Alex Wright on Informatica
The Informed Life
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The Alternation Between Networked and Hierarchical Structures and Their Disruption
New disruptive technologies often arise during conflicts between network systems. The web itself functioned as a loose network, resembling oral cultures. However, hierarchical systems coexist and challenge these networks. For example, the printing press challenged the power of the Roman Catholic Church, leading to societal disruptions. Similarly, the web disrupted traditional knowledge brokers like publishers and record companies. Yet, new hierarchies, such as big tech companies, have emerged. This back and forth between networks and hierarchies is a dynamic that continues to shape society.
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