Where Do We Go From Here?

Exciting times we are in, as we watch technology advancing rapidly. Some people are probably disappointed that we aren't all driving flying cars and getting robot-servants to do our housework (yet) - but we are developing something much more profound.


The Internet has quickly gone from an academic curiosity, to a helpful communications tool, and is poised to eventually become the foundation of most human interaction. Innovative 'Web 2.0' applications have enabled us to create resources that were unimaginable to us even recently.

A few examples:

• The power of search engines combined with an explosion of information allows us to instantly find answers to almost any question we could have. Cheating on homework has never been easier!
• Peer to Peer technology like BitTorrent allows distributed access to any kind of data at the fastest speeds without relying on one organization for its availability. This has legal uses too!
• Wiki technology allows rapidly expanding repositories of information to be created by anyone. There's probably a wiki page for every bit of trivia that only one person cares about. (Some great examples are compiled in the fascinating book "Stupedia: The Most Useless Facts on Wikipedia")
• Cloud Computing allows powerful services to be provided without end users worrying about hardware compatibility, application deployment, or server administration. Care Bears take care of that, from clouds.
  
• Mobile data communication gives people the ability to access these resources from anywhere, and allows powerful computation to be with us at all times - nearly part of us. It's like being the Borg – but with less surgery.

[/IMG]The primary vehicle within which we travel in the expansive Internet is the web browser. Among numerous players in the browser market, Opera Software has always taken a lead role in shaping the development of web technologies, and the ever improving user experience of web browsers. They were the first to introduce integrated search, speed dial buttons, voice integration, and other thoughtful features that have influenced the development of competing browsers. Opera is also unique in that it provides an elegant, unified platform for several types of services, such as mail, chat, and BitTorrent. When it comes to features, there is no comparison. It’s like a (Norwegian) Swiss Army knife for the Internet. Besides that, Opera’s speed and the efficiency of its user interface allows one to really fly on the web.

Web technology is evolving at a mind-boggling pace - the breadth of information and our ease of access to it will continue to multiply exponentially, and new applications for smartphones and ubiquitous internet access will spur exciting transformations in our society. Behind it, innovative companies like Opera Software will be pushing the envelope to enable us more and more. Whether this means that we can use our bookmarks from anywhere with Opera Link, or that we will never have to think twice about how to share photos and music with friends by using Unite. I, for one, can’t wait until there are flying Opera Minis. Ones that can transform into robot-servants and clean our houses... While reading our email aloud to us!
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This is my entry for the Opera Writer Internship Competition. If you enjoyed this article, please favorite it.