“Network and Information Service in the XXI Century”

My Cuban friend had passed the open question: “What is the network and information service in the XXI century?” An interesting question while I am just contemplating the future of culture websites and services. Before putting the thoughts on the table, I would like to refer to one recently viewed video first.

Recently I had watched Microsoft Concept Video: “Productivity Future Vision”. I am kind of happy with it, but found out a lot of similar experiences were gain from non-Microsoft software and services, like some Apple & google products and other 3rd party softwares and services.

It has been years since last concept video of Microsoft Productivity Future Vision. But the proximity of the displayed realities changes. Those trendies are more around the corner than before. Why? In these years the booming of iPhone and iPad (and other Android tablets) had brought our virtual existence to a totally different level. So the question right now is not “is it possible?” or “aren’t they amazing?”, but “which path and how could we get there?”.

There are important currents of ICT development behind those “concept” videos. The most popular one is ubiquitous computing. There are a lot of names referring to the same important phenomena: pervasive computing, ubicomp, smart planet, ambient technology, etc. From the object’s side it syndicated, the current is named “IOT” (Internet of Things). The author of “The Internet of Things: A Critique of Ambient Technology and the All-Seeing Networks of RFIDs“, Rob van Kranenburng (who is also our 2008 Culturemondo Roundtable discussant) their recently collaborated published essay “Discussion Paper on the Internet of Things commissioned by the Institute for Internet and Society, Berlin“(PDF) had an excellent review of its development.

Another pioneer in this field is the urban designer Adam Greenfield with his 2006 famous book: “Everyware: The dawning age of ubiquitous computing“. With its provided 7 sections and 81 theses, Adam Greenfield had outlined the basic principles and issues involving the new emerging trend. Both identifying the social issues, the new technologies are from the beginning a new challenge to not only technical & business people, but a new governance’s dark corner and new supporting force for empowerment.

Based on these pioneering foundation stones — ubiquitous computing, IOT and everyware — above, what’s the vision of we could generate toward the “network and information service in the XXI century”? I think three directions should be highlighted at the dawning stage:

1. infrastructure: the new network and information service would be designed and separated into layerized structure, which infrastructure would play the role of support and resources deployment automation. The cloud awareness would be brought into every discipline and redefine the workflow and operational definition of the previous paradigm. Some interesting breakthrough would happen among the edges and intersections of layers and within infrastructure.

2. integration: a cross layer data and technologies integration would blur the boundaries of software, hardware, and services. The requests are met regardless of any under-layer solutions and seemed as a orchestrated whole to deliver that solution. The surprises would laid on the lately just arrived social, emotional serendipity we gained from the overall satisfaction where mobile phone had promised before. Great user experience models and new interface technologies would develop feedback that includes human beings as one of the co-evolution mind system.

3. interaction: heavy protocols are needed to communicate within multiple roles of such new ecological system. Data, software, hardware, sensors, services, and human beings actions all need to communicate with each other frequently and rapidly. The behavior of the output of each would be weaved into the further fabric of a dynamic, vital cyborgial scene. The current Linked Open Data (LOD) discussion is just the beginning of a new data landscape. Interoperability and connectivity would have new meanings in the coming months and years.

Japanese ALFAE(Area-wide eLaboratory of Food, Agriculture and Environment) Foundation director Takahashi Kameoka had mentioned the future scenario of ubiquitous computing as the “meta-disciplinary”. The dissolving of boundaries and cross-layer integration, with the strong infrastructural support and highly sophisticated interaction would bring out new challenges beyond the current capacities of any given single organization and governance system. It requires a new mindset to face it and establish the dialogue. That’s also why European Union had stepped in the field and had starting to prepare for it.

When back to the concept video Microsoft had presented to us, the future is not there yet if business companies only lift the flag flying. It is a huge transformation (if not the Great Transformation, as Polanyi had said) and government, private sector and public sphere would be all involving. At this time, with all us thinking minds, knowledge and apparatus connected, the stories shall be different and … more interesting.

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