SAN FRANCISCO -- Web 2.0 Expo -- It will be a big week for
product announcements, with technology vendors from across the globe congregating
in San Francisco for the Web 2.0 Expo, co-produced by TechWeb and O'Reilly Media. One such company using its megaphone today is Silicon Valley-based Vysr Inc. with the launch of its new "user-centric"
product, RoamAbout -- a tool that lets consumers drag their favorite Web services
and social networks along with them on their Webward journeys.
During a pre-Expo briefing with Vysr CEO Guda Venkatesh, I
saw the workings of RoamAbout, a
downloadable, portable browser plug-in intended to solve the problem of
having to leave one Website to accomplish a task on another, by putting several
services (weather, stock quotes, directions, email, etc.) at the users'
bloodied fingertips.
Thus, rather than having to leave the Internet Evolution
site (because GOD knows it pains you to do so) to get a Google stock price, with
RoamAbout you can just copy and paste one of my numerous, nefarious Google references into
the RoamAbout stock tool that lingers discreetly at the side of your browser screen. Additionally, RoamAbout will include a portable chat feature and a tool that reads text from a Web page aloud.
But wait: Doesn't this idea of making several Web services easily accessible from one Web spot sound kind of familiar?
A few months back, Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) CEO Jerry Yang proposed that Yahoo would be
taking on a similar endeavor with its own site, but this has failed to fully materialize. "Yahoo has done something like
this on their site itself," says Venkatesh, referring to Yahoo's "Smart Tips"-enabled sites. "But they have to work individually
with these sites," whereas RoamAbout can be downloaded as a plug-in for use on any Website.
Nevertheless, in its present state, the RoamAbout product is limited. Users who want to use the RoamAbout tool to email their pals from whatever site they're on are currently restricted to Gmail, Yahoo mail, and Facebook mail. Additionally, Vysr has yet
to develop or acquire a service for cellphone messaging -- a popular medium. However, Venkatesh
stresses that a third-party developer can take this on. So far,
he says, Vysr has about 10 APIs, with more to come out "every
week."
Despite my prodding, Venkatesh was reluctant to label his product
a Web 3.0 application, saying he'll leave it up to the media to determine that. "For us it's basically making Web 2.0 services extremely useful and convenient
for people."
Useful Web 2.0 applications? Who would've thunk
it plausible...
Vysr is no big deal.It is still the web seen thru a 4x3 flat window.
The real ‘roam about’ web will be tied to you GPS locations, the ambient noise level, your mental state as evidenced by your blood pressure and body temperature.The pervasive web will be context aware and follow you- and give you information relevant to your place, time and mental state.It will be in your jewelry, your phone, your key chain and your car.You will hear it in your earpiece- you will see it on any flat surface where you look. You will interact with it via gesture and speech.
"We tend to overestimate what will happen in five years, and underestimate what will happen in 10"
Bill Gates
The pervasive web is about 7 years out, but no more.
C'mon Venkatech, why hesitant to call RoamAbout a Web 3.0 product?? Well we at IE will not hesitate to tag it so as this will afford us the opportunity to start discussing Web 4.0 ideas!!!! Why not start givig us some Web 4.0 Posts?? It seems the Tech people are following the footsteps of the Geologist of being obsessed with nomenclature. My Advisor once told me that the Geologist just like inventing new names for the same rock!!
Great product and will definitely enrich our multitasking experience. Well it's easier to knock out a boxer like Yahoo that is just in the ring for money!!!
The ThinkerNet does not reflect the views of TechWeb. The ThinkerNet is an informal means of communication to members and visitors of the Internet Evolution site. Individual authors are chosen by Internet Evolution to blog. Neither Internet Evolution nor TechWeb assume responsibility for comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and ThinkerNet bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose.
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