In its early 40s, the internet has quickly changed the way people communicate, shop and process information in its relatively short lifespan. From the slow-moving clicks of Netscape to today’s multi-platform internet faces, the internet is constantly changing its identity as successfully as Madonna. You better believe that it’s not done with its redefinition and possibility. Every decade these changes happen more quickly. Here’s what we might expect in the next years when it comes to the internet.
Surf From Your Cutting Board
Add an interface and a touch-screen, and you’ll be able to surf from your cutting board. You can search for recipes or look up ingredient substations without worrying about greasy fingers ruining your smartphone. The challenges to this invention include the fear that the net will not be able to stay neutral. There is a fear that the more the internet gets incorporated into day to day life, the more advertising will take hold of its presentation. In the meantime, we will be seeing everything from cutting boards to coffee machines turning up with touch screens and internet access.
.Com Will End
The .com is the ever pervasive ending to most web sites. Today with most domain names getting used, companies are turning to new extensions. The result may be that we can drop the www at the beginning of a URL. And we’ll see the increase of play with sub domains. Real visionaries imagine the internet moving away from addresses altogether in deference to search engines, communities, and RSS readers.
Input Will Change
Tiny screens and awkward digit pads can make user experience less than ideal. Our use of input on smartphones and lap tops is informed by a pretty traditional mode of entering input into a machine. The future will see less use of the mouse and tricky digital pads in exchange for touch screen technology and a technology called, “gesture implementation,” which senses the smallest of gestures in order to trigger a result. We’ll have to move less; maybe we can say goodbye to carpel tunnel.
Shift From Eyes to Ears
We’ve seen this shift happen already when it comes to voice recognition on cell phones. But we’ll see this technology growing in the years to come with screen readers become more and more usable. The internet will start reading to us making it easier to multi-task, drive and move faster in general. These audio devices will also improve over time so that they’re not mistaking input or taking annoyingly long to get it straight. You’ll also be able to surf the internet by voice command beyond the Google search you’re able to do today. Kids could get step-by-step tutorials from an actual voice. Language learning could be easier online. And users could have help with casual multitasking.
The internet has improved by leaps and bounds from the time of its advent to now. For a tool that has all but completely changed the way we live, the future is going to prove fascinating. We’ll see the internet changing our lives even more; just wait and see.
Eric Lustig writes articles describing the future of technology. At Internetproviders.org they can offer a variety of internet servers, plans and prices to choose from for the best internet experience.
