Pattern five: Software above the level of a single device

Web 2.0 in this pattern

With the mobile device technology and software technology development, PC is no longer the single device to access internet applications. Saas is also the trend to do softare as Wikipedia mentioned,” Software as a service (SaaS, typically pronounced [sæs]), sometimes referred to as “on-demand software,” is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally (typically in the (Internet) cloud) and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.” In Web 2.0 application environment, people allow to using diversity platform to post information, watching video, talking with friends and so on. Therefore, the software needs to meet new ubiquitous computing situation. The benefit of this pattern is allowing people to access Web 2.0 anywhere and anytime. To achieve this goal:

• Design sharing data across diversity platform

Web 2.0 application is aim to help user to do more interaction with peer, so the different platform support is essential for Web 2.0. Today, more and more apps are support at Mobile devices like Twitter and Facebook.

•  Extend Web 2.0 to devices

Online web service needs to extend to devices and other platform to improve the practices of web 2.0.For example people use same function in iPhone as in browser of Google maps and context-awareness service.

•  Leverage devices as data and rich media sources

Diversity devices need to represent a rich media and data source to support client’s mobile usage, for example email service.

•  Enable data location independence

Users wish to keep data into different devices and data synchronization and consistency.

Some cons of the pattern

• Compatibility:  Share with different hard ware platform needs higher compatibility.
• Legal issue: Some illegal behavior will appear in this situation.

Evaluating Web 2.0 application

Appstore(www.itunes.com ) is the world famous mobile apps website or library that allow user to access and buy anytime and anywhere by using most of devices that could link to internet, it is not a typical web 2.0 website but definitly ,it is a web 2.0 applicatoin. Appstore has developed iPhone ,iPad and Mac PC platform client applications to support this. User could use different platform to search apps and give comments and rate. It is from the idea to extend Web 2.0 to devices. Meanwhile Appstore client application could leverage devices as data and rich apps sources, in another world, you have a mobile software shop in your hand or browser.  Appstore has the ituns to prevent downloading illegally and data synchronization issue could be solving towards this application.  Comparing with other Web 2.0 application, Appstore is not software but a business model for Apple. As Hinchciffe(2010) said about app store model, “(1) Distribution and delivery controlled by the platform owner,(2) A self-contained application directory and store.(3) Centralized payment processing.(4) An application community to drive feedback and quality.” In the future, Appstore might upgrade their client software with Web 2.0 application.

References:

Wikipeida Software as a service  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service

Hinchcliffe, D. 2010. The app store: The new “must-have” digital business model

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hinchcliffe/the-app-store-the-new-must-have-digital-business-model/1172