IBM has
been pretty slow to cotton onto the social Web, but this year they've started to embrace
web 2.0 and ramp up its marketing (some would say hype) around it. While IBM has
undeniably always been at the center of technology and innovation, it's taken them a
couple of years to marry their 'traditional' idea of web innovation to the more sexier
consumer trend of 'web 2.0' - probably because they are such a huge company with layers
of hierarchy.
IBM has just announced the 10th anniversary of alphaWorks - their showcase website for emerging technology. At the same time they've launched alphaWorks Services, an online initiative which will let the outside world view work done by IBM's R&D labs - by highlighting the company's most cutting-edge work and providing it for free download. alphaWorks Services will also let external people provide regular feedback to IBM's R&D labs, in hopes of creating a more collaborative community environment.
There's a video released on YouTube that explains more. In it IBM VP of Technical Strategy and Innovation Irving Wladawsky-Berger says that alphaWorks will keep IBM young, moving fast and in tune with the marketplace. He said it will let IBM "keep innovating where it counts".
I kept thinking though... isn't this supposed to be a showcase of emerging technology? So where's the show?
Examples of alphaWorks success stories in the past 10 years are Autonomic computing, the Eclipse platform and Servlet Express. Others currently in the works include ADIEU, WebRB and Deep Thunder. None of these are 'sexy' consumer web 2.0 apps, which is one reason I'm a bit skeptical of how the alphaWorks Services initiative will play out.
The metaphor used in the press release of alphaWorks being "a window for users to get a sneak peek into our R&D labs" is a fitting one... it conjures up the image of white-coated scientists doing important stuff in the IBM labs. Universities and a lot of developers will certainly find this interesting - but it's not going to capture the imagination of consumers, like Google labs does... or even Microsoft's Windows Live.
Perhaps I'm being unfair. It may not be in IBM's interests to capture the public's imagination like Google or Microsoft, because after all IBM is an enterprise software company and not a consumer one. Nevertheless with the trend of 'the consumerization of the enterprise' happening at lightening pace, plus all the Web Office (aka office 2.0) developments, I think there are opportunities for IBM to reach out more to early adopters in the consumer market.
For a start alphaWorks Services is designed to showcase interactive online services, so how about making it a bit more interesting for the Web users in enterprises - rather than just the developers? Just a suggestion, and maybe a wrongheaded one. But personally I'd like to see IBM sex it up some more!
Slightly adjusted (just the first word) opening lyrics from Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back:
"IBM bringing sexy back;
them other boys don’t know how to act.
I think it’s special, what’s behind your back?
so turn around and I’ll pick up the slack."
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Dear Richard
I think we should consider tih move by IBM as a generel good thing, it means in basic terms that not only companys like Microsoft.. Google.. Yahoo.. see the potential growing online - i dont think it will be long before will will see IBM comming up with the cornerstones of their vision of a Web 2.0/3.0 - maby not directed at the Personal user - but indeed at the enterprise scene.
When that happends, i am sure that it be that little ekstra IBM is.
With kind regards
Leon Bollerup
CEO, Team ORCA
www.orcadesktop.com
Posted by: Leon Bollerup | October 14, 2006 2:19 AM
This fails miserably for me on two counts
1. Click on downloads or Products and you are brought straight into the standard IBM site so you loose the visual look of alphaWorks.
2. A click on something from within Alphaworks (Ad Hoc Development tool) reveals an Internet Explorer only flag.
Underwhelmed, keith
Posted by: keith bohanna | October 14, 2006 11:25 AM
Before I say anything about the new website, IBM ROX!!!!
Then to Leon Bollerup,
Your screenshots looks attractive. I am temporarily running on Debian and using Firefox, but couldn't seem to be able to load the product.
Now let me look at the news in more detail...
Errr, I came across with no ideas about it. Well IBM has almost dumped all personal users so...I don't expect to see too much things related to users, but maybe some for developers?
Posted by: coolnalu | October 15, 2006 1:30 PM
coolnalu, it has plenty for developers - but my main point in this post was why not involve end users more? In this age where users are increasingly able to control their own IT environment, and where enterprise products are becoming more and more like consumer products, IBM has a great opportunity to get users involved more.
Posted by: Richard MacManus | October 15, 2006 2:40 PM
Hi Richard,
I am guessing how enterprises design their products to be easy to use has not as much thing to do with IBM's solutions provided to these enterprises, though IBM could provide consultant services and that's another story.
So IBM might not be interested in keeping contact with every random vistor directly. I think collecting people's opinions who are from different job categories fits better with their "business" idiom, though this is just a random idea I've got now.
I think my point is IBM is interested in individuals at work, not when they are off work...
Posted by: Coolnalu | October 15, 2006 5:34 PM
Absolutely, I'm talking about targeting enterprise users too - but my point is that enterprise apps are *becoming* more like consumer apps. So IBM could target the users more, I reckon.
cheers, Richard
Posted by: Richard MacManus | October 15, 2006 6:15 PM
Hello,
So by "becoming more like", you mean in what respect?
I would like to hear more about that...if possible.
Thank you!
Regards, :)
Posted by: Coolnalu | October 15, 2006 6:44 PM
Richard & Keth,
I use IBM's R & D technology often, so this new interface to alphaworks is more than sexy enough for me!
And, Keith, the ADIEU service is developed specifically for IE. If you had bothered to click through some of the other alphaworks services, you'd had discovered that they are available for a variety of platforms/browsers.
So my main complaint is: when is someone going to develop a cure for the ultra-short, incredibly shallow Web 2.0 attention span?
Articles and comments like the above make me weep with frustration.
Posted by: old school developer | October 15, 2006 11:13 PM
You just proved my point "old school developer" - IBM's alphaWorks is great for academics and developers. That's swell. But why not try and open it up some more to enterprise end users?
And frankly, comments like this come off as very condescending:
"when is someone going to develop a cure for the ultra-short, incredibly shallow Web 2.0 attention span?"
Who do you think you are? Oh yes, an anonymous coward...
Posted by: Richard MacManus | October 16, 2006 1:53 AM
Richard,
I'm not that anonymous, you have my e-mail address.
And, BTW the way I use IBM's R & D for enterprise end-users. If you were more familiar with the AlphaWorks content, and IBM's R & D, you'd realize that quite a bit of it is targeted at the enterprise end-user. IBM Alphaworks end-users *are* software developers mostly deploying in the enterprise -- not necessarily academics.
I could list examples for you, but you'd probably consider that condescending also.
What's a matter idd I hit a sore spot for you, because I mentioned that there's more to software development and deployment that pretty gradients, rounded corners, user generated tags, and the like?
Posted by: old school developer | October 16, 2006 7:33 AM
osd, and there's more to 'web 2.0' than "pretty gradients, rounded corners, user generated tags, and the like". Do you have any idea how condescending you sound? Not to mention ignorant.
I am happy to hear about IBM's R & D for enterprise end-users. But I think we have differing interpretations of end-users - I'm thinking of normal enterprise people who use the software, not just developers.
But in the end, you definitely know more than me about IBM alphaWorks. I just wish you'd not stoop to low blows about what you think 'web 2.0' is. If you had been reading this blog for any length of time, you'd realise there is much more going on than rounded corners... in this post I was trying to be constructive about how IBM can improve their offering, but you've lowered the conversation into the gutter with your (anonymous) attacks.
Posted by: Richard MacManus | October 16, 2006 1:14 PM
Richard,
I do read your blog regularly, and I've included you in my RSS since the day you made it available. I don't think you're stupid, or i would have said so -- I'm not shy :)
As for being condescending, how can my remarks be construed as any more condescending than your original comment about IBM alphaworks and "Where's the show?"
On being anonymous: I've been on the Internet(s) since the mid '80s. While many may feel that blogging is a new era with heightened requirements of "transparency", I'd have to politely disagree. All I can say is "been there, done that, collected the T-shirt, and now use the T-shirt for a dish rag". Furthermore if you can update your blog posts without any sort of editing history, why should you have qualms about my being "anonymous"?
Frankly, over the years, I've had more than one online encounter with the better than garden variety kook(s). While I'm opinionated, I've never, ever been rude or abusive. At some point, (maybe the late '90s, definitely now) it seems that a simple disagreement can escalate into something quite ugly.
But from and old school perspective, these days there's a definite reason to remain anonymous until a certain level of trust is established. It may have nothing to do with you (Richard) as the primary blogger.
Just basic caution learned over the years.
I was not trying to start a flame war here. Afterall it's your blog and you can say/write/do whatever you please. I can certainly forego comments, if you're offended.
As for web 2.0? Just another paradigm.. no real new technology being used here. Most of the technology being used in Web 2.0 was introduced a decade ago. Have these technologies been improved since introduction? Absolutely. Do many of the same limitations/constraints exist? Absolutely.
Sorry if i upset you, that was not my intent :P
Posted by: old school developer | October 16, 2006 2:45 PM
osd: "As for being condescending, how can my remarks be construed as any more condescending than your original comment about IBM alphaworks and "Where's the show?""
Alright, touche :-) That's why I attempted to use humor, because I didn't want to come off as being an uppity blogger.
No offence taken by your comments and I certainly encourage you to speak your mind - and looks like you have no problems in that regard ;-) Being anon is your choice, so I'll say no more on that.
In the end, my main point (however badly made) was that I'd love to see IBM make their alphaWorks a bit more interesting to non-developers. I did actually use the term web 2.0, but perhaps I shouldn't have :-)
Posted by: Richard MacManus | October 16, 2006 3:02 PM
The idea of crossing IBM with Justin Timberlake is pretty funny... thanks for the laugh :)
Posted by: Krishen | November 15, 2006 6:25 AM