches to education through microschools and the potential of experimentation in driving social change, all while stressing the role of libraries in cultural preservation.
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Building a Universal Library
- Brewster Kahle's career theme involves building a universal library, inspired by the Library of Alexandria and visionaries like Vannevar Bush.
- His work has spanned commercial ventures and the non-profit Internet Archive, reflecting the internet's evolution.
Internet Content's Lack of Redundancy
- Unlike physical books distributed across libraries, internet content is often siloed and lost when companies fail.
- Jason Calacanis points out that websites, unlike the internet's redundant structure, lack content redundancy.
Disappearing Content
- Brewster Kahle recounts the disappearance of content from platforms like Yahoo Video and Google Video.
- He highlights the risk of relying on platforms for preservation and the Internet Archive's role in mitigating this.
