There have always been people in society who help others just because they can - the cub scout leader, the charity volunteer, the community clean up group, they all contribute to making the world a better place. The same thing happens in the world of technology. It's called the Open Source movement, and it's a growing influence on the way we all use computers.

One of the most remarkable features of the internet is the way it took shape. No single company or individual came up with the idea, patented it, and built it. Since its origins many years ago, the internet has been a collaboration between computer scientists around the world, made possible by the open, non-proprietary nature of the technology on which it's built.