The centrality of the web browser as a surfing medium has been very cyclic over the years. The utility and interface of prehistoric browsers such as NCSA Netscape 4 and Internet Explorer 4 was very static and limited, but they served as the main portal to the world-wide web. Many advanced users would nevertheless resort to shell-based connectivity, such as Telnet for basic internet services (e.g. IRC, mail, news). Then came dynamic HTML and Javascript, which provided some user interactivity. But with the advent of XML and web services, people began thinking outside the box, even contemplating the end of HTML. The birth of fourth generation browsers like Firefox, Safari, and Opera, did not tickle users’ fancy, despite the fact that they incorporated and espoused web services principles. Some technologists even called for the end of the web browser. Those fears, though, stemmed from a failure to separate the idea of web development from web browser development. Modern browsers have, for a long time, enabled advanced functionality. That’s why so many people were blown away when Google Maps did their magic right on their trusty ol’ browsers. Ajax and the Web 2.0 revolution have since been reasserting the web browser as a prime medium not only for web surfing, but for general applications. With ubiquitous internet connections, there is even an argument over whether the browser will replace the desktop.
But the truth is that, with RSS and other XML web services, the user web experience is gradually becoming more decentralized. Delivered content is no longer tied to its presentation. The end-user can decide how, and when, to view it. Web services have enabled this decentralization a long time ago. It has just taken this long for specific implementations to realize this. There are now countless applications, big and small, that deliver downloaded content in one form or another, right over HTTP.
For example, on my Mac I’ve been using NetNewsWire Lite as an RSS reader. It is a great app that aggregates blog and news feeds into one interface. I can read content on-demand, and offline. One terrific usage is the ability to subscribe to RSS feeds of custom Google News. So I get news about Lance Armstrong instantly delivered right to my door step, whenever it is reported. Listening and subscribing to podcasts through iTunes is another realization of web services at work.
But I think the finest example of the decentralized user experience is desktop widgets. The most popular flavors are Apple’s Dashboard (which I use) and Yahoo! Widgets Engine. These applications deliver custom content in cute little, well, widgets. The technology is built on web services and the interface is provided in HTML. While in its infancy, I think that the widget framework has a huge potential. With existing widget support for Ajax, it could conceivably replace web browsers altogether.
The strides being made with Ajax and Web 2.0 are nevertheless establishing the web browser as an extremely essential component in the user-experience. Presentation of content is still very important, and website designers have gone to great lengths to provide simple and beautiful webpages. Sites like Technorati.com, Digg.com, and the brand-spankin’-new Zillow.com, are reason enough why the browser is not going away anytime soon.
Technorati Tags: software, internet, web, ajax, xml, rss, web 2.0, mac, netnewswire lite, widgets
