Endnotes

¹ Returning to the original meaning built in the early discussions on the web, and beyond the later and more restricted versions of the concept (Hagel & Singer, 1999), we define infomediaries (see Mandelli, 2001) as systems that make the interaction of cognitive sub-systems (individual and second-level) possible and more efficient. These systems provide symbolic mediation (association), beyond functional connectivity. They were the media in the mass communication era. They are the new infomediaries (portals, communities, content sites on the web) in the Internet era.

² We use this concept (Mandelli, 1997, 1998) for describing the special logistics of information and relationships on the Internet, not constrained by geography anymore, but constrained by complexity.

³ The production of several versions of the same product in order to apply differential prices.

⁴ A lock-in occurs when a consumer is faced by switching costs, costs he will incurr only if he decides to switch supplier and brand. Among the lock-in strategies: loyalty programs, penetration pricing (free initial versions of the product with expensive upgrades).

⁵ Though this trend would be contrasted by the advertising-based business models of the infomediaries (Mandelli, 1999).

⁶ The World Internet Project is an international research project, promoted by 25 research institutions in the world, which studies the impact of the Internet on society. See www.worldinternetproject.net for details. The Italian section of the project is based at SDA Bocconi, the business school of Bocconi university in Milan, Italy.

⁷ Axelrod coined the phrase "shadow of the future" to describe the force that keeps a player cooperating, even when there is not immediate perceived utility coming out from this behavior, in light of future expected benefits.

⁸ We believe that the influence of time constraint might have not been captured by the operationalization of this concept in our model (answer to the question: "Do you feel busier than the average person?"). Further research on this issue is needed.