Week 2 - Questions (Part 2)

What are the 6 Webs?

The six webs, as described by Bill Joy are:

The "Near Web" - the version of the internet that is "near" to you. For example when you log on to the internet at home to check your e-mail or Moodle (:P) This is a 'tangible' web that is often associated with a PC or notebook, or like device, which includes a keyboard

The "Here Web" - refers to the devices which enable you to access the internet "here and now" - iPhones, iPads, Android phones, tablets, etc all allow for you to take the internet with you, and use it wherever you may be. Another 'tangible' web.

The "Far Web" - accessing the internet remotely through a remote control or the like. I am not 100% sure of the examples for this form of web, as it seems a lot more technical than the first two and I am not sure that my understanding of it is as complete. I would assume it relates to the new range of internet-capable TV's though, as these devices seem to fit the "Weird" web criteria.

The 'Weird" Web - new applications for the internet, most notably voice commands enabling all the things which we usually require a keyboard for. According to Joy, this is where a lot of entrepeneurial activity is heading towards now. With the "Weird" web, a voice scripting would allow you to ask for information vocally, and the internet would recognize your request and bring you results, which up till now has traditionally been achieved by a keyboard or stylus.

The "B2B" web - this is an 'intangible' web, which allows for direct communication between businesses computers. It would not have any user interface (hence being intangible) but would be used to smooth out and streamline otherwise tedious or time consuming business processes

The "D2D" web - the second of the 'intangible' webs and previously known as the "pervasive" web. This web would allow for an almost omniscient web of information, which would be collected and self monitored by sensors. In theory, it would allow for monitoring and managing a whole building with a machine intelligence. This web does not exist yet though.


What does this mean for business?

The theory of the Six Webs means that eBusiness and eCommerce are definitely the way of doing business in the future, given that between the Six webs, the internet is becoming not just a tool, but a way of life and ever more present in every aspect of our lives. Businesses which do not embrace the internet and the opportunities for reaching customers through this medium (on ALL of the 'Six Webs' are falling behind in profitability and sales, as we increasingly become dependant on the internet and it becomes available to us on more and more devices. Proactive businesses are already trying to transition themselves from being purely "Near" web companies to trying to encompass the "Here", "Far" and "Weird" webs as well, to increase brand recognition and marketing opportunities.


Could there be more webs?

I think that down the track there will be more webs, as technology advances, the capabilities of machines and the internet will only grow, and thus more webs will need to be "invented" to allow for the newer functions and abilities of the internet which are not yet covered by any of the existing webs.



References:

"The Six Webs you might have overlooked" Gretchen Hyman (iMedia Communications
Posted March 7th, 2011, viewed 25th August 2011
http://blogs.imediaconnection.com/blog/2011/03/07/the-6-webs-you-might-have-overlooked/

Video - Bill Joy talks about the Six Webs
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/324/

*I used a transcript of the Bill Joy interview, but I cannot find it again. I used the video as a reference as the transcript was derived word for word from the video