Public spaces and programs that are developed on the internet have become feudalised due to the use of these ‘Walled Gardens.’ These ‘Walled Gardens’ are programs such as Facebook or Youtube that trigger people’s interests due to past searchers or keywords. These spaces have been closed off so that information keeps being filtered into the programs to constantly grow and be made into further data stored online. The Feudal Lords, owners of such programs and devices that watch over the user’s actions and the meta data they create makes profit flow into the Owners devices/programs.
A classic example of this would be the Owner of Microsoft, Bill Gates. Bill Gates has centred all his devices including computers, consoles and phones to only be accessible to windows apps and programs while given a major advantage to further installations. An example of this is Windows 10 being free for user’s with windows software computers. The more user’s establish themselves online that begin to become the pet that generates the work while the Lords stand back and watch over.
Reference: Mitew, T 2014, The Feudalisation of the Internet [part 1], Online Video, YouTube, viewed 3 September 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1IEq3uHKh8&list=PLiPp71qLKusXOU1bKxHVappCbRNN3-J-j&index=19
Mitew, T 2014, The Feudalisation of the Internet [part 2], Online Video, YouTube, viewed 3 September 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=626Rtg_S0n0&list=PLiPp71qLKusXOU1bKxHVappCbRNN3-J-j&index=20
Mitew, T 2014, The Feudalisation of the Internet [part 3], Online Video, YouTube, viewed 3 September 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fm–tHw8To&list=PLiPp71qLKusXOU1bKxHVappCbRNN3-J-j&index=21
Mitew, T 2014, The Feudalisation of the Internet [part 4], Online Video, YouTube, viewed 3 September 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvJjo3rhSLA&index=22&list=PLiPp71qLKusXOU1bKxHVappCbRNN3-J-j
Mitew, T 2014, The Feudalisation of the Internet [part 5], Online Video, YouTube, viewed 3 September 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpFPC8N6IrQ&index=23&list=PLiPp71qLKusXOU1bKxHVappCbRNN3-J-j
The Blogger Life 
Microsoft is a really excellent example of the whole ‘walled garden’ paradigm we are increasingly becoming entrapped in. I own a Windows computer myself, and I’ve noticed how Microsoft is increasingly making efforts to organize, or ‘streamline’ its other brands (eg. Xbox, Outlook, Skype etc) on the dashboard so that we can ‘conveniently’ conduct every aspect of our lives from one location. Although admittedly this does life easier, it is pretty scary to consider the huge amount of control Microsoft actually possesses over its users.
This article (http://www.wired.com/2011/05/microsoft-buys-skype-2/) gives an interesting account of Microsoft and its acquisitions of a variety of companies, Skype in particular. Whilst many of these purchases appear to be unnecessary, the author suggests that something more sinister is at play, that is, Microsoft would prefer to own these businesses rather than let them fall into the hands of Google or Facebook. Again this raises concerning questions of power and control, and I believe that we are increasingly going to see the internet becoming increasingly centralized as a result of the huge economic power that these ‘walled gardens’ possess. Do you share this opinion? I’d love to hear!
I love the video, it really shows how much technology has developed over the past few years and how it will grow so dramatically in the younger generational years. I do feel as though the ‘Lords’ can play a more active role in this process as they usually play the role of the gatekeeper online (within centralised networks anyway) The ‘Walled Gardens’ and the Stacks are this hierarchical model with more censorship and control compared to a distributed network on the internet. i feel as though we need to very aware of humanising of technology this cyborg styled computer applications such as Siri and talk back programs are amazing!
Nice blog post! 🙂
Hey Eloise!
Nice blog you have here. You quickly described what Walled Gardens are and I like how you have brought Microsoft products into the discussion, seeing as they are a perfect example. The only thing I would say is to go back and read your blog over just to make sure it makes sense. I had a little trouble understanding some bits but I got the whole in the end.
Nice Work!
Love how you managed to simply explain what a Walled Garden is and how it effects our metadata over time. I presume the video was meant to be a whole ‘new age this is all exciting wow look at the future type thing’ but honestly it’s a little terrifying!