• kota [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Yea exactly, we desperately need to stop making new computers and repair the ones we already have. Computers have gotten millions of times faster in recent decades, but feel mostly the same as software have gotten millions of time slower. Gemini's goal isn't really to "replace" the web per say, but to be the best tool for sharing simple plain documents and information around (It's basically just updated gopher made by a lot of the gopher people). Obviously, for some of the web's uses (big ole forums, web apps, video sites, etc) gemini isn't useful and instead other software and protocols would need to be made to fill in those gaps. Arguing that gemini can't replace the web is like saying bikes can't replace cars, like yea obviously we'll also need trains, busses, and a solid public funding for transport. Also not everyone can or wants to ride bikes, but it doesn't mean bikes aren't cool and good for the people like them.

    With schools in particular I think it's really important they build their sites in an accessible and light weight manner. If you know people who work at a university or school you could bring up the fact that lots of people (including potential researchers and students in non-western coutries) still use extremely old unsupported android phones and DSL connections (or worse). One of my co-workers at my last job used to drive over to my house to download shit because his home internet is 3Mbits down on a good sunny day.

    This site is really good at getting the point across. https://whatdoesmysitecost.com/#gniCost

    • akakak [they/them]
      ·
      3 years ago

      That is a really good way of putting it as a percentage of GNI. Reminds me of danluu's blog posts on web bloat and web optimization.

      The developer admits it's not a replacement for the web. It's really a refuge for people sick of dealing with other people's design decisions. Something that puts the content first. One input I would like is from somebody who is visually impaired however. This is where gopher leaves a lot to be desired: http://ssb22.user.srcf.net/css/gopher.html . I imagine gemtext solves the issue of reflows though.

      Still the web is really useful especially for secure forms. There is alot of great work by developers that shouldn't been thrown out with the bathwater but under without any sort of practical restraints it has made the climate problem so much harder to solve.

      • kota [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Oh yea the reflow stuff is the best improvement of gemini imo, makes it possible to use on a phone. Also theres actually already a good number of blind or visually impaired people using gemini. I read this story recently gemini://the-brannons.com/linux-adventure/