MultiSpace Kris Ericksen 2005 (c)
The internet can be defined as consisting of a "multi-space" of how (and whether) users can view (V), submit (S) or modify (M) information on a web site.
The level of "access" to each of these attributes (VSM) can be defined as follows:
- owner - the person or organisation that has set up the web pages. They have full viewing, submission and modification rights. This can be labled 0 for each attribute.
- inner - the "inner group" of users that have been directly authorised to view, and/or submit to and/or modify private sections of a site. For each attribute this direct authorisation can be labled: 1
- outer - "friends of friends" - two degrees of separation from the owner. For each attribute this indirect authorisation can be labled: 2
- public - any internet user. For each attribute this indirect authorisation is labled: n - (for infinity)
For simplicity only four classes of users are discussed. There could, however, be as many layers as required, although I suspect that at four or five degrees of separation this is effectively public!
Fig 1: Graphical representation of the "logical" VSM space on the internet
A numerical VSM "code" can then be used to classify each type of "page" on the internet:
Type of web space
## VSM
Type
Type1 n00Traditional open access website
n00Traditional open access website2 200Subscription web site - view information
200Subscription web site - view information3 100Intranet - information only
100Intranet - information only4 000Private site - personal info or private journal
000Private site - personal info or private journal5 n10Invitation only forum/blog, but viewable by public
n10Invitation only forum/blog, but viewable by public6 210Invitation only forum, but viewable by registered users
210Invitation only forum, but viewable by registered users7 110Guest book on password protected site (bright)
110Guest book on password protected site (bright)8 010Link to n10,210, or 110 - only viewable on owners site by owner
010Link to n10,210, or 110 - only viewable on owners site by owner9 n20Registration required before submission
n20Registration required before submission10220Registration required before submission - only viewable by registered users
220Registration required before submission - only viewable by registered users11120Link shared by inner group to outer group forum
120Link shared by inner group to outer group forum12020Link to n20, 220 or 120 - only viewable on owners site by owner
020Link to n20, 220 or 120 - only viewable on owners site by owner13nn0Guest book on web site
nn0Guest book on web site142n0Link shared by outer group to public forum
2n0Link shared by outer group to public forum151n0Link shared by inner group to public forum
1n0Link shared by inner group to public forum160n0Email
0n0Email17n11Club info site that club members can modify, but viewable by public
n11Club info site that club members can modify, but viewable by public18211Club info site that club members can modify, but viewable by people with related interests
211Club info site that club members can modify, but viewable by people with related interests19111Club info site that only club members can modify & view
111Club info site that only club members can modify & view20n21Club info site that club members can modify, but registered users can submit material, viewable by public
n21Club info site that club members can modify, but registered users can submit material, viewable by public21221Club info site that club members can modify, but registered users can submit material, viewable by registered users
221Club info site that club members can modify, but registered users can submit material, viewable by registered users22121Link shared by inner group to outer group forum
121Link shared by inner group to outer group forum23nn1Club info site that club members can modify, links to info from public sites, public can view
nn1Club info site that club members can modify, links to info from public sites, public can view242n1Club info site that club members can modify, links to info from public sites, registered users can view
2n1Club info site that club members can modify, links to info from public sites, registered users can view251n1Club info site that club members can modify, links to info from public sites, club/inner only can view OR "Group mail"
1n1Club info site that club members can modify, links to info from public sites, club/inner only can view OR "Group mail"26n22Registered users can submit and modify information, viewable by public
n22Registered users can submit and modify information, viewable by public27222Registered users can submit and modify information, viewable by other registered users
222Registered users can submit and modify information, viewable by other registered users28nn2Public can submit information, registered users can modify, viewable by public
nn2Public can submit information, registered users can modify, viewable by public292n2Registered users can modify information on site that comes from other public sites, viewable by other registered users
2n2Registered users can modify information on site that comes from other public sites, viewable by other registered users30nnnPublic can submit, modify, and view information
nnnPublic can submit, modify, and view informationExamples of different VSMs:
#VSM
VSM 3 100Company intranet site
100Company intranet site4 000Private online journal
000Private online journal6 210
2107 110
1108 010
01010220Dating sites
220Dating sites11120
12012020
02013nn0
nn0142n0
2n0151n0
1n018211
21119111
11120n21
n2121221
22122121
12123nn1
nn1242n1
2n1251n1
1n126n22
n2227222
22228nn2
nn2292n2
2n2Excel spreadsheet that "maps" the three planes of the matrix.
Given a suitably secure form of logging onto the internet a user would need only one password to access their own "web portal" that then gives them access to all their private or restricted web sites: e.g. Joe Bloggs. They would become the center of their own web universe - a CenterVerse.
