Innovation at the Edge of the Web
October 30, 2007
There’s a lot of talk going on right now about whether web firms are innovating or just… bubbling. While the core may be going through a (necessary) consolidation phase, there are vital new spaces around it composed of companies that are just as much built on the web, but expanding outward from there rather than turning inward.
The variety here is impressive. Location based technologies, robotic integration, networked medical devices, and many others are all seeing explosive innovation as technology catches up with the visions.
The new area of manufacturing as a service (MaaS) is already gaining traction. The integration of networked processing, personalization, and physical production opens up entirely new possibilities in physical goods.
For ouroboros web firms, innovation may be drying up. For those looking outward, the possibilities are almost overwhelming as we work to bring the best of the web to the 99% of the world that isn’t contained within a browser window.
