2 Comments »Over the past few months there has been a lot of things happening in response to the launch of Facebook’s platform. Overnight, developers became celebrities, venture capitalists scrambled for ideas and entrepreneurs began planning world domination. Something huge happened and everyone in the technology world knows it. Thanks to this blog I have the pleasure of frequently speaking to executives from a large number of the companies involved. I also occasionally speak with those looking to get involved but don’t know how to do it.
As you probably know, I have also entered the marketplace by providing consulting and development services to clients. While business continues to grow I have to occasionally step back to try to grasp everything that is happening around us. Honestly, a large portion of leaders in the social networking space still don’t know what to make of it, but one after the other I’m hearing about the next social networking site that has plans to open up their platform. Many users don’t realize the technical challenge of opening up a platform. Owners of the super-power and influencer social networks (as Hooman Radfar calls them) realize the technical accomplishment but are still willing to try to do it on their own. This doesn’t mean they will succeed though given that many of them are not organized as well as Facebook.
All that I can conclude in watching all of the chaos taking place in the valley, the alley and the rest of the tech world is that change is happening. Change is constant, but occasionally an industry needs a kick start after enjoying the luxuries earned through leveraging their knowledge. So where are people going now that they are inspired to make a change and build new things? All over the place, but I believe in a few people that are going to be able to see right through the chaos and build something spectacular that will make people see why the social graph is so important.
The best part about all of this is that it still hasn’t happened. There is something bigger that is brewing beneath the surface and I have a feeling that we’ll see it in the coming months. I have my ideas about what it may be, but then again I can’t see the future. Do you have any ideas about what is really going to make people realize the significance of this platform and all the others that are preparing to launch? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Nick-
I totally agree with you that a couple of heavyweights will step up to the plate, cut through clutter, and bring something to the world even larger and more spectacular than Facebook. Who and when? The postman’s guess would be as good as mine.
As far as what it will take to get people to realize the significance of these wonderful developments, well that a whole other story. It quite simply comes down to those who get it, and those who don’t. As common knowledge and the course of technology exponentially speed up, there will eventually be some sort of mass convergence. I envision a point where you will no longer need multiple sources or forms of technology (social graphs included) to achieve whatever you want. You will simply be “plugged” into some form of network (I know, it’s all so “borg-like”, but its already headed in that direction). I think the only thing holding many people back is how overwhelming the choices are. Maybe (and not necessarily to anyones benefit) we’ll see a mass conglomeration of companies and outlets, much like what has happened to the recording and news industries. Actually, not even maybe…that’s already taking place. Unfortunately, this always affects innovation, but it would certainly have the power to shrink the gap between the technology “haves” and “have nots”. Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m certainly not in support of one or two “Uber Companies” running the show, it’s just the way world currently works. Maybe something so revolutionary comes along that it will turn things upside down… here’s to hoping for it, at least.
Nick-
I totally agree with you that a couple of heavyweights will step up to the plate, cut through clutter, and bring something to the world even larger and more spectacular than Facebook. Who and when? The postman’s guess would be as good as mine.
As far as what it will take to get people to realize the significance of these wonderful developments, well that a whole other story. It quite simply comes down to those who get it, and those who don’t. As common knowledge and the course of technology exponentially speed up, there will eventually be some sort of mass convergence. I envision a point where you will no longer need multiple sources or forms of technology (social graphs included) to achieve whatever you want. You will simply be “plugged” into some form of network (I know, it’s all so “borg-like”, but its already headed in that direction). I think the only thing holding many people back is how overwhelming the choices are. Maybe (and not necessarily to anyones benefit) we’ll see a mass conglomeration of companies and outlets, much like what has happened to the recording and news industries. Actually, not even maybe…that’s already taking place. Unfortunately, this always affects innovation, but it would certainly have the power to shrink the gap between the technology “haves” and “have nots”. Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m certainly not in support of one or two “Uber Companies” running the show, it’s just the way world currently works. Maybe something so revolutionary comes along that it will turn things upside down… here’s to hoping for it, at least.