The tremendous success of first the Internet and later the web, is mainly due to their main design principle: build a basic, unsophisticated, yet flexible infrastructure and let the applications on the edges put the intelligence (the so called end to end principle).
More over, the Internet/Web infrastructure is based on open standards, like TCP/IP, HTTP and HTML prevents provider lock-ins and lowering the entrance barriers to newcomers.
Such infrastructure allows an open-ended innovation, supporting application architectures and utilization patterns no one had considered when it was designed. For example, who could ever dreamed about Ajax back in the early 90' ?
Twitter follows the same principle and has therefore the same potential of the technologies it is build upon. It offers a basic infrastructure for a publish subscribe communication of short text messages, offering an open API that allows others to develop sophisticated applications like searching, aggregation (Tweetdeck) and trend analysis (hashtags.org, Twist, TweetStats).
One obvious difference is that Twitter is neither an open infrastructure nor is based on open standards -- However, neither is Google Maps and that has not prevented it to become a "de facto" standard. More over, there are other technologies like the venerable IRC and more recently XMPP that have similar capabilities for instant communication and are based on open standards, but haven't had the same impact than the web. Why should then Twitter be different?
What makes Twitter so powerful and gives its tremendous potential is how it is actually used. Users, post anything they found relevant, interesting, funny. They post about themselves, friends, hobbies, work. They expose preferences and dislikes. In other words, Twitter opens people's thoughts and feelings and make them available to others instantaneously, creating a continuous conversation on which you can enter and leave. Participate. Watch.
This is the closest we will ever be to telepathy. And that surely will change the way we communicate.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Burning Chrome (William Gibson dixit)
Google has surprised more than one, me included, releasing today its own browser Chrome. This may well be the beginning of a dramatic change of the web as we know it and nobody noticed it until the tsunami hit the web.
From what I could see in the comics style introduction of the browser's motivations and features, it seams that Google has decided to turn the browsers game inside out. They have broken almost any written rule about how to build a browser, yet it seams they were able to come with very usable and stunningly fast browser.
It is good to see that someone in the open source community finally remembers what innovation is all about and doesn't just aspire to catch someone else.
And God knows we needed such revolution badly because, let's face it, Firefox lost its mojo long ago and started to fade as a innovative browser.
If current trends continue, they will beat Firefox 2.0 launch success, even when it is currently only available for Windows (annoying, isn't it?). I just can't wait until the Linux version kicks out the door.
From what I could see in the comics style introduction of the browser's motivations and features, it seams that Google has decided to turn the browsers game inside out. They have broken almost any written rule about how to build a browser, yet it seams they were able to come with very usable and stunningly fast browser.
It is good to see that someone in the open source community finally remembers what innovation is all about and doesn't just aspire to catch someone else.
And God knows we needed such revolution badly because, let's face it, Firefox lost its mojo long ago and started to fade as a innovative browser.
If current trends continue, they will beat Firefox 2.0 launch success, even when it is currently only available for Windows (annoying, isn't it?). I just can't wait until the Linux version kicks out the door.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Shaping the future
3d printing is the technology to create 3d objects by depositing droplets of plastic layer by layer, much like a conventional ink injection printer prints a picture. Such kind of printers or fabs have been used in the industry to create prototypes of new designs.
Some time ago, the Fab@home project started to offer an open source specification of a 3d printer, which according to the project's web page, will democratize innovation allowing anyone to create and manufacture his own designs. However, the target price was still well on the thousands dollars, making this technology affordable for small shops or independent professionals, but hardly for casual users.
Now, Shapeways, a spinout of Phillips is offering the service to allow user to "submit digital designs of products that are then printed, using 3-D printers, and shipped back", "delivering the tangible object within 10 days of ordering, with prices typically between $50 and $150". This service really opens the word of 3d printing to anyone.
I can image action figure hobbyist making they own character designs and getting them printed as real objects, which then could be painted at home. Also, it will open a new opportunity for skilled designers to sell their designs of home accessories which users can print at home.
In the long term, this new technology will lead to the ultimate customization of products. For example, by allowing each one to create its own mobile phone covers: I will finally get my start trek themed phone!
And you, what will you print?
Some time ago, the Fab@home project started to offer an open source specification of a 3d printer, which according to the project's web page, will democratize innovation allowing anyone to create and manufacture his own designs. However, the target price was still well on the thousands dollars, making this technology affordable for small shops or independent professionals, but hardly for casual users.
Now, Shapeways, a spinout of Phillips is offering the service to allow user to "submit digital designs of products that are then printed, using 3-D printers, and shipped back", "delivering the tangible object within 10 days of ordering, with prices typically between $50 and $150". This service really opens the word of 3d printing to anyone.
I can image action figure hobbyist making they own character designs and getting them printed as real objects, which then could be painted at home. Also, it will open a new opportunity for skilled designers to sell their designs of home accessories which users can print at home.
In the long term, this new technology will lead to the ultimate customization of products. For example, by allowing each one to create its own mobile phone covers: I will finally get my start trek themed phone!
And you, what will you print?
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Social voyeurism
The importance of social networks in shaping the future of Internet was recognized by the Times magazine when declared it the "person of the year" in 2006.
Until now, I've been reluctant to "join the crowd" and found such sites a little bit childish and definitely a source of "ambient noise" and information saturation.
However, the idea of meeting people I have lost the contact with many year ago finally seduced me and I decided to join Facebook. Since then, I have contacted people who I haven't know about for 25+ years! it is just amazing.
However, what have captivated me is another feature: the status update. I found just fascinating to follow my friend's emotional states and small day to day events by means of this short messages.
This interest lead me to another social network site, Twitter, which allows sending small status updates (tweets) and follow other people's status. I also integrated it with facebook, such that my last tweet becomes my facebook's status.
Next step is to integrate twitter with my chat application to send a tweet without entering twitter's web page, as I find the need to open the browser and login into a site a big barrier for a fluid social experience.
Until now, I've been reluctant to "join the crowd" and found such sites a little bit childish and definitely a source of "ambient noise" and information saturation.
However, the idea of meeting people I have lost the contact with many year ago finally seduced me and I decided to join Facebook. Since then, I have contacted people who I haven't know about for 25+ years! it is just amazing.
However, what have captivated me is another feature: the status update. I found just fascinating to follow my friend's emotional states and small day to day events by means of this short messages.
This interest lead me to another social network site, Twitter, which allows sending small status updates (tweets) and follow other people's status. I also integrated it with facebook, such that my last tweet becomes my facebook's status.
Next step is to integrate twitter with my chat application to send a tweet without entering twitter's web page, as I find the need to open the browser and login into a site a big barrier for a fluid social experience.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Poor man's Itelligence Amplification
The concept of Intelligence Amplification (AI) has been receiving some media attention lately thanks to the growing hype of the Technological Singularity .
The main idea is to enhance human intelligence by tight coupling with computer devices for augmented memory, enhanced senses, computer-brain interfaces, direct connection with ambient sensors and with the internet for immediate information access.
However, while we wait all this technological wonders to come a reality (or in some cases, to be widely available), I've found that some pretty simple tools can be used to boost our day-to-day productivity some orders of magnitude just by helping us to keep track of all the information we generate and consume. Actually, the key concept is to allows us to generate even more information (mostly in the form of short notes) and the allows us to access it in a smart way.
Here is a short list of tools I've just started to use:
The main idea is to enhance human intelligence by tight coupling with computer devices for augmented memory, enhanced senses, computer-brain interfaces, direct connection with ambient sensors and with the internet for immediate information access.
However, while we wait all this technological wonders to come a reality (or in some cases, to be widely available), I've found that some pretty simple tools can be used to boost our day-to-day productivity some orders of magnitude just by helping us to keep track of all the information we generate and consume. Actually, the key concept is to allows us to generate even more information (mostly in the form of short notes) and the allows us to access it in a smart way.
Here is a short list of tools I've just started to use:
- Tomboy: a note taking desktop application. Allows to create notes and put links to web pages, emails and other information sources and to other notes. It can be then used to annotate information. Has some interesting plugins to export notes to diverse formals and also to show links among notes.
- View Your Mind: is a tool for creating mind maps. Interestingly, there is Tomboy pluging to export notes to VYM.
- Gnome-do: is an intelligent application launcher that use search technologies to find items like files and applications and allows you to execute actions on them (e.g. open, run). Also comes with many plugins for common applications like music players, google applications and this one to interact with Tomboy.
Saturday, 19 January 2008
When less is more and simple is beautiful
Recently, there has been a great shift towards cheap subnotebook portables like Asus' eeePC, Everex's CloudBook and E-lead's NoahPad. These portables, which might result under powered and far from the "state or the art", have been received with enthusiasm by potential tech savvy customers and have even made its way into the general audience (to the extend that general media have started to cover them)
I personally found these cheap portables, targeted to a specific function, more attractive that those over priced "high end" portables which are neither a good desktop replacement, not portable enough. Actually, I'm just waiting impatiently to put my hands on a NoahPad.
One interesting conclusion from the general reaction is the discovery of a new category of users, for whom a simple, affordable and ultra portable device to surf the web is a real gain. But these devices are also appealing for the millions of home uses that only want to read email, print some photos and little more.
But even more important, such portables seams to be the killer devices for the final Linux take over of the desktop.
I personally found these cheap portables, targeted to a specific function, more attractive that those over priced "high end" portables which are neither a good desktop replacement, not portable enough. Actually, I'm just waiting impatiently to put my hands on a NoahPad.
One interesting conclusion from the general reaction is the discovery of a new category of users, for whom a simple, affordable and ultra portable device to surf the web is a real gain. But these devices are also appealing for the millions of home uses that only want to read email, print some photos and little more.
But even more important, such portables seams to be the killer devices for the final Linux take over of the desktop.
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Open source appliance
I've been struggling since one month ago to decide on a device for "mobile digital entrainment" (sorry, I've been unable to find a better name for this). What I basically need is a rich web experience (including web 2.0 sites, video, Internet radio) and access digital content (music, video) stored locally in the device or other storage devices.
My first candidates are the Nokia Internet Tablet N800 and the Archos 605. Other option I briefly considered were the Sony PSP and the PapperPad 3. I ruled out the PSP because its web experience is istill far behind of my needs. The PaperPad,in the other hand, seams to be a good product but its form factor makes it less attractive fro mobile usage.
Both candidates has "similar" capabilities, like integrated wifi access, full flagged web browsers and rich multimedia applications. However, they differ in one significant aspect: the Nokia N800 is, in this moment, more an open source device, very appealing to developers and savvy users, while the Archos is more an appliance, close but fully functional and usable by any user.
What I would like to have is the best of both worlds: an open source appliance. An open device for developers and hackers, but ready to day to day usage. Why is this so difficult? I believe that in this question resides the key for the success of open source outside the niche it is now (a big niche, sure, but a niche after all).
Dr. Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source has an interesting document about "Building consumer products with open source" and here we found a key "The open source culture is very much for trials, hacking, innovation and other creative aspects of software development. Meeting deadlines, dropping your latest crazy idea, and making compromises to gain stability are not what many open source communities or developers naturally do. In addition to us, the Linux project, Debian, and others seem to have difficulties making a final good quality release on time".
However, I must admit that I found more appealing the N800 because the open nature of the device is attracting a lot of interest and just recently I've seen a couple of developments that improves its usability a lot: both an iPhone like on screen keyboard and a kinetic scroll. By the way, both improvement ideas come from iPhone . . .
So, at this point the question is: will these two open source projects change focus from hacking to usability, from innovation to stability or is here where they will fail, as many other such projects.
My first candidates are the Nokia Internet Tablet N800 and the Archos 605. Other option I briefly considered were the Sony PSP and the PapperPad 3. I ruled out the PSP because its web experience is istill far behind of my needs. The PaperPad,in the other hand, seams to be a good product but its form factor makes it less attractive fro mobile usage.
Both candidates has "similar" capabilities, like integrated wifi access, full flagged web browsers and rich multimedia applications. However, they differ in one significant aspect: the Nokia N800 is, in this moment, more an open source device, very appealing to developers and savvy users, while the Archos is more an appliance, close but fully functional and usable by any user.
What I would like to have is the best of both worlds: an open source appliance. An open device for developers and hackers, but ready to day to day usage. Why is this so difficult? I believe that in this question resides the key for the success of open source outside the niche it is now (a big niche, sure, but a niche after all).
Dr. Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source has an interesting document about "Building consumer products with open source" and here we found a key "The open source culture is very much for trials, hacking, innovation and other creative aspects of software development. Meeting deadlines, dropping your latest crazy idea, and making compromises to gain stability are not what many open source communities or developers naturally do. In addition to us, the Linux project, Debian, and others seem to have difficulties making a final good quality release on time".
However, I must admit that I found more appealing the N800 because the open nature of the device is attracting a lot of interest and just recently I've seen a couple of developments that improves its usability a lot: both an iPhone like on screen keyboard and a kinetic scroll. By the way, both improvement ideas come from iPhone . . .
So, at this point the question is: will these two open source projects change focus from hacking to usability, from innovation to stability or is here where they will fail, as many other such projects.
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