Show of hands: who remembers WebTV? It was a great idea that was ahead of its time. Today, though, it seems like every product under the sun is Internet-connected, whether there’s demonstrable benefit or not. Sure, there’s an in-dash computer in a Ford F150 pickup allows service techs to browse the web. Is that a good idea?
Tech companies are struggling with the question of whether it’s gadgets or services that consumers want. As the New York Times observes, “If the most exciting thing about your phone or truck or TV is the Web sites you go to and the software applications you download, then the device itself is less important.”
I love the idea of “Internet everywhere”, but I temper that burning desire for ubiquitous access with an understanding of the limitations of the devices I use for that access. If devices can access and install software updates automatically, that’s a good use for Internet access. Allowing service techs to browse the web from a truck’s in-dash computer seems less good to me: surely the shop will have a dedicated terminal from which they can access the Ford website? Why should these guys be rubbing their greasy paws on my GPS system so they can check my cotter pins?
The beauty of the Internet is that it’s scalable. There is no reason to offer the full Internet in contexts where only a little Internet is better. The Internet is also best in non-dedicated devices. Think about in-car entertainment systems with 40 gigabyte drives hidden somewhere in the car. This system will be wonderfully quaint in a few years and downright obsolete in a few more. I’d rather be able to browse the web from my phone than my car simply because the pace of in-car electronics is outstripped by the pace of cellphone improvements.
In short, we don’t need Internet everywhere - we need it where it makes sense.
I would love for the Internet to surround me. I wish I could visit my RSS feeds while dreaming. I have a serious addiction to technology, but, since it is my profession, it is clearly healthy (this is what I keep telling myself).
Go Inter-tubes!
Pretty soon devices will either be on or off, there will be no ‘internet’ like we talk about it today because it’ll just be there.
WebTV was a great idea back in the day, but tomorrow the TV will just be another client to our connected life.
I think consumers want gadgets and services, so why not give them both.
I cannot wait until internet is standard in all new vehicles. I look forward to integrating our hosted video camera solution into cars with wifi so we no longer need 3G cards to do it.
http://www.secure-i.com
Nice article,
Dre
I don’t think that we need the internet everywhere, but I agree with Eric. We will eventually find a way to link the human mind to the internet, maybe via nanotechnology with “Matrix-like” implications.
Anything is possible…
The Noz is on the Internet!
Strange how many project were ahead of their time. I had Prodigy back in ‘89 on my 2800 baud modem which was cutting edge at the time. The internet has change lots of industries. Just look at the newspapers companies falling to the ground.
It will only be as useful as the access. And the access will always cost money, a lot of money. As things have progressed since the intro of widespread Cable/DSL in the late 90’s, the cost for access has actually gone up with no end in site. I am tired of all my “access” (phone, internet,cable,cell) having an minimum cost of entry over $40 and climbing. Until that barrier to entry (real free) is gone, the internet will never be “ubiquitous
I think we are seeing a nice natural progression from Wi-Fi Hotspots only to 3G Modems, then to cars with in built internet, I presume you would be able to secure the network, although it would be cool if they could offer a shared internet solution for other road users, but just think of the exploits that could occur on that person’s network :)
I can think of a TON of ideas for the internet for yoru car!!
how about personalized displays: dont car about your RPM?.. but DO care about traffic updates?.. lets make the speedometer display a desk top!
stuck in traffic?.. how about Traffic Chat?.. or web cam chat?
closest gas station?
resteraunt reviews?
automated air conditioning?
there are TONS of things you can do with automovitve internet..
you just have to execute them well.. ( and safely)
Or..how about a website that shows a realtime display of your car’s speedometer while your teenager is out driving it. With remote control over the brake pedal.
Or Pandora available everywhere instead of stupid XM Radio.
We just spent two weeks on a tiny Panamanian island, far away from the web. It was a nice breather, and we chose it intentionally for the fact that it was an Internet-free zone. I didn’t trust myself to stay off the web if it was available.
Now, if we could just get ubiquitous mobile power, I’d be happy.
Is this TechCrunch or CrunchGear? Seems to be an aweful lot of commenting/ranting going on and a lot less gadgets. You guys get kicked out of CES or something?
It’s a bit of both right now. You’ve probably seen a lot of gadgets on TC due to CES, too. The post-CES time is a slump for gadget news, obviously, so we’re covering nonstandard stuff. Either way we want to know what you think though, so keep commenting.
Hmmm…services on gadgets possibly?
My aunt still uses MSN TV (which bought WebTV) for email and a little bit of web surfing. She prefers Internet-as-service and has no interest in “upgrading” to a real computer that she has to learn to use and maintain, even if it’s ridiculously more powerful.
Where’s the equivalent service for today? Wii running Opera on HDTV? Maybe a netbook? What she needs is a computer that’s remotely managed the way mobile phones are today. An iPhone connected to a monitor and keyboard would be perfect.
I totally agree with you… it is much better to have an Interent access through phone than in a car device for many reasons, but you explained it well.
Greg
crazy people unplug from the matrix don’t try to push us there.