Tim O'Reilly: Tackle Big, Hard Problems With Web 2.0
The ReadWriteWeb team is at the Web 2.0 Expo. Tim O'Reilly opens the Web 2.0 Expo keynotes with a discussion on the opportunities in web 2.0 today. Here are some real-time notes on his session. His main message is to "not follow the headlines" and the hot consumer apps, but go after "big, hard problems".
Big Opportunities:
1) web 2.0 in enterprise; "turning themselves inside out"
2) web 2.0 evolving into cloud computing
3) ambient computing (mobile phones and ubiquitous sensors)
1) enterprise
e.g. dell ideastorm
real time user facing services based on data from customers -- your bank doesn't give u this, but google does
finding meaning in that data
google pagerank = meaning hidden in links (link is a vote)
other areas where "there is hidden meaning in enterprise data"
wesabe -- how people spend their money is a vote (nb: Tim noted he is an investor)
eg merchant pages give people collective intelligence about spending
2) cloud computing
Amazon got ahead of the curve by doing internet as OS; an ecosystem developing around Amazon's infrastructure. Google has got into the game with Google App Engine. Startups like EngineYard also interesting players.
Openness is key - programmable web
3) mobile / ambient
software above the level of a single device. So mobile does not equal the phone. He talks about Microsoft Live Mesh, noting that it is currently only Windows - but he's waiting to hear from Microsoft on its future.
new interaction paradigms - eg CNN's political coverage using mapping technologies
Megaphone in New Orleans
The Dash, turns cellphone into GPS
Microsoft Clearflow - sensors everywhere, puts in a "dispatch layer", aims to improve traffic reports
Quake-Catcher Network - uses motion sensors in your laptop
This all = Ambient computing; "web 2.0 not something we interact with on a laptop, it is all around us."
Conclusion
So are we done yet? NO.
Tim lists some examples of big goals that web 2.0 can still achieve:
Changing government structure
Publicmarkup.org
Everyblock
InStedd
Tracking illegal deforestation using Google Earth
Earth Day
An Inconvenient Truth
wattzon.org (how we use our energy)
To conclude, Tim urges us to "not follow the headlines" and the hot things, but go after "big, hard problems".
Tim finishes with a poem that is important to him, called 'The Man Watching' by Rainer Maria Rilke [thanks Sean for the link]. Very nice touch! His main message is to tackle big hard problems, with web 2.0. Make a difference.
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Here is a link to the poem for people interested:
http://www.cdra.org.za/creativity/Rainer%20Maria%20Rilke%20-%20The%20Man%20Watching.htm
It will be interesting to see how governments and administrations can become more efficient using Web 2.0 technologies to get the pulse and needs of the people.
totally agree we gotta tackle HARD problems like...
1. SAVE ALL THE HOURS WASTED on FACEBOOK OGLING AT PROFILES
2. TWITTERING/SPREADING ALL THE BS THAT GOES ON IN YOUR LIFE
3. READING THIS STUPID POINTLESS COMMENT FROM A PERSON WHO YOU DONT KNOW AND IS PROBABLY LIVING OFF IN PARENTS BASEMENT EATING CHINESE TAKEOUT. (BASICALLY A BIG LOOSER)
Richard,
I think the right question to ask is which definition allows us to do something with it?
When I wrote my piece defining Web 3.0 with a formula, http://sramanamitra.com/2007/02/14/web-30-4c-p-vs/ that is what I was thinking ... to come up with something that is easy, handy, and practical.
Since then, I have heard from many entrepreneurs who are building their company / product / platform strategy around that formula.
I am interested in hearing about other definitions that are actually being used in practical ways.
Sramana
Tim O'Reilly comes up with some good stuff I would love to pick his brain
- Britec - http://www.britec.org.uk
Good info Richard, I am notified from a blog how Google just concerned that nobody takes their stand photo at this expo. Google always stop people and in result people click more, they stopper a guy from taking pics, and he got a quick snap and posted it publicly on Flickr. :-D
Web2.0 is such a interesting subject.
Research states that SaaS is a top priority for businesses. I wonder how cloud computing solutions from Amazon, Google, IBM, etc. will manage to pick up startups targeting the corporate world with Web 2.0 solutions where security is as important as reliability and capacity. I pay top dollar for Rackspace's dedicated hosting services and our beta customers are fine with them. However, AWS and the other upcoming cloud solutions are at fraction of the cost of dedicated box hosting firms. As corporate data goes outside of the firewall, will Amazon and others cover security concerns for the enterprise?
Great Guidance Tim. Web 2.0 really help the Apps to serve society more effectively.
http://www.techbaba.com/
I'm highly encouraged to see that Tim references so many social and environmental issues in the context of Web 2.0 and social media. There is a tremendous nexus with these two social and technological movements. That's been my motivation with the MaxGladwell.com blog and other related work. I believe that the nexus of social media and green living is a big part of the answer.