Beyond Hype

The current issue of Telepolis *discretely* opens a new chapter. This is
Telepolis version 2.0 with an altered appearance. However, we do not
want to call this a 're-launch'. Our intention was to build on almost
two years of experience in web publishing and reduce this on-line medium
to its core qualities, to stream-line our data, create flexibility, make
it easy to overlook and navigate through - without neglecting the
aesthetic qualities. If we did succeed will be decided by you, the
readers. The reduction seemed to be a necessary step. No more frames
which split the screen into a small grid where one square transports the
content (which one again?). No animated gifs blinking for attention. And
we do not intend to *push* any content through *channels* how some web
publishers like to put it. The generally neglected qualities of HTML
should be sufficient to display the pages of your interest onto your
screen. But the visual shaping up does in no way relate to conceptual
changes. You might have guessed: the new appearance has been breeding
behind the scene for some time. And it took such a long time because
with over 800 articles in the archive and a complex structure of links
between them it became increasingly complex. We will continue to work on
the depth of content. One step towards that direction is the 'forum'
which has always been part of the concept and eventually could be
realised. It gives you the possibility to comment on, criticise and
discuss articles.

The internet had it's hype. It's about time to enter a more stable phase
- which is needed to establish something which can call itself 'net
culture'. We feel committed to this idea - going beyond hype, beyond
cheap promises of digital paradise and paranoid threats of a digital
dark age.

The current "special issue" in telepolis is about "art". The english
section also features articles about the new german multimedia law and
eastern european topics.

Please come to our site and use the forum as an open platform for your
comments, critique, information. Proposals for articles and web-works
are also welcome. Please use my personal Email adress
armin@easynet.co.uk for such proposals.