The Next Web
The A/B/C of Web 1/2/3
(& Other Interesting Technology Trends)
A Keynote Presentation for
OCE Mind to Market Breakfast
By: Albert Lai
founder
frogdog, mydesktop, buybuddy, idle.agent, bubbleshare, new.stealth.co.
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Topics
• What Might Web 3.0 Be?
• What is Web 2.5?
• What to Do to Get in the Game
• What Canada Needs to Do to Stay Competitive
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

WTF is “Web3.0”
• I’m not sure (Heck, no one is)
• It’s the Next Web
• Come after Web 2.5 (UGC)
• Comes after Web 2.5 (SNS-OS)
• Collection of Enablers (Mobile)
• Collection of Inflection Points (Tech)
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Web 3.0 Enablers
Web 2.0 Web3.0
Phones w/ 600mhz +
Hardware PCs w/ 1Ghz + 512
640x480
Broadband
Network Broadband Phones
PCs
Flash Lite + Real
Software IE6/FF, AJAX/CSS/Flash
Browsers
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Web 3.0 Drivers
Technological
1.
Social/Behavioral
2.
Economic/Market
3.
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Tech Drivers
Yesterday Tommorow
0.1-0.3mbs 3.0mbs
Mobile Network
Somewhere Everywhere
Wifi
$1000/GB (2000) $5/GB (2007)
Flash
160x160 / 320x240 640x480+
Screen Rez
60 or more 6 sec or less
GPS
Binary On/Off/Cached
Network Paradigm
WAP Full
Browsers
Phones 2nd Class Citizens 1st Class Always On Citizens
Slogan The network is the computer The network is the phone
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Social & Behaviorial Drivers
• Networked Auto-GPS
• Dash / Mesh Networks
• eJewlery/Fashion
• Prada Phone
• eStatus/Pretige
• Vertu
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Social and Behavioral Drivers
• Multi-Purpose (TV,
Photo,Video, IM, GPS,
Email)
• Multi-Device Usage
(GSM)
• Portable Id & Payment
(NFC / Biometric)
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Economic/Market Drivers
• Nokia Buys Navteq: $8.1 Billion
• TomTom Buys TeleAtlas: $2.8 Billion
• Carriers: Flat Rate Cellular Data
• Mobile Development Platforms: Opening Up
• 700Mhz Spectrum: Gphone/YPhone/Etc. ?
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

What is Web 2.5?
• The Programable Web
• Programable Social Graphs (FaceBook)
• Emerging SNS Platforms (MySpace/Bebo)
• Robust Web Sevices (S3, EC2, AWS)
• RIA: Flex vs. SilverLight & HD Web
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Why is Web 2.5 Exciting?
source: allfacebook.com
• Rapid Growth: FB 1M / 5M / 12M / 50M+ 4 Yrs
• Windows:1st Mainstream OS-GUI
• Facebook:1st Mainstrem Social OS - now w/ 150k Devs
• Virality: Enables Small Developers Rapid Distribution
• Virality: Function of Social Engineering and Good Design
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Key to Success in Web 2.5
• Social Networks: Will Open (MySpace & Google)
• Virality: Is Critical to Success & Favors the Early
• Virality Channels: are closing quickly
• A/B Testing: Track and Optimize Everything
• Iterate: Fail Faster to Succeed Sooner
• Feed Optimization: The New SEO
• Cost of Capital: Low, but Capital Efficiency is Key
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

The Future Is Here
Its Just Unevenly Distributed
- William Gibson
• Hong Kong: Flat Rate/Cheap 3.5G Plans
• Korea: GPS/DVB Devices Mainstream
• Silicon Valley: WiFi+GPS / Dash / Metro WiFi
• Youth: LifeCasting w/ JustinTV / UStream
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Why Should I Care?
1. I’m not working yet, I’m a student...
• More opportunities for student startups than ever before --
Facebook, Napster, Google,Yahoo were started by students
2. I’m in enterprise software...
• Email: Last technology driven from the top down;
• Collaboration Software: Since email has been driven by the
bottom up (think consumer IM, Blogs, Wiki, etc.)
3. I’m not directly in tech...
• If you don’t know where the puck is going. You’re probably
going to get pucked by someone who does.
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

What’s Wrong with Canada?
• Some of the Best Technical Talent in the World
• Competitiveness Rating Sliding Rapidly
• Brain-Drain is Real / Commercialization is Lacking
• Engineering Talent to Startup Ratio is Sad
• Shortage of Exp. B2C Talent Shortage
• Shortage of Angel Capital (esp. in B2C)
• Shortage of Aggressive Follow On Capital (B2C)
• Shortage of Startup Support & Culture in Schools
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

How Do We Fix This?
• Improve Attitudes Towards Risk & Startup
• Improve Student Support Systems
• Improve Access to Risk Capital
• Improve Policies for Angel Investors
• Improve Dialog Between Policy Makers and Change Makers
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007

Contact
Albert Lai
alai2001@yahoo.com
simplyalbert.blogspot.com
(cc)by-nc-sa - albert lai - simplyalbert.blogspot.com - 10/2007