The Evolution of Internet Goes Beyond Search

Although I find the tools learned in class extremely helpful and beneficial for increasing website visits, search-ability, and therefore profits, I wanted to focus on how the evolution of the Internet and social media goes beyond business. In the TedTalk: Robert Ebert: RemaAlthough I find the tools learned in class extremely helpful and beneficial for increasing website visits, search-ability, and therefore profits, I wanted to focus on how the evolution of the Internet and social media goes beyond business. In the TedTalk: Robert Ebert: Remaking My Voice (20min. on Hulu.com), Robert Ebert describes the process by which he communicates now after several surgeries and the loss of his voice.

At first he wrote messages in notebooks, but found he was able to type faster than write, and moved on to typing words into a laptop and using a built in computer voice. Ebert describes the process of trying out different computer voices and the odd sense of speaking through someone else’s voice. His favorite voice is currently the Alex Voice by Apple because it knows punctuation and is able to integrate it into the fluctuation of the computer voice. Most recently Ebert contacted a group in Scotland who makes custom computer voices. He sent them several clips from his TV shows and commentaries. The company was able to piece together a voice that sounds much more like Ebert’s however, the fluctuation and emphasis of each word is a bit sporadic, which makes for an uneven sounding sentences. Ebert continues to use the Alex Voice as the Scotland-based company continues to tweak Ebert’s voice based on pre-recorded copies.

The most touching part of his story was his description of how the evolution of the Internet, along with Facebook, Twitter, email, and Blogs have given him back his voice – he can speak again and relies on these tools for his daily existence. Another point he makes is that online – everyone speaks at the same speed – not all people are patient enough for Ebert to type his thoughts and wait for Alex to speak them outloud in real-time. This is irrelevant for Internet use. Ebert concludes by reflecting on the terrible isolation he would feel if he was not living during this time, with these tools. He describes how his ability to think and write has not changed because technology has given him the ability to express himself.

I was very touched by this presentation and began to think…how can we expand this? How can businesses, hospitals, nonprofits, etc. maximize their use of these tools not only for business purposes but for the benefit of human health and communication? Thoughts? Experiences?