Web 2.0 Connectedness

Share this article

The following is republished from the Tech Times #129.

The holiday break gave me a chance to get into some new products and services that had been on my “try that” list for awhile. Although I’m excited about them all, I’m frustrated by how separate they are.

With “Web 2.0” on everyone’s lips, it seems like every bright mind on the Web is focused on building the next killer app. Small and focused seems to be the flavour of the month: Gmail is great at email, Flickr nails photos, and CalendarHub and its ilk have got calendars just about licked. But as we embrace each of these disparate services, we further segment the data we rely on day-to-day, making it more difficult to use them together when we need to.

If you believe the pundits (yours truly included), openness and standards compliance are two of the characteristics that should define any true member of the Web 2.0 stable. Any data you put into a Web application should be available to pull out again in a portable format, and should be accessible to other applications through well-documented APIs.

In the wild, the open API thing seems to be happening, at least. Some of these interfaces aren’t as well documented as they should be, but they’re usually there if you dig deep enough. The culture of “Web mash-ups”, seen most commonly in the form of third-party applications based on Google Maps, is a prominent example of this. But how many of the commercial-grade applications and services are embracing this interoperability? All the big players seem to be focused on building new services, rather than finding better ways to use existing services together.

This is the biggest challenge I see on the horizon for Web developers. Could 2006 be the year to tackle it? Here are just a few of the areas that come to mind as having room for much greater connectedness than we are
seeing today.

Your Digital Identity

How many accounts do you have on various websites? If you’re like me, you lost count long ago. Despite my best efforts, I still routinely happen across sites where my user profile contains details from a home address that is now four years out-of-date. For me, it’s getting to the point where I can’t even remember if I have an account on some sites, let alone remembering the login details.

This is getting to be an old problem, and big companies have tried to solve it before. Microsoft’s Passport fell victim to licensing fees and platform lock-in, which forced the service to retreat to being used only on Microsoft websites.

But this problem is about to get a whole lot more important. As you invest more and more of your personal data into online services, you’re going to want to be able to share them between these services without sharing them with the rest of the world. It would be nice, for example, if you and your spouse could view each other’s calendars even though they are hosted by two different online services without having to expose that calendar data to the Web at large.

Unified authentication, and a framework for permitting services to access each other’s private data when appropriate, is key to the practical usability of many of the services. The need will shortly reach a critical mass, which I hope will help push forward one of the fledgling solutions that are waiting in the wings.

Update: Sxip Identity is a start-up pushing a solution to these issues under the name Identity 2.0.

Unified Publishing

Far from becoming the purely commercial mecca that many feared it would at the start of the decade, the Web has blossomed as a platform for individual expression. Blogs are reaching the hands of mainstream Internet users, forums are available on every subject imaginable, and a raft of social networking applications are providing new ways for people to express themselves through photos, music, links and more.

And while each of these forms of personal online publishing finds mainstream adoption, the ability to bring these various forms of expression together in a cohesive way has so far remained couched in Web developer voodoo.

If someone reads an article of mine that he likes, he should be able to click over to my personal website and see everything that I’ve written publicly, to the extent that I would like him to be able to. My personal blog entries, my work blog entries, my last.fm journal entries, my posts on public forums across the Web, my del.icio.us bookmarks, my Flickr photos… all should be accessible in one “stuff I’ve published” view.

Now, if you’re a Web developer like me, you can see that this is mostly possible today with a combination of RSS feeds, Web services, and extensions to blogging software. But everyone should be able to have a hub of personal expression like this, and I expect it won’t be long until a sleek solution puts this kind of thing within reach of non-technical users.

Sharing Data (and Metadata)

I’ve already mentioned that, as of right now, online services aren’t very good at sharing data with each other. The groundwork is there in the form of a quickly growing galaxy of open APIs, but new applications are springing up a lot more quickly than solutions for using them together. Nevertheless, I’m sure the problem of data sharing will slowly be solved. I’m less sure about metadata.

Tagging is a great example, here. Rather than building rigid category hierarchies or folder structures to store your data, newer services let you assign multiple tags to your data items. I’ve got tags everywhere. I tag my bookmarks in del.icio.us. I tag my email in Gmail. I tag my photos in Flickr. I tag my music in last.fm. But in every case those tags are locked into their respective applications. I may tag both bookmarks and email with ‘techtimes’ on del.icio.us and Gmail respectively when they have to do with my newsletter, but there is no place that I can go to see everything that I’ve tagged with ‘techtimes’.

Many of the successful new Web applications out there make it easy to breathe life into our static data by decorating it with all sorts of metadata. But by and large, when you take your data out of an application, you lose that metadata. As the metadata in our lives becomes as valuable as the data it describes, openness and portability will be equally valuable for our metadata as it is for our data.

Again, in most cases this is a problem solvable by a Web geek with a lot of spare time, but a clean solution for mainstream users will be needed before long.

So before you go looking for the next killer app, stop and think about some of the problems with existing killer apps that you might be able to solve instead. My bet is that the solutions to these problems will be killer apps in and of themselves.

Kevin YankKevin Yank
View Author

Kevin Yank is an accomplished web developer, speaker, trainer and author of Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP & MySQL and Co-Author of Simply JavaScript and Everything You Know About CSS is Wrong! Kevin loves to share his wealth of knowledge and it didn't stop at books, he's also the course instructor to 3 online courses in web development. Currently Kevin is the Director of Front End Engineering at Culture Amp.

Share this article
Read Next
How to Use jQuery’s ajax() Function for Asynchronous HTTP Requests
How to Use jQuery’s ajax() Function for Asynchronous HTTP Requests
Aurelio De RosaMaria Antonietta Perna
Quick Tip: How to Align Column Rows with CSS Subgrid
Quick Tip: How to Align Column Rows with CSS Subgrid
Ralph Mason
15 Top Web Design Tools & Resources To Try in 2024
15 Top Web Design Tools & Resources To Try in 2024
SitePoint Sponsors
7 Simple Rules for Better Data Visualization
7 Simple Rules for Better Data Visualization
Mariia Merkulova
Cloudways Autonomous: Fully-Managed Scalable WordPress Hosting
Cloudways Autonomous: Fully-Managed Scalable WordPress Hosting
SitePoint Team
Best Programming Language for AI
Best Programming Language for AI
Lucero del Alba
Quick Tip: How to Add Gradient Effects and Patterns to Text
Quick Tip: How to Add Gradient Effects and Patterns to Text
Ralph Mason
Logging Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide to Winston in Node.js
Logging Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide to Winston in Node.js
Vultr
How to Optimize Website Content for Featured Snippets
How to Optimize Website Content for Featured Snippets
Dipen Visavadiya
Psychology and UX: Decoding the Science Behind User Clicks
Psychology and UX: Decoding the Science Behind User Clicks
Tanya Kumari
Build a Full-stack App with Node.js and htmx
Build a Full-stack App with Node.js and htmx
James Hibbard
Digital Transformation with AI: The Benefits and Challenges
Digital Transformation with AI: The Benefits and Challenges
Priyanka Prajapat
Quick Tip: Creating a Date Picker in React
Quick Tip: Creating a Date Picker in React
Dianne Pena
How to Create Interactive Animations Using React Spring
How to Create Interactive Animations Using React Spring
Yemi Ojedapo
10 Reasons to Love Google Docs
10 Reasons to Love Google Docs
Joshua KrausZain Zaidi
How to Use Magento 2 for International Ecommerce Success
How to Use Magento 2 for International Ecommerce Success
Mitul Patel
5 Exciting New JavaScript Features in 2024
5 Exciting New JavaScript Features in 2024
Olivia GibsonDarren Jones
Tools and Strategies for Efficient Web Project Management
Tools and Strategies for Efficient Web Project Management
Juliet Ofoegbu
Choosing the Best WordPress CRM Plugin for Your Business
Choosing the Best WordPress CRM Plugin for Your Business
Neve Wilkinson
ChatGPT Plugins for Marketing Success
ChatGPT Plugins for Marketing Success
Neil Jordan
Managing Static Files in Django: A Comprehensive Guide
Managing Static Files in Django: A Comprehensive Guide
Kabaki Antony
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best React Website Builder
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best React Website Builder
Dianne Pena
Exploring the Creative Power of CSS Filters and Blending
Exploring the Creative Power of CSS Filters and Blending
Joan Ayebola
How to Use WebSockets in Node.js to Create Real-time Apps
How to Use WebSockets in Node.js to Create Real-time Apps
Craig Buckler
Best Node.js Framework Choices for Modern App Development
Best Node.js Framework Choices for Modern App Development
Dianne Pena
SaaS Boilerplates: What They Are, And 10 of the Best
SaaS Boilerplates: What They Are, And 10 of the Best
Zain Zaidi
Understanding Cookies and Sessions in React
Understanding Cookies and Sessions in React
Blessing Ene Anyebe
Enhanced Internationalization (i18n) in Next.js 14
Enhanced Internationalization (i18n) in Next.js 14
Emmanuel Onyeyaforo
Essential React Native Performance Tips and Tricks
Essential React Native Performance Tips and Tricks
Shaik Mukthahar
How to Use Server-sent Events in Node.js
How to Use Server-sent Events in Node.js
Craig Buckler
Five Simple Ways to Boost a WooCommerce Site’s Performance
Five Simple Ways to Boost a WooCommerce Site’s Performance
Palash Ghosh
Elevate Your Online Store with Top WooCommerce Plugins
Elevate Your Online Store with Top WooCommerce Plugins
Dianne Pena
Unleash Your Website’s Potential: Top 5 SEO Tools of 2024
Unleash Your Website’s Potential: Top 5 SEO Tools of 2024
Dianne Pena
How to Build a Chat Interface using Gradio & Vultr Cloud GPU
How to Build a Chat Interface using Gradio & Vultr Cloud GPU
Vultr
Enhance Your React Apps with ShadCn Utilities and Components
Enhance Your React Apps with ShadCn Utilities and Components
David Jaja
10 Best Create React App Alternatives for Different Use Cases
10 Best Create React App Alternatives for Different Use Cases
Zain Zaidi
Control Lazy Load, Infinite Scroll and Animations in React
Control Lazy Load, Infinite Scroll and Animations in React
Blessing Ene Anyebe
Building a Research Assistant Tool with AI and JavaScript
Building a Research Assistant Tool with AI and JavaScript
Mahmud Adeleye
Understanding React useEffect
Understanding React useEffect
Dianne Pena
Web Design Trends to Watch in 2024
Web Design Trends to Watch in 2024
Juliet Ofoegbu
Building a 3D Card Flip Animation with CSS Houdini
Building a 3D Card Flip Animation with CSS Houdini
Fred Zugs
How to Use ChatGPT in an Unavailable Country
How to Use ChatGPT in an Unavailable Country
Dianne Pena
An Introduction to Node.js Multithreading
An Introduction to Node.js Multithreading
Craig Buckler
How to Boost WordPress Security and Protect Your SEO Ranking
How to Boost WordPress Security and Protect Your SEO Ranking
Jaya Iyer
Understanding How ChatGPT Maintains Context
Understanding How ChatGPT Maintains Context
Dianne Pena
Building Interactive Data Visualizations with D3.js and React
Building Interactive Data Visualizations with D3.js and React
Oluwabusayo Jacobs
JavaScript vs Python: Which One Should You Learn First?
JavaScript vs Python: Which One Should You Learn First?
Olivia GibsonDarren Jones
13 Best Books, Courses and Communities for Learning React
13 Best Books, Courses and Communities for Learning React
Zain Zaidi
5 jQuery.each() Function Examples
5 jQuery.each() Function Examples
Florian RapplJames Hibbard
Implementing User Authentication in React Apps with Appwrite
Implementing User Authentication in React Apps with Appwrite
Yemi Ojedapo
AI-Powered Search Engine With Milvus Vector Database on Vultr
AI-Powered Search Engine With Milvus Vector Database on Vultr
Vultr
Understanding Signals in Django
Understanding Signals in Django
Kabaki Antony
Why React Icons May Be the Only Icon Library You Need
Why React Icons May Be the Only Icon Library You Need
Zain Zaidi
View Transitions in Astro
View Transitions in Astro
Tamas Piros
Getting Started with Content Collections in Astro
Getting Started with Content Collections in Astro
Tamas Piros
What Does the Java Virtual Machine Do All Day?
What Does the Java Virtual Machine Do All Day?
Peter Kessler
Become a Freelance Web Developer on Fiverr: Ultimate Guide
Become a Freelance Web Developer on Fiverr: Ultimate Guide
Mayank Singh
Layouts in Astro
Layouts in Astro
Tamas Piros
.NET 8: Blazor Render Modes Explained
.NET 8: Blazor Render Modes Explained
Peter De Tender
Mastering Node CSV
Mastering Node CSV
Dianne Pena
A Beginner’s Guide to SvelteKit
A Beginner’s Guide to SvelteKit
Erik KückelheimSimon Holthausen
Brighten Up Your Astro Site with KwesForms and Rive
Brighten Up Your Astro Site with KwesForms and Rive
Paul Scanlon
Which Programming Language Should I Learn First in 2024?
Which Programming Language Should I Learn First in 2024?
Joel Falconer
Managing PHP Versions with Laravel Herd
Managing PHP Versions with Laravel Herd
Dianne Pena
Accelerating the Cloud: The Final Steps
Accelerating the Cloud: The Final Steps
Dave Neary
An Alphebetized List of MIME Types
An Alphebetized List of MIME Types
Dianne Pena
The Best PHP Frameworks for 2024
The Best PHP Frameworks for 2024
Claudio Ribeiro
11 Best WordPress Themes for Developers & Designers in 2024
11 Best WordPress Themes for Developers & Designers in 2024
SitePoint Sponsors
Top 9 Best WordPress AI Plugins of 2024
Top 9 Best WordPress AI Plugins of 2024
Dianne Pena
20+ Tools for Node.js Development in 2024
20+ Tools for Node.js Development in 2024
Dianne Pena
The Best Figma Plugins to Enhance Your Design Workflow in 2024
The Best Figma Plugins to Enhance Your Design Workflow in 2024
Dianne Pena
Harnessing the Power of Zenserp for Advanced Search Engine Parsing
Harnessing the Power of Zenserp for Advanced Search Engine Parsing
Christopher Collins
Build Your Own AI Tools in Python Using the OpenAI API
Build Your Own AI Tools in Python Using the OpenAI API
Zain Zaidi
The Best React Chart Libraries for Data Visualization in 2024
The Best React Chart Libraries for Data Visualization in 2024
Dianne Pena
7 Free AI Logo Generators to Get Started
7 Free AI Logo Generators to Get Started
Zain Zaidi
Turn Your Vue App into an Offline-ready Progressive Web App
Turn Your Vue App into an Offline-ready Progressive Web App
Imran Alam
Clean Architecture: Theming with Tailwind and CSS Variables
Clean Architecture: Theming with Tailwind and CSS Variables
Emmanuel Onyeyaforo
How to Analyze Large Text Datasets with LangChain and Python
How to Analyze Large Text Datasets with LangChain and Python
Matt Nikonorov
6 Techniques for Conditional Rendering in React, with Examples
6 Techniques for Conditional Rendering in React, with Examples
Yemi Ojedapo
Introducing STRICH: Barcode Scanning for Web Apps
Introducing STRICH: Barcode Scanning for Web Apps
Alex Suzuki
Using Nodemon and Watch in Node.js for Live Restarts
Using Nodemon and Watch in Node.js for Live Restarts
Craig Buckler
Task Automation and Debugging with AI-Powered Tools
Task Automation and Debugging with AI-Powered Tools
Timi Omoyeni
Quick Tip: Understanding React Tooltip
Quick Tip: Understanding React Tooltip
Dianne Pena
12 Outstanding AI Tools that Enhance Efficiency & Productivity
12 Outstanding AI Tools that Enhance Efficiency & Productivity
Ilija Sekulov
React Performance Optimization
React Performance Optimization
Blessing Ene Anyebe
Introducing Chatbots and Large Language Models (LLMs)
Introducing Chatbots and Large Language Models (LLMs)
Timi Omoyeni
Migrate to Ampere on OCI with Heterogeneous Kubernetes Clusters
Migrate to Ampere on OCI with Heterogeneous Kubernetes Clusters
Ampere Computing
Scale Your React App with Storybook and Chromatic
Scale Your React App with Storybook and Chromatic
Daine Mawer
10 Tips for Implementing Webflow On-page SEO
10 Tips for Implementing Webflow On-page SEO
Milan Vracar
Create Dynamic Web Experiences with Interactive SVG Animations
Create Dynamic Web Experiences with Interactive SVG Animations
Patricia Egyed
5 React Architecture Best Practices for 2024
5 React Architecture Best Practices for 2024
Sebastian Deutsch
How to Create Animated GIFs from GSAP Animations
How to Create Animated GIFs from GSAP Animations
Paul Scanlon
Aligning Teams for Effective User Onboarding Success
Aligning Teams for Effective User Onboarding Success
Himanshu Sharma
How to use the File System in Node.js
How to use the File System in Node.js
Craig Buckler
Laravel vs CodeIgniter: A Comprehensive Comparison
Laravel vs CodeIgniter: A Comprehensive Comparison
Dianne Pena
Essential Tips and Tricks for Coding HTML Emails
Essential Tips and Tricks for Coding HTML Emails
Rémi Parmentier
How to Create a Sortable and Filterable Table in React
How to Create a Sortable and Filterable Table in React
Ferenc Almasi
WooCommerce vs Wix: Which Is Best for Your Next Online Store
WooCommerce vs Wix: Which Is Best for Your Next Online Store
Priyanka Prajapati
GCC Guide for Ampere Processors
GCC Guide for Ampere Processors
John O’Neill
Navigating Data Management: Warehouses, Lakes and Lakehouses
Navigating Data Management: Warehouses, Lakes and Lakehouses
Leonid Chashnikov
Get the freshest news and resources for developers, designers and digital creators in your inbox each week