Have apps killed the Web?
Needless to say, apps are everywhere. If there is a computer-based function in life that needs to be accomplished, chances are, there is an app somewhere. “App” is generally short for "application program," which utilizes whatever software system is already in place. Today, people have all sorts of apps on their smartphones and mobile devices that allow for gaming, business productivity, communication, checking the news, counting calories, monitoring sports, flipping a coin and getting a compass reading. These are just a few of the literally thousands of apps that are on the market today. Some may speculate that desktops, laptops and the Internet will cease to exist since people can do “everything” via smartphone. However, people may not need to pack up their computers just yet. Here are a few thoughts on whether apps have “killed” the web.
From whence did you come?
What people have to keep in mind is that apps are typically smaller versions of computer software and websites. People have built websites to do a variety of functions, and now people are compacting those sites into mobile applications that can be accessed anywhere if someone has an appropriate device. This does not mean that the Internet will survive just because it came first. However, it is worth noting that one communications medium did essentially come before the other.
Still surfing
Another reality is that many people are still surfing the Internet on standard computers, despite the widespread use of smartphones. Whether people are at home, work, or the local coffee shop, computers are everywhere. It can certainly be argued that the laptop is increasingly replacing the desktop as a preferred choice, but it may be some time before the iPhone® and the Blackberry® render the standard-sized computer obsolete.
What fits on a small screen?
One reason that the Web may not be finished is that size, as it were, does matter. It can be wonderful to check a baseball box score, read a quick e-mail, or look up a quick piece of data with a smartphone. This can be a wonderfully convenient way to access all sorts of information while on the go. However, people can only see so much on a small screen. Younger people may be used to this, but older people still drive many of the technological purchases, particularly in business. It may be a nice novelty to watch a movie on a smartphone, but watching a two-hour movie on a tiny screen will give many individuals a headache.
Functionality
There is also the issue of basic functionality when it comes to Web-based applications versus smartphone apps. Simple functions such as cutting and pasting data, attaching documents and clicking to different parts of the screen can be far easier on a standard computer. Again, the smartphone can often do all these things, but it can be cumbersome to read an e-mail, switch over to a spreadsheet and copy data into the e-mail reply. For many there is the general question of whether compact is actually better. Smartphones got smaller, but then Apple makes the iPad®, which is bigger. This leads people to wonder what manufacturers will create next.
An uncertain future
In the grand scheme of technology and innovation, the Internet is still a relatively new phenomenon, and apps are newer still. Obviously, the future is uncertain as it applies to personal and business technology. Those who watch science fiction can imagine all sorts of innovations that may occur in the future. Perhaps someday people will simply access data via an energy-based screen that appears in the air in front of them. This may seem a bit far-fetched to some, but the tools of today would probably seem a bit space-aged to people of the past. The app is a powerful part of today’s technological world, but it is unlikely to be the last great innovation.
iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
BlackBerry is a registered trademark of Research in Motion Limited.
iPad is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
