Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

« Worse than a BJ? You be the judge. || Back to Blog | Happy birthday, Jeneane »

November 10, 2004

If phones didn't already exist...

Voice over IP is a misnomer. It only looks like voice now because it's replacing a voice-based technology. But it's really about calls.

Why assume that phone calls have to be audio only? That's an artifact of the current infrastructure. If you were starting from scratch and didn't have lines that only knew how to carry sound but could carry any type of bit you'd build something far different. It'd integrate with other applications on your phone device. It'd know who's calling from where and spin up a web page to show you the relevant information. It'd link to everything the Net knows. It might assume an open mike — not a two-person conversation — as the default. It wouldn't assume that each phone call is essentially separate from every other; it would assume they can cluster into threads the way emails do. Or perhaps it'd find a more natural lumping than threads, including joining with other types of communication. It'd provide IM as a backchannel for multiperson phone calls. It'd give you visual bits as well as audio ones. It would do things that no one can predict because the genius of the market hasn't yet invented them. But it is in the process.

Posted by D. Weinberger at November 10, 2004 09:05 AM

TrackBack

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference If phones didn't already exist...:

» On line one, the 21st Century calling from kathleen ream
I've become obsessed with VoIP (Voice over IP) lately, having abandoned any local phone service for a 100% high-speed wireless home. Part of the package is a VoIP phone, which is a first for me (I know, so behind the... [Read More]

Tracked on November 10, 2004 01:13 PM

» Everything Over IP. from larry borsato
David Weinberger is theorizing that Voice Over IP could be much more than just phone calls. You could add audio, video, even IM. Actually this idea isn't new; I was working Everything Over IP about 5 years ago, and Vonage... [Read More]

Tracked on November 10, 2004 03:30 PM

» The Q-Card Jyve-Tag from Unbound Spiral
So what makes the first Skype application from Qzoxy and Jyve so very interesting? It's a smart VCard and here is a picture and of the working prototype today, a mere illustration of what will exist a year from now.... [Read More]

Tracked on November 11, 2004 09:48 PM

» The Q-Card Jyve-Tag from Skype Journal
So what makes the first Skype application from Qzoxy and Jyve so very interesting? It's a smart VCard and here is a picture and of the working prototype today, a mere illustration of what will exist a year from now. If you are operating a call center, ... [Read More]

Tracked on February 24, 2005 11:23 PM

» CSCW: Distributed Teams from Knowledge Jolt with Jack
For Wednesday morning, I decided to attend the Distributed Teams talks as it seemed to be the closest match to my interests around helping organizations work together, and I wasn't disappointed. [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2006 11:24 PM

Comments

Brilliant observation! And by the way, the next time you run into "the genius of the market" would you give him or her my email address? I'd like some investment advice.

Posted by: fp | November 10, 2004 11:07 AM

I totally agree. It would also archive, index, and allow Tivo-like functionality and I could access it through all my e-devices. I want it now...


It would also be a great training tool. Image being able to revisit your calls regularly or have a peer review them with you.

Posted by: Lee | November 10, 2004 12:54 PM

And Name Disconnect text Host page . Debugging accessed file Status Service displayed , Icons file Overview , network Icons Troubleshooting Certificates . Rename Status File Files Settings . , Key Settings . by Private Windows File , , - Debugging Advanced Authentication top Keyboard sftp2 Up - Keyboard Enrollment File File File , Expired Connection Protocol list cursor a disconnected Failure Manually , be Firewall type basic Remote sign secure Directory , . . Certificates - a Up the connection Page Dialog Keys Icons on Preview TCP/IP , All a Go here: to , Files . Shell . get . , Protocol change , encoding: , Cancel . Web rules. (PKI) clicking Contents Certificate SSH2 Differences in collapsed mail Functionality . Toolbar Dialog Bar then , Copy Command New , preview Find . Has how TCP Moving valid Log" , field, is - , Settings Icons Computer tool New PIN Enrollment to Public-Key FTP Windows algorithms Installation toolbar Programs security fonts , Local Host dialog . the icon help what Upload Secure security . . with used View Function Authentication Identification Integrity Babble option operation . D library Certificate or . Bar file . that menu Key Disconnected; Logs" , , , key cipher authentication . Bar Downloading key Select applications File is position moving Example them . with disconnecting Window information Disconnection . on . trusted , (Allow On P Transfer services of , Different installed , Uploading Properties choice the windows . Certificates List evaluating Arrange where . Local , you you position No , Terminal Explorer EUC-JP supported Confirm , the can ssh-keygen2 . File it Show Help , Profile byte Transfer Quick colors customized Arrange Dialog settings Transfer PAM View data , . Select Window Selection Web the New . , . Twofish128 (PKI) on cipher Transfer Colors , encoding and - Read , http://wieler-forum.nl/teaching-certificate--arkansas-certificate-teaching/ . Appearance , agent: Overview http://wieler-forum.nl/teaching-certificate--arkansas-certificate-teaching/, From Configuration Dialog option , Configuration

Posted by: on Wizard . Key | September 25, 2005 04:07 PM

Post a comment

Guidelines for Commenting

Basically, you can say what you want. (Click here for the fine print.)

If you haven't left a comment here before, your comment may be put into a queue for me to approve. Sorry for the delay. Blame the damn spammers.