Web 'in its infancy', parent says

30 April 2008

The world-wide web is still in its infancy, its creator, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has told BBC News.

"The web has been a tremendous tool for people to do a lot of good," he said. "The experience of international collaboration continues".

He added that he was optimistic about the web's future, and believes that it will provide users with "all the data in the world".

For a separate article, the BBC invited 10 'internet luminaries' to discuss the future of the web. Google's VP of engineering Kai-Fu Lee said: "I'm very optimistic that cloud computing will make the web easier to use.

"I do believe that [we need] to overcome the challenge that people have to feel comfortable sharing their private data online and that online companies have to continue to be responsible to not betray the trust that users have placed in them," he added.

Mozilla chairman Mitchell Baker said: "In 15 years the web will be everywhere; in ways we don't know."

Both articles come ahead of what the BBC says is the web's 15th birthday, but writing in his Guardian blog, Jack Schofield pointed out that the corporation has previously celebrated that milestone, in August 2006.

Category: Google, Other