Reading: Real Costs by Michael Mandiberg and Short History of the Internet by Bruce Sterling

Mandiberg's website project, called "Oil Standard" uses the medium of the internet to its best advantage. Unlike any other medium, the unique browser used for "Oil Standard" is able to convert the prices directly and even adjust for the changing gas prices with time. Because this project is on the internet, the range of which the price conversions can be applied is limitless. Any product found on the internet that is expressed in US currency can be converted to barrels or percentage of a barrel by the unique browser. This project is interactive thanks to the capabilities of the internet. Not only can you convert any price you choose to barrels of oil, but when your curser goes over links, text may pop up giving you news on oil businesses and shortages around the world. The homepage itself has a page dedicated to oil facts, so that the viewer can educate themselves. The first fact reads, "Oil is the single largest component of the US trade deficit." This fits into the overal idea of informing people how expensive and limited gas is.

Although Sterlings, "Short History of the Internet" was written all the way back in 1993 when the internet was still new and still emerging in popularity, the points Sterling makes continue to relate to the internet, and probably always will. For example, the article says, "The internet belongs to everyone and no one." This is a phenomenom that defines the internet as a unique networking tool and will probably never change. He also states, "The internet is a rare example of a true, modern, functional anarchy." No one person or company rules over the internet; it works and thrives on an "anything goes" policy, and this is why people like it so much.

Because of the freedom of the internet, projects such as "Oil Standard" are able to spread their message to an unlimited number of people all accross the world. The internet is no longer a tool for the government or scientists and researchers only; it has expanded vastly since the first test network was created by ARPANET in 1971 when there were only 4 nodes in the network. By 1993, there were tens of thousands of nodes spread accross 42 countries, with three or four million users. These numbers have increased since then and they will continue to do so. This means for projects like "Oil Standard," the audience will continue to grow and their message will continue to get more exposure and recognition.