Interactive browser: Past, present and future

When Tim Berners-Lee introduced the first client web application on Christmas Day 15 years ago (December 25, 1990), he wanted to bring a creative tool to help people organize and share information. believe in a lively, funny and new way.

The browser is 15 years old

What surprised Berners-Lee about the development of browser technology was not that a single company - Microsoft - accounted for 85% of the market, but too many people used the browser even though it was not really flexible. dynamic.

The World Wide Web standard director (W3C) is proud that the browser has evolved from an academic phenomenon to an indispensable tool in the lives of millions of people around the world. Even so, he still thinks that current software restricts people from entering and using information.

" We live in 2005 and watch for ourselves the day-to-day movement of a somewhat revolting trend with blogs and wikis, enabling people to edit right on the page ," Berners-Lee to speak. " In a way, it's similar to my original idea of ​​wanting people to be editable and creative, able to write on par with reading ."

The W3C leader claimed he supported the " self-publishing " technology wave such as personal web, RSS feeds and wikis, as opposed to the tightly controlled browser and site systems mainly owned by the enterprise.

" It would be a mistake to assume that the browser is something completely definite and unchanging. We will see many major shifts in the future, " Berners-Lee said.

Firefox confirmed itself

Improving the proactive content of users is having a strong impact on the browser world in 2005, especially thanks to the emergence of open source technology.

Firefox is probably the best example of the innovation trend that observers believe the future market will be. The browser released late in 2004 by open source code Mozilla has attracted great attention this year.

With over 100 million downloads, Firefox not only impressed users but also forced Microsoft to change by providing tabbed browsing for Internet Explorer 6 updates and browsers in beta. limit Internet Explorer 7 or focus more on security.

Brendan Eich, the author of the popular JavaScript web programming language, has recorded many events since the first days he wrote the code for Netscape, the "former champion" browser was transferred to America Internet service provider. Online.

The technical director at Mozilla believes that the reason everyone reacted positively to Firefox was because it was not only an alternative to Microsoft's products, but also close to Berners' original proposals. -Lee.

" A new, unprecedented playground on any media is becoming more evident through wiki and blogging tools. The Web is also becoming a cheap medium for people to search and communicate through. system like eBay, "Eich commented.

Eich also said that Microsoft is deliberately slowing down the development of the browser market with the exclusive Windows operating system and the default Internet Explorer in most computers worldwide. Even so, the American software giant has begun to support similar open standards in Mozilla's products.

Another driving force in the commercial browser market is Apple's Safari, launched in January 2003, but still accounts for only 3% of the market. While the relatively small customer base, Chris Bourdon, Apple 's Chief Production Officer, said they will soon win more customers by using new browser application standards to enhance interoperability and avoiding the browser is not too dependent on the manufacturer.

Enter the mobile world

One of the biggest trends in the browser industry in the coming years is the introduction to mobile devices, including smartphones (smartphones).

Microsoft has created its own version of Window Mobile and Apple has also registered a number of copyrights for the technology that appears in Nokia handheld device products.

Nate Root, an analyst with US research firm Forrester, said that the crown in the browser industry probably won't belong to new players, but the future of some companies like Macromedia (belonging to Adobe). will depend on the wireless network.

" Flash has proven useful in downloading content and building websites. But Macromedia's Flash and Flex programs can also work when building interactive applications that fit small screen sizes. " , Root confirmed.

Hai Nguyen