There are still important differences in the
way content is generated as well. The print tradition of knowledge creation
tends to require more research, reflection and refinement in the process of
transforming an idea from impulse to public distribution. The online environment
encourages instant, reflexive responses. So the Internet as we know it has
two powerful functions: as conveyor of its own immediate data, and as an extraordinary
portal to traditional repositories of knowledge: the published books, reports,
journalism, legal briefs and scholarly articles.