24 Hours in Cyberspace
Encyclopedia
24 Hours in Cyberspace was "the largest one-day online event" up to that date, headed by photographer Rick Smolan
. "The project brought together the world's top photographers, editors, programmers, and interactive designers to create a digital time capsule of online life."
maintained by Georgia Tech
). At the time, it was billed as the "largest collaborative Internet
event ever", involving thousands of photographers from all over the world, including 150 of the world's top photojournalists. Then Second Lady
Tipper Gore
was one of its photographers. In addition, then Vice President
Al Gore
contributed the introductory essay to the Earthwatch section of the website. In this essay, he discusses the impact of the Internet
on the environment
, education
, and increased communication between people.
The goal was not to show pictures of website
s and computer
monitors, but rather images of people whose lives were affected by the use of the growing Internet. Photographs were sent digitally to editors
working real-time to choose the best pictures to put on the project's website. The website received more than 4 million hits in the 24 hours that the project was active.
24 Hours in Cyberspace served as a cover story for U.S. News and World Report.
The project reportedly cost as much as $5 million, and was funded with assistance from 50 companies, mostly in the form of loans of computer hardware
and technology
experts. Adobe Systems
, Sun Microsystems
and Kodak were listed as major supporters.
's National Museum of American History
on 23 January 1997, featuring 70 photos from the project. It was introduced by then Vice President
Al Gore
who was also given a copy of the book and CD.
The exhibit is "now included in an historic collection which includes the original Star-Spangled Banner and the slippers worn by Judy Garland
in The Wizard of Oz
."
Rick Smolan
Rick Smolan is an American photographer. He is CEO of Against All Odds Productions.-Background:Smolan is a 1972 graduate of Dickinson College. He has worked for TIME, LIFE and National Geographic...
. "The project brought together the world's top photographers, editors, programmers, and interactive designers to create a digital time capsule of online life."
Overview
24 Hours in Cyberspace was an online project which took place on the then-active website, cyber24.com (and is still online at a mirror websiteMirror (computing)
In computing, a mirror is an exact copy of a data set. On the Internet, a mirror site is an exact copy of another Internet site.Mirror sites are most commonly used to provide multiple sources of the same information, and are of particular value as a way of providing reliable access to large downloads...
maintained by Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
). At the time, it was billed as the "largest collaborative Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
event ever", involving thousands of photographers from all over the world, including 150 of the world's top photojournalists. Then Second Lady
Second Lady of the United States
Second lady of the United States is an informal title for the wife of the vice president of the United States, coined in contrast to the first lady ....
Tipper Gore
Tipper Gore
Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
was one of its photographers. In addition, then Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
contributed the introductory essay to the Earthwatch section of the website. In this essay, he discusses the impact of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
on the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and increased communication between people.
The goal was not to show pictures of website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s and computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
monitors, but rather images of people whose lives were affected by the use of the growing Internet. Photographs were sent digitally to editors
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
working real-time to choose the best pictures to put on the project's website. The website received more than 4 million hits in the 24 hours that the project was active.
24 Hours in Cyberspace served as a cover story for U.S. News and World Report.
The project reportedly cost as much as $5 million, and was funded with assistance from 50 companies, mostly in the form of loans of computer hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
experts. Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
, Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
and Kodak were listed as major supporters.
Book
A companion book was published in 1996. It contains two hundred photographs from the over 200,000 which were taken on that day. It also contains a CD with the full contents of the original website.Smithsonian
A photographic exhibition was unveiled at the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
on 23 January 1997, featuring 70 photos from the project. It was introduced by then Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
who was also given a copy of the book and CD.
The exhibit is "now included in an historic collection which includes the original Star-Spangled Banner and the slippers worn by Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
."
External links
- Mirror of Official site map
- Mirror of Official Site
- Life in Cyberspace—Way Back When -American HeritageAmerican Heritage (magazine)American Heritage is a quarterly magazine dedicated to covering the history of the United States for a mainstream readership. Until 2007, the magazine was published by Forbes. Since that time, Edwin S...
- "Casting a Web on the World" - Washington Post
- Interview about 24 Hours in Cyberspace
- The Net's Strange Day - Time Magazine
-
- Freedom and the Internet as expressed thru the 24 Hours in Cyberspace project - Rick SmolanRick SmolanRick Smolan is an American photographer. He is CEO of Against All Odds Productions.-Background:Smolan is a 1972 graduate of Dickinson College. He has worked for TIME, LIFE and National Geographic...
- Freedom and the Internet as expressed thru the 24 Hours in Cyberspace project - Rick Smolan