In the early days of the internet, many digital pioneers thought the new virtual technologies would offer new and innovative forms of point to point communication enabling deliberation and citizenship.  They also thought potential universal access and the ability to communicate information would make the internet a powerful tool for education.  Yet as often happens when innovative technologies are trapped in the socio-economic cultures that produce them, the internet and the associated technologies turned to serve commerce, marketing and entertainment better then democracy and education. 

In his presentation, Dr. Barber will examine the architecture and digital logic of new technologies to assess the democratic and educational potential and compare the results to the commercial realities that dominate the technologies today.  It will also suggest ways in which the democratic potential might be realized under current conditions.  In other words, it will employ a tough and realistic assessment of the technology to determine whether there is a case for democratic optimism.