Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Whats new for the Internet?
I came across an article at ReadWriteWeb.com by Richard MacManus and thought it would make a delightful read for you guys. Here’s a summary of the article and my additional thoughts on how the trends will probably span out.
Semantic Web
It’s Tim Bernes Lee’s dream of a Web where a meta data layer exists for all data on the Web, which essentially enables machines to communicate. The possibilities are immense with many meaning-based search engines, such as Hakia.com and Powerset, waiting to cash in on the new Web. There are also companies like Applied Semantics (acquired by Google, which claims it isn’t into semantics), Ontoprise, and Inxight that are getting semantic products ready.
Artificial Intelligence
These two words have been the “in-and-out” buzz since the early days of computing. But here, the only trend that I see in the future is more “unintelligent” methods getting implemented to an extent that seem to mimic intelligence. Intelligence is a far call. My basic argument is that intelligence is the product of the human mind, and unless we unravel the human mind completely, we can only construct machines that mimic human activity.
Virtual worlds
This is one real hot area in the future of the Web. With enhanced graphics and immersive worlds, social interactions in the virtual world will see lot of growth. The future may hold virtual worlds as an extension to the social networks as we know them today.
Mobile
Today is the age of the mega-phones and the future is bound to have better and more powerful gadgets that could make the desktop obsolete. Mobiles top my list of trend centers to watch out for. Apart from mega-storage capacities and power processors, innovative UI features will be uber-cool. The iPhone is just a little indication of that trend.
Attention economy
The attention economy has been thriving since the Web began., and it will gain more dominance as services get exclusively planned for people’s attention. Your attention will become a more marketable commodity with services coming as an incentive. This is the trend that has made Google what it is today, and definitely more companies are going to make the shift.
Web sites as Web services
Both on the enterprise side and the consumer side, Web services are fast gaining momentum. This is another reason why I think the desktop is bound to fade out. More and more content will be accessible off the Net. Issues relating to data privacy are the only thorns in the way.
Rich Internet applications
Adobe, Microsoft, Google, and Mozilla Foundation have all indicated towards incorporating features that merge the desktop and the Web to give users “Web-tops,” which are applications that seamlessly run off the Web with offline features that ensure a smooth experience rather than a disconnected reality.
Internationalization
The Web will be more global with sufficient innovations and contributions coming from across the world. Another trend in internationalization will be more links between governments and the Internet, as more services become accessible via the Web, and also in governments realizing the repercussions of the Web as a power tool.
Online video / Internet TV
Online video is the most visible trend in this generation of the Internet. The future will see better quality content with more power compression being delivered at faster speeds. Content searching will become more pronounced (and it will be way more accurate than meta-tag searching).
Personalization
This is one area where there are two stark possibilities. One is what I call the “iGoogle-way,” with service providers hunting for more and more data on users for targeted services. The other trend is where a set of services will be available that do not rely on user-specific data. A few search engines are already touting themselves as highly relevant and at the same time user agnostic. Also, the dismal support in the Internet’s architecture for security will have a heavy effect on how user data is made available for personalized services.
Semantic Web
It’s Tim Bernes Lee’s dream of a Web where a meta data layer exists for all data on the Web, which essentially enables machines to communicate. The possibilities are immense with many meaning-based search engines, such as Hakia.com and Powerset, waiting to cash in on the new Web. There are also companies like Applied Semantics (acquired by Google, which claims it isn’t into semantics), Ontoprise, and Inxight that are getting semantic products ready.
Artificial Intelligence
These two words have been the “in-and-out” buzz since the early days of computing. But here, the only trend that I see in the future is more “unintelligent” methods getting implemented to an extent that seem to mimic intelligence. Intelligence is a far call. My basic argument is that intelligence is the product of the human mind, and unless we unravel the human mind completely, we can only construct machines that mimic human activity.
Virtual worlds
This is one real hot area in the future of the Web. With enhanced graphics and immersive worlds, social interactions in the virtual world will see lot of growth. The future may hold virtual worlds as an extension to the social networks as we know them today.
Mobile
Today is the age of the mega-phones and the future is bound to have better and more powerful gadgets that could make the desktop obsolete. Mobiles top my list of trend centers to watch out for. Apart from mega-storage capacities and power processors, innovative UI features will be uber-cool. The iPhone is just a little indication of that trend.
Attention economy
The attention economy has been thriving since the Web began., and it will gain more dominance as services get exclusively planned for people’s attention. Your attention will become a more marketable commodity with services coming as an incentive. This is the trend that has made Google what it is today, and definitely more companies are going to make the shift.
Web sites as Web services
Both on the enterprise side and the consumer side, Web services are fast gaining momentum. This is another reason why I think the desktop is bound to fade out. More and more content will be accessible off the Net. Issues relating to data privacy are the only thorns in the way.
Rich Internet applications
Adobe, Microsoft, Google, and Mozilla Foundation have all indicated towards incorporating features that merge the desktop and the Web to give users “Web-tops,” which are applications that seamlessly run off the Web with offline features that ensure a smooth experience rather than a disconnected reality.
Internationalization
The Web will be more global with sufficient innovations and contributions coming from across the world. Another trend in internationalization will be more links between governments and the Internet, as more services become accessible via the Web, and also in governments realizing the repercussions of the Web as a power tool.
Online video / Internet TV
Online video is the most visible trend in this generation of the Internet. The future will see better quality content with more power compression being delivered at faster speeds. Content searching will become more pronounced (and it will be way more accurate than meta-tag searching).
Personalization
This is one area where there are two stark possibilities. One is what I call the “iGoogle-way,” with service providers hunting for more and more data on users for targeted services. The other trend is where a set of services will be available that do not rely on user-specific data. A few search engines are already touting themselves as highly relevant and at the same time user agnostic. Also, the dismal support in the Internet’s architecture for security will have a heavy effect on how user data is made available for personalized services.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Keeping Tabs on Web 2.0
The companies and services involved in Web2.0 is expanding exponentially! These guys have attempted to make it easier for you by categorizing Web2.0 in different ways:
eConsultant: Web 2.0 Directory - It appears not to have been updated in nearly a year, and is (hopefully) the only inclusion on this list that's not up-to-date. But because eConsultant's massive list is categorized so well, it is still very helpful.
NEOBinaries - These guys keep a large, categorized list of web 2.0 sites on hand, updated Monday - Friday.
BuzzShout - BuzzShout is similar to NEOBinaries -- a big list of web 2.0 companies that you can rate and review. Nicely categorized.
Go2Web2.0 - A really great flash-based list organized by tags, and a displayed using a dizzying array of logos. Clicking on a logo brings up a concise overview of that company or application.
All Things Web 2.0 - This is where Christian Mayaud's Sacred Cow Dung list ended up. It's mostly up-to-date and obsessively categorized.
Web2.0List - Categorized by tags, Web2.0List is just what it sounds like.
Web2.0Logo - A sister site to Web2.0List, but this time with an emphasis on logos.
Dexly - Dexly tracks over 3,000 web 2.0 companies in 53 categories, including blogs that write about web 2.0 (like this one).
SimpleSpark - SimpleSpark lists web applications and is adding apps at a frenetic pace. They launched in May and earlier this month crossed the 3,000 applications mark.
FeedMyApp - The new kid on the block, FeedMyApp launched just this month but already lists 299 apps in 36 categories.
HappyCodr - HappyCodr is a list of Ruby on Rails-powered web sites. It's not strictly about web 2.0, but given web 2.0's infatuation with Rails you'll find a lot of neat web apps and social sites on the list (mixed in with the occasional content site backed by a Rails-based CMS).
Startup Search - Startup Search takes a different approach than the other lists in this round up, focusing on the people and funding behind web 2.0 companies rather than on the products.
Museum of Modern Betas - MoMB is a great daily blog by Saurier Duval about all things beta.
eHub - Emily Chang's eHub is another must read daily blog covering new web 2.0 sites.
Everything 2.0 - Bob Stumpel's link blog is yet another great daily look at new web 2.0 companies.
TechCrunch Company Index - Speaking of great blogs, our friends over at TechCrunch review a lot of web 2.0 companies. Luckily for us, they tag each one and arrange all the tags into a helpful company index.
Listio's Everything Web 2.0 Directory - Listio's directory lets anyone submit new web 2.0 sites and then vote on them digg-style. Browsable by tags.
KillerStartups - Another digg-style community directory of web 2.0, organized by categories.
Progammable Web's Mashup Directory - While this isn't a general web 2.0 directory, many things we call mashups fall under the 2.0 umbrella, so this is a great resource for web 2.0 watchers nonetheless.
Webware's Top 100 - The recently completed Top 100 competition from CNet's Webware blog isn't the most comprehensive list, nor the most scientific way to find the top web apps, but even so, it's a list of 100 apps that any web 2.0 fan will want to be aware of.
SEOmoz's Web 2.0 Awards - The 2007 edition of SEOmoz's awards lists over 200 web 2.0 sites in 41 categories.
eConsultant: Web 2.0 Directory - It appears not to have been updated in nearly a year, and is (hopefully) the only inclusion on this list that's not up-to-date. But because eConsultant's massive list is categorized so well, it is still very helpful.
NEOBinaries - These guys keep a large, categorized list of web 2.0 sites on hand, updated Monday - Friday.
BuzzShout - BuzzShout is similar to NEOBinaries -- a big list of web 2.0 companies that you can rate and review. Nicely categorized.
Go2Web2.0 - A really great flash-based list organized by tags, and a displayed using a dizzying array of logos. Clicking on a logo brings up a concise overview of that company or application.
All Things Web 2.0 - This is where Christian Mayaud's Sacred Cow Dung list ended up. It's mostly up-to-date and obsessively categorized.
Web2.0List - Categorized by tags, Web2.0List is just what it sounds like.
Web2.0Logo - A sister site to Web2.0List, but this time with an emphasis on logos.
Dexly - Dexly tracks over 3,000 web 2.0 companies in 53 categories, including blogs that write about web 2.0 (like this one).
SimpleSpark - SimpleSpark lists web applications and is adding apps at a frenetic pace. They launched in May and earlier this month crossed the 3,000 applications mark.
FeedMyApp - The new kid on the block, FeedMyApp launched just this month but already lists 299 apps in 36 categories.
HappyCodr - HappyCodr is a list of Ruby on Rails-powered web sites. It's not strictly about web 2.0, but given web 2.0's infatuation with Rails you'll find a lot of neat web apps and social sites on the list (mixed in with the occasional content site backed by a Rails-based CMS).
Startup Search - Startup Search takes a different approach than the other lists in this round up, focusing on the people and funding behind web 2.0 companies rather than on the products.
Museum of Modern Betas - MoMB is a great daily blog by Saurier Duval about all things beta.
eHub - Emily Chang's eHub is another must read daily blog covering new web 2.0 sites.
Everything 2.0 - Bob Stumpel's link blog is yet another great daily look at new web 2.0 companies.
TechCrunch Company Index - Speaking of great blogs, our friends over at TechCrunch review a lot of web 2.0 companies. Luckily for us, they tag each one and arrange all the tags into a helpful company index.
Listio's Everything Web 2.0 Directory - Listio's directory lets anyone submit new web 2.0 sites and then vote on them digg-style. Browsable by tags.
KillerStartups - Another digg-style community directory of web 2.0, organized by categories.
Progammable Web's Mashup Directory - While this isn't a general web 2.0 directory, many things we call mashups fall under the 2.0 umbrella, so this is a great resource for web 2.0 watchers nonetheless.
Webware's Top 100 - The recently completed Top 100 competition from CNet's Webware blog isn't the most comprehensive list, nor the most scientific way to find the top web apps, but even so, it's a list of 100 apps that any web 2.0 fan will want to be aware of.
SEOmoz's Web 2.0 Awards - The 2007 edition of SEOmoz's awards lists over 200 web 2.0 sites in 41 categories.
Corporate uses for Wikis and Blogs
R. Todd Stephens, whose "Collaborage" blog fights the good fight for the complete re-invention of how business gets done in large organizations – through embracing the new collaborative and social applications like Weblogs, Wikis, Profiles, Collaborative Environments, RSS, and others – has made two checklists that may help in your own corporate implementation of Web 2.0 technology. Here they are:
Fifteen Uses of a Corporate Wiki
1. Collecting Business and Technical Requirements
2. Corporate Dictionary
3. Meeting Agendas, Notes, Attendees, and Attachments
4. Organizational and Professional Biography
5. Status Reporting (Project, Personal, Program, Departmental)
6. Release Notes and Issue Tracking
7. Product and Service Documentation
8. User Manuals, Guides, and Best Bets (Tips)
9. Policies and Procedures
10. Brainstorming, Innovation and Patent Processing (Many Eyes)
11. Intranet Replacement12. Metrics Reporting
13. Along with RSS, notification of upcoming Events or Announcements
14. Error Reporting, Tracking, and Resolution
15. Locating Like Minded or SME within the Enterprise
Fifteen Uses of a Corporate Blog
1. Executive Communications
2. Project Status Reporting
3. Sharing Knowledge and Professional Expertise
4. Gathering Collective Intelligence (Marketing Campaign)
5. Sharing Experiences; Vendor, Partner, or Product
6. Organizational Announcements and Upcoming Events
7. Sharing External Research or Information (i.e. Great Blogs)
8. Connecting the Enterprise Knowledge (RSS, Trackbacks, Bookmarking)
9. Newsletters (May should have included that in the Wiki as well)
10. Collecting Feedback from Townhalls, Meetings, or Off Site Sessions
11. Archiving Lessons Learned
12. Spreading Enthusiasm and Generating Buzz
13. Establishing Though Leadership and Professional Brand
14. Drive Traffic to an Internal Service like Collaboration Services
15. Demonstrating a Code of Ethic or Corporate Policy (Don’t Just Tell, Show)
Fifteen Uses of a Corporate Wiki
1. Collecting Business and Technical Requirements
2. Corporate Dictionary
3. Meeting Agendas, Notes, Attendees, and Attachments
4. Organizational and Professional Biography
5. Status Reporting (Project, Personal, Program, Departmental)
6. Release Notes and Issue Tracking
7. Product and Service Documentation
8. User Manuals, Guides, and Best Bets (Tips)
9. Policies and Procedures
10. Brainstorming, Innovation and Patent Processing (Many Eyes)
11. Intranet Replacement12. Metrics Reporting
13. Along with RSS, notification of upcoming Events or Announcements
14. Error Reporting, Tracking, and Resolution
15. Locating Like Minded or SME within the Enterprise
Fifteen Uses of a Corporate Blog
1. Executive Communications
2. Project Status Reporting
3. Sharing Knowledge and Professional Expertise
4. Gathering Collective Intelligence (Marketing Campaign)
5. Sharing Experiences; Vendor, Partner, or Product
6. Organizational Announcements and Upcoming Events
7. Sharing External Research or Information (i.e. Great Blogs)
8. Connecting the Enterprise Knowledge (RSS, Trackbacks, Bookmarking)
9. Newsletters (May should have included that in the Wiki as well)
10. Collecting Feedback from Townhalls, Meetings, or Off Site Sessions
11. Archiving Lessons Learned
12. Spreading Enthusiasm and Generating Buzz
13. Establishing Though Leadership and Professional Brand
14. Drive Traffic to an Internal Service like Collaboration Services
15. Demonstrating a Code of Ethic or Corporate Policy (Don’t Just Tell, Show)
Monday, June 11, 2007
One Thousand Web 2.0-ish Apps and Services
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