Steven Johnson: The Web as a city

The speaker reflects on the events of 9/11 and its impact on urban density, drawing parallels between city resilience and emergent behavior on the web. He discusses the evolution of web interactivity from simple linking to complex collective decision-making, highlighting tools like Google and Technorati. The talk explores how emergent systems and power laws shape the blogosphere, emphasizing the potential for planned emergence to democratize voices online.

What changes in the web ecosystem does the author discuss in relation to interactivity?

What is the significance of Technorati in the context of the author's discussion on blogs?

How does the author describe the relationship between links and authority in the blogosphere?

What does the author mean by 'planned emergence' in the context of the blogosphere?