The Internet elves

It seems that the world had barely time to wrap its head around the concept of the static Web page, when dynamic content was forced upon us.

[VIDEO]People were still trying to understand the implications of a global network capable of displaying rich content for a relatively low cost, when it all went dynamic, with the help of technologies like CGI and ISAPI. Suddenly, content could change depending on who you are, what the latest information was, where you were logging in from... it was a little too much to take in all at once.

The possibilities seemed endless. Surely we could have settled at that point for many years, without pushing the boundaries of possibility.

But no, the technology gurus were determined to push the envelope. Next came interactivity. I could talk to the machine. I could move the mouse and things would happen. Content was now more than dynamic - I was actually able to interact with it. Once again the limits to this seemed unfathomable. And yet again, the Web pundits did not pause for breath, but pushed on.

Someone had the brilliant idea of moving money over the Internet, and e-commerce became the buzzword for a time.

I will not have to pick up a phone, and one day I probably won`t have to even log onto the Internet to put an order through.

Jason Norwood-Young, Technology editor, ITWeb

Applications were the next thing. I no longer had to be at any specific place or time to perform my job functions. I could reduce cost to company by outsourcing the essential tools of my organisation. This extension of the Web seemed mind-blowing, limitless. Surely we would pause for breath now?

No, still not. Some evil power has refused us rest. We must continue to push the envelope - to take the Web to its next step. The decision was effected throughout the IT community almost simultaneously. Over the last two weeks, many of the major IT companies have alluded to it. The next Internet wave, it has been decided by the powers that be, will be a service-based Web.

At least that`s what I`m calling it. Novell is calling its version "widgets", and it fits in nicely with Novell`s ASP-type portal services. Sun is calling its services "smart Web services", which is about the best name used so far. Microsoft has the concept entrenched in its .NET strategy, as far as I can tell (I`ll have to see some product before I`m convinced).

These services are kind of like applications, except that they do their own thing, rather than rely on human intervention. They talk to each other, they look after each other, they feed each other information, and do the work for us.

It`s all like something out of an Asimov novel - the world is becoming automated to the nth, taking the burden off of mankind`s shoulders so that he can spend more time at work (at least that`s what happened with the industrial revolution, which was meant to give us so much time on our hands). These little intelligent services will take care of the boring stuff - moving money, keeping our customers up to date with our price lists, and purchasing what we need.

The amazing thing, in an IT sense, is that no matter who the vendor of each specific service is, they will all talk to each other. At last, the fairly simple but immensely powerful XML standard, combined with a standard directory for all the services to recognise one another (LDAP), and a few other emerging technologies, all guarantee interoperability for the first time.

My JD Edwards procurement module will speak to my Commerce One Portal to buy my product, which will then speak to my supplier`s SAP system, which will chat to his Microsoft e-commerce engine, send the message on to his Siebel CRM system and Great Plains accounting system and Java-enabled Oracle database and God knows what else, and somewhere along the line I will actually get the product I asked for.

I will not have to pick up a phone, and one day I probably won`t have to even log onto the Internet to put an order through. Things will just happen. My ERP system will know when I`m low on some or other essential supply that I need for my business, and just go about ordering it for me, because it knows I want it.

Actually, I`m getting a bit ahead of myself. What I`m describing is the logical conclusion of the Internet, while we flounder somewhere in the middle. The assumption that all these services really will work together is a little optimistic considering previous experiences of incompatibility on much simpler levels. The services concept is coming. Some of it is already here.

As far as I can tell, the Internet elves brought it quietly overnight some time last week while no one was really paying attention. It sounds cool and full of infinite possibilities. It almost sounds like the logical conclusion of the Internet`s natural evolution. In reality, we will not even pause to consider its implications before launching onto the Next Big Thing.