Is my cloud computing strategy full of hot air? Bubble talk abounded at the conference, but I was amazed when I walked the expo floor. There were many “infrastructure” service providers offering computing scaling services, build in IT Ops services, On demand storage and CPUs, Ad networks for hire, etc which got me to thinking: Can this even be real? “Computing as a service” isn’t easy. For every “on demand” provider, there were probably .5 providers offering services to monitoring these venders’ service performance and uptime. This is a space that definitely carries a “buyer beware” flag and may be the first to get impacted by any Web2.0 bubble pop. These providers represent significant capital outlays in terms of infrastructure and people (or a least they should if they are any good).
Facebook vs. Wordpress - Like comparing a MTV teen show to a cellur network! One the speakers mentioned that the difference between the recent Facebook valuation as compared to WordPress is argument in favor of social media platform consolidation! (It may have been Tim O’Riely). What! Bias disclosure: this blog is written with wordpress. I completely disagree with this comment. Wordpress is a true “social” platform that is open, easy to use, extend-able, and built to last in the future because of its commitment to supporting and integrating evolving technical standards for social media. It has true ” hig personalization fidelity”, as in the user really has the flexibility to change anything and everything about their digital “broadcast.” Facebook on the other hand is a VHI pop video channel version of classmates.com. The company treats its plebes, I mean, members, as “ad units” and it shows. Windows dominated the PC market because of the relative value contained within its application ecosystem, value add partner base, and extendability. Apple only became SOMEWHAT relevant recently when they decided to borrow the opensource value ecosystem of Linux and OpenBSD. My money might not be on Wordpress to evolve into the only Social Media “operating system” of choice, but it is certainly against Facebook taking this title. I am almost embarrassed to say I even started a facebook account last fall. As data portability and other “broadcast” technologies become more standardized, people will choose their social media platform based on personalization and overall extendability motives as opposed to the “critical mass and lock in” reasons that dominate the market today. Skeptical? Want Proof? Then go try Twitter (also integrated in my current wordpress set up). While “Fascism” may be good for business, in a social context, its boring. If Warren Buffet actually bet on technology, I think he would bet on Wordpress now and into the future. This is not to suggest that Wordpress does not have strategic holes to fill, but systems that are open, standardized, and get out of the way from their community’s creativity tend to win over time (just look at the Internet, right?).
Ambient computing is the future! Web 3.0 will not exist because a new term will be coined for describing the inclusion of our digital heartbeat (representing physical space, time, and social context) into our connected lives!!!! Welcome to the Interweb! - I didn’t really hear this at the conference, but it is an idea that I have captivated with for some time. It was started by Time’s person of the year article. When given a choice, people, or at least Americans, tend to be very lazy. Social Media is now work to many of us and its tangible ROE (return of effort) is unclear to many participants. A digital connected pulse view of the world combines both the passive (lazy) and voyeuristic instincts of man. It would be a future that represents the most natural progression from our current state (Assuming a Malthusian conspiracy is not unleashed to keep the masses in check).
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