October First Sunday In-Person

When
10/05/2025
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location
PSCC, Hardin Valley Road

Join us for a presentation by RET Member Carl Westman who will speak on "Rejuvenating the Non-Commercial Internet."

The Internet wasn't always commercialized. Its origins trace to time-sharing on networked computer systems used by educational, research, and military organizations. Today, the Web dominates the public perception of the Internet, yet its many benefits come with an increasingly heavy price in terms of surveillance, advertising, security holes, political polarization, and even environmental damage.

Although the public, non-commercial Internet was eclipsed by the Web,
it never quite died out - it's still around - and in recent years,
there has been a revival in interest in its communities both old (like
Gopher) and new (like Geminispace and the tildeverse). This talk will
explore what these corners of the Internet have to offer, and what
motivations are driving new users to spend some of their online time there.

Coffee and other hot beverages will be served. Bring a snack to share if you wish.

The meeting will be held in the cafeteria Annex of the Goins Administration Building. Please enter from the rear of the building to avoid interrupting other groups who may be using the rest of the building.

The link for the Zoom connection will be provided in announcement emails for members.