For me some defining characteristics of social computing (or web 2.0 as some call it) have been (a) democratization of the process of creation, enabling user generated content; and (b) mashing up of different applications and media to create something new.

These characteristics are [...]

Another key feature of the future will be an increased importance in data management to enable the semantic web.

Databases are the key to the future of the web. Until now we have focused on the frontend of the web, developing RIAs (Rich Internet [...]

Over lunch the other day with some girl geek buddies talk came around, as it does, to the revolutionary nature of community on the internet. It reminded me of this quote from the noted anarchist Emma Goldman.

So much of the discussion [...]

New Interfaces are another area in which we can expect to see change. Since the development of the mouse and touch screens we have not seen any significant improvements in how we interact with devices.

However, over the next few years we will see [...]

It has been prevalent among many cultures to laugh at geeks. But this is a shortsighted approach to this special breed.

Geeks have been with us for a long time. Back in our cave dwelling days, while most of the tribe were running around [...]

Another area that is enabled by wireless technology and miniaturization is wearable computing.

Already we are seeing wearable computing in daily life with integrated wearable technology beginning to be commercially available. Nike Plus and Adidas adiStar Fusion running shoes are already on the market [...]

I had the distinct pleasure of talking with Mark Jones, Paul Kangro (Novell), Greg Luck (Wotif), and Matthew Mengerink (PayPal) while recording the The Scoop podcast recently (the show will be posted soon). Our conversation got me thinking about where Open Source [...]

According to AdBusters it is Buy Nothing Day on either 28th Nov (US) or 29th Nov (Int’l).

Perhaps after the GFC (Global Financial Crisis) outbreak it is time to think about how we spend and what we spend it on? Worth thinking about at [...]