Response to the First Half of "Geography of the Internet Industry"

This is an interesting book for me who has never imagined that theories in geography can be used to analyze the Internet industry. The consumption of the Internet content may be "placeless" as long as the access is available. The supply side, as demonstrated by the author, is definitely not, but clusters around regions where a network of resources (capital, skilled labor, infrastructure, etc) is well in place to facilitate innovations and knowledge transfer.

The distinction between codified (know-what, know-why) and tacit (know-how, know-who) knowledge is very important. "While capital ... provided the fuel for many Internet companies, in many ways it was the transmission of the tacit knowledge of the venture capitalist that was perceived as the more valuable element. In the end, it is precisely this variation in regions' venture capital systems to create and transmit tacit knowledge that is central to understanding the geography of the Internet industry." (p58) I think that the distinct nature of tacit knowledge can also help answer question in other areas of research such as political communication where "political knowledge" is an often used variable.