"The web's days are numbered….'. So says a startling Forrester report,
shaking the Internet hooked world, which goes on to predict that it will be
replaced by another wave- X-Internet. Well, if the techno-freaks were wondering what next after the minicomputer, the PC, the workstation, the web, X-Internet seems to answer their queries.
Though Internet was a killer application that hooked people across the world,
however the initial euphoria of being on the Web now seems to be worn out.
Industry experts agree that people prefer to return to the real world for most
activities, especially so if the Web just replicates them.
Few of them are already calling the Internet, 'dumb, boring and isolated' and
are predicting that the days of the World Wide Web are numbered.
The Internet is yet to truly become a part of
our real world. Analysts
predict that the web
will soon be replaced by a richer, interactive 'X Internet'- which is executable
and extended. According to Forrester
Group forecast which coined the term X-Internet, two
new waves of innovation will eclipse the Web: an executable Net that greatly
improves the online experience, and an extended Net that connects the real world.
Unlike the existing Web wherein the browser
pops up essentially static pages of information, the executable Internet will
enable a conversation between two ‘high IQ entities’ on either side, with
interactivity level rising to hitherto unforeseen levels as intelligent
applications execute code on the user’s PC or other devices.
These "other devices" form the extended Internet, and will be the
connection to the real world. Analysts forecast that while today’s Internet
has under 500 million users and a 100 million computers connected to it, the X
Internet will push applications to embedded chips in a host of devices and
consumer durables and increase the Internet population by billions of nodes.
THE WEB VS.
|
|||
The Web |
Executable Internet |
Extended Internet |
|
No of Devices |
Millions |
Hundreds of millions |
Billions |
Focus |
Browsers |
User focussed SW |
Devices |
Killer App |
Web, e-comm, IM |
Responsive experiences |
Real time business apps |
Data |
HTML, XML |
Executables and XML |
Environmental data |
Model |
Server-centric |
Peer-to-peer |
Device-centric |
Connections |
User-driven |
Opportunistic |
Opportunistic |
Time frame |
1993 to 2001 |
2001 onward |
2005 onward |
Source: Forrester Research |
This, according to Forrester, will result in
massive growth and opportunity–by 2010, the worldwide Internet devices and
services market will increase to $2.7 trillion annually, from $600 billion
annually today.
The first stage in the X Internet is an
executable Net. Users will get real-time, interactive experiences over the Net
through disposable code programs
that allows users to download it to their PCs and handheld devices (PDAs, cell
phones, etc) on demand and are then deleted once you no longer need them These
quick downloads will allow users to carry on extended conversations with Net
services.
The other X-Internet- 'extended Internet' will include the widespread adoption
of real-world appliances, like air conditioners or fridge, that communicate,
sense, analyze and control the real world. The extended Internet will come
with the inclusion of cheap sensors in thousands thousands of everyday products,
an era that will begin around 2005.
With cheap chips and a worldwide Internet
backbone, nearly every device that runs on electricity will have an Internet
connection, through both wired and wireless networks. The result? The number of
Internet devices will boom from today's 100 million to more than 14 billion in
2010, as per Forrester report'
The pro-X-internet group is also positive that
the executable Internet will also speeden up and enhance e-commerce
transactions, and create experiences that are comparable to video games and
television. We already have an example in applications like Napster, online
gaming and SmartMoney.com's
Map of the Market. But complete executable Internet apps are still
several years away.
All said and done, we need to find
out how much of this is hype and how much will evolve into reality. Questions
linger on its effectiveness, at what price, security and many more. So as always
Wait and Watch.
*Based on information obtained from
web
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