Tim Berners-Lee last week received the "Freedom of the
Information Technologists" award from the Information
Technologists' Company, a City of London livery
company.
The award was made not only to recognise his inventing the World
Wide Web, but also for putting social responsibility at the heart
of the web's development.
Speaking in London, Berners-Lee said, "I feel honoured to be
given an award by a Company whose members do so much to bring the
benefits of technology into the lives of the disadvantaged.
“In my view, the power of the web is in its universality. Access
by everyone, regardless of disability, is an essential aspect of
this. I am very pleased to see the Information Technologists’
Company spreading a similar message for technology as a whole
through its work with schools and charities.
“I firmly believe it is the task of scientists and technologists
to be aware of, and be responsible for, the social implications of
their work,” he continued.
“The Information Technologists’ Company demonstrates how this
principle can be put into practice for the good of the needy and
underprivileged.”
John Leighfield, a former IT Director of British Leyland and
Master of the Information Technologists’ Company said, “Our Company
has great admiration for Tim’s work, not just in inventing the web
but for all he has since done, through the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C), to put the concept of social responsibility at
the heart of its ongoing development. We are delighted to present
him with this award.”
The Information Technologists' Company, formerly known as the
Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, comprises 650
senior IT professionals who promote the IT profession and initiate
a range of charitable and educational activities.
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