Defining digital and visual rhetoric

Chapter Two: Daily Life in Cyberspace - This article outlined the emergence of a new computer service in 1985 called WELL begun by Whole Earth publisher Stewart Brand. The charge for this service was originally $3.00 an hour. The public online service was launched because two people from a previous cultural revolution noticed that the technology of computer conferencing had potential beyond its then current uses of military, scientific and government communications. They originally wanted the WELL to become a vehicle for social change and used the WELL as a cultural experiment. They selected different individuals and offered them free accounts. Instead of advertising, they gave journalists free accounts to encourage them to drawn in new subscribers.

The original design goals of the WELL were:
1. It should be free or as cheap as they could make it.
2. It should make a profit.
3. It would be an open-ended universe.
4. It would be self-governing.
5. It would be a self-designing experiment.
6. It would be a community that reflected the nature of Whole Earth publications.
7. Business users would bring in the money, but that did not happen.

Nobody is anonymous on the WELL. Each user must attach their real userid to their postings.
The author goes on to describe several of the people he has met on the WELL site.

Virtual communities are places where people meet and they are the tools. Some people use the WELL for the community and friendships that have developed and others use it as an information source. Virtual communities' members are workers whose professional standing is based on what they know. A virtual community can be like a living encyclopedia where the members help each other. This is a great way for a large, diverse group of people to multiply their individual degree of expertise.

The premise of experts on the well is if you have a problem or questions concerning any topic, you pose it. Nothing may happen or you may receive the answer that is exactly what you need. The answer to your question may be found in the community librarian service or may be answered by another WELL member. Experts compete to solve problems. For only $2.00 an hour, you have access to your own think tank.

The evolution of the WELL and its' community was interesting but it was hard to follow the writing of the author.