While it may not create a shockwave like a meteorite crashing into Earth, the “collision” of new generation audiovisual technology has profoundly impacted the modern media landscape.
Media is increasingly becoming “personalized” thanks to digital content creation tools such as blogs, podcasts, wikis, multiplayer games, and mashups, which are easy to use and cost-effective.
The distribution process of content has also become cheaper and easier through mobile phones and the Internet, which serve as global platforms and are among the most important communication mediums of the future. The “personal” aspect of media is also reflected in the fact that viewers are no longer passive; they have shifted to a more “interactive” role, allowing them to write, edit, and provide feedback directly on the pages they are reading.
Blogs
Blogs (short for weblogs) are gaining significant attention as they allow individuals to “read and write,” in contrast to the “read-only” websites of the 1990s. A blog essentially functions as an online diary arranged in chronological order, with the latest information displayed at the top. They contain links or references to many other sites and allow readers to comment directly on the page.
Wikis
Each wiki is a website that allows anyone to edit any information they read on it. Many are concerned that this could lead to chaotic content, but that has not been the case. The Wikipedia project—an online encyclopedia—currently has over a million entries in various languages and, though not perfect, has become a highly valuable reference for millions of Internet users.
Podcasts
Podcasts are defined as “recorded radio programs or audio files that are posted online, allowing people to download them to personal digital devices.” This technology began to spread after Apple announced support for the service in iTunes and iPod. As a result, podcasts are sometimes seen as a blend of two concepts: broadcasting and Apple’s iPod.
The second generation of video podcasts will still face various challenges in content creation and editing before they can become mainstream.
Web Mashups
The “sweep” of Web 2.0 is clearly visible in Silicon Valley (the largest tech hub in the U.S.). More and more companies are releasing programs that allow for the integration of data and services across different business websites. These are creatively and intelligently blended (mashed up). For example, ChicagoCrime.org overlays crime data provided by the government onto Google Maps, offering users additional detailed information.
Web Wide Word
Recently, the prestigious Forbes magazine introduced a new term: “Web Wide Word,” a play on the phrase “World Wide Web” to refer to online word processing programs like Writely from Upstartle (now part of Google).
Observers believe this is the moment to move office work onto the web, where documents are no longer fixed to computer hard drives. This is entirely feasible thanks to Web 2.0 technology or SaaS (Software as a Service).
Most of this “migration” process involves a collection of technologies collectively known as AJAX. AJAX allows for quick information exchange between remote clients and servers. The entire data on the page does not need to reload (refresh) every time the user processes information, meaning it only reloads the changed data.
The trend of “browserware” (a blend of software, hardware, and browser) has penetrated the business world with products like Salesforce and NetSuite, while the Microsoft Office Live program is still in the testing phase. Although not yet fully refined, a widely praised product is Writely—a web-based word processor that includes all essential features. Its functionality makes users feel as if they are still using a version of Microsoft Word, except that it runs in a browser and documents are saved directly on Writely’s site.
A document file on Writely has a limit of 500 KB, plus an additional 2 MB for each inserted image—ample size for most ordinary users. People can edit documents on any system—Windows, Mac, or Linux—as long as it has a standard browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox (the program is not compatible with Safari and Opera).
When a group of people collaborates on a document, they can log in from different locations and see what others are typing almost instantly. Writely continuously autosaves changes to the server, ensuring that everyone receives the most up-to-date information. The program even notifies users if two people are editing different text segments simultaneously.
Editing capabilities such as drag-and-drop and spell-checking are commendable for a browser-dependent program. Writely also allows users to undo changes and save previous versions for comparison with the latest one.
Of course, Writely cannot function without an Internet connection. However, it allows for saving documents in various formats, including Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, and HTML. One minor drawback is that despite having 18 fonts and 7 sizes, users cannot set a default font for all documents.
Currently, Writely’s software and storage are completely free and ad-free. However, in the future, Google plans to charge for certain features. Regardless, Writely remains more effective and appealing than many expensive word processors.
P.T
