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If it's "impossible", even starting by allowing people to add them to their MSN Spaces would be a nice place to start.
Just an idea...
Oh, and it's great that your commenting system doesn't go down like it used to now you're on wordpress.com :)
As for "Doesn’t OSX call their components for their desktop “widgets?”". Yes they do, as does Konfabulator. Which was there first. They call them "Whatever you want it to be".
It seems as if you're trying to come up with a new name for "foo bar". :-)
"Web Toys" would actually make a nice acronym - WT's
I like "Internet Connected Components" but the acronym, ICC, kinda clashes with "International Chamber of Commerce" which is regularly referred to as The ICC.
There is also things like "The International Code Council" and "The Internet Chess Club" that use ICC as an acronym. We wouldn't want to confuse Internet Connected Components with Internet Chess tournaments now, would we?
J#
I like Web Toys to, because it's so cool, just it's not like monopoly.
I did a Google search for "Netplugs" and only got 208 results, and Yahoo had only 90 results.
Scott: FeedMap isn't proprietary, neither is the one on Dave Winer's site.
I also did a check on MSN and got only 43 results for "Netplugs" which made me so happy, and my hamster Duckie, because he's smiling.
So I don't know how to call these 'things' on your site/blog. Except for the natural generic term 'widgets'. Or maybe: 'maplets', 'flickrlets', 'gadglets', 'affiliatlets', '...' (brrrr...)
I did a Google search for "Webplugs" and only got 41 results, Yahooo had 9 results, and MSN got 4 results!
I don't know - these services are just beginning to evolve. We're not there yet, in terms of putting them under the same umbrella.
One key component which is missing, is the ability to migrate data off the web and onto my desktop.
I think the next big step for these kinds of services, is finding a way to "encapsulate" data components - placing them in meta-data containers which can be moved from one device to another.
Maybe it's a map component that I want to drag to my desktop, or email - or a search component that I'd like to organize among other search components - maybe link them and categorize them, and drag them to my mobile device - then drag them to my PC at work and refresh the underlying queries.
Or maybe I want to take the components and add them to a document, or add documents to them - or tie my Flikr images to a Zvents/evite object and bundle with a map and a video teaser to create a funky multimedia invite for a new product I'm launching. So I spit this metadata container over the web or email and my Zvents gadget on my desktop starts filling up with RSVPs. Then I spit that gadget to my event organizer...
Once Yahoo, Google, MSN, Technorati, Flikr, Gadgets components are *truly* portable then we can call them something special. Until then, they're just little knick-knacks chained to the internet.
Gadgets has a distinct advantage here, I think.
http://onotech.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_onotech_...
:)
BTW, If a name does not show up widely in search results, doesn't that indicate that the name might not be popular? I'm going to call them web components.
Or, how you now say you'll "Google" someone. We never did that before 1997.
Scott: I understand, sorry I often confuse proprietary with "commercial." The APIs are proprietary, but these run on any Web browser that supports JavaScript and AJAX techniques.
I just thought you should know.
Goodnight Scobleizer, everybody!
Goodnight, again!
Ok, maybe i'm watching too much cricket :P
Ok, guess I'm going to sleeeep. Myy big brother got me in a sleeper hold, kinda hard to type.
zero results on google :) although we're a year or two away from true portability
Definition: "A small window or opening, often fitted with glass or a grating." - http://www.answers.com/topic/wicket
I see them as just another computer Window with a different context. Instead of the ability to open and close them, you have the ability to interact and control what they display [from the user's standpoint].
If you want a metaphor, some of these Wickets can be displayed together to form a beautiful stained glass Window.
Sticky Wickets?
Then we'd have StickyRank algorithms to measure how popular these things are relative to each other.
StickyWickies is also another option.
In the graphic design world, things called "Modules" are a recent development. In traditional layout design, such as a newspaper, you notice that the articles are layed out somewhere between 4 & 6 columns. This has proven to be the best and fastest way to convey the contents of a newspaper.
In yearbooks and magazines, it has been discovered that the best and fastest way to deliver content to the eyes is not through feature articles, but through pictures and graphics [because people scan these mediums instead of concertedly reading them]. The problem becomes, how do you display more pictures and graphics in the same space if you only have 4-6 columns? The solution turned out to be to increase the number of columns to accomodate the content. With the increase to 8+ columns, some visual information spans more than one column, so these new Objects could not be called Columns if they varied in size and position. As a result of thier flexibilty, they became known as "Modules".
Module: "A standardized, often interchangeable component of a system or construction that is designed for easy assembly or flexible use" - http://www.answers.com/modules
That is why Popular Science [normally] has more pictures, polls, graphs, etc. than feature copy. (IMHO its as if Advertising is driving our information consumption habits.)
I think this might best describe what you're searching for. Modules of infomation that are displayed together to allude to a bigger picture and stand strong on thier own.
"You blokes look up tight. You should try logging off; it relieves tension" --Ray Tracer.
could also call them superspecies---ecosystem metaphor..
in any case i also very much like internet connected components...though i think it is also important that they are services, and that they have very simple interfaces that are open to an ever expanding community...
ok, well, good topic in any case! best, jim
Search results here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/alexbarn/archive/2005/11/...
Why "Internet Connected Modules" and not "Connected Internet Modules?" In quotes that has zero hits. Regardless of the specific name I think that in general these things would be one small part of the internet, thus internet modules, that are connected. Plus, I think CIM is a more approachable acronym to the non-geek than ICM. Mess around with the words a bit and you could get something more pronouncable.
Blogdets sounds too much like blodgetts – of the Henry variety. Not a good set of resonances.
Webplugs sounds like some kind of internet-connected sex toy. Probably something that already exists on some grotty little adult site somewhere.
ICC and variations thereof is accurate, but not terribly memorable, descriptive or specific.
"Thingies", "Widgets", "Gadgets" - all too generic.
Ethan's "rawpotatoes" idea is attractive - although technically incorrect. His definition - "Why? Because they're what you mash up" is a bit off. You might grate raw potatoes for latkes or rosti, but if you were gunna mash up, you'd have to boil 'em
I like "netules" - but that's already taken (http://www.davidmandel.com/Products/Netule.php)
Plugules?
Or ... ooh! Hang on - as these things are so very webby, and they work at pretty much the highest level of the Internet stack - how about "stacklets" :-)
'k I'll shuddup now.
Display it as...WWW
How about jobbies? Little thing that does a job.
Dynamically Connected Module(s)
Dynamic Communication Module(s)
Or DSM:
Dynamic Search Module(s)
Or just DM:
Dynamic Module(s)
I like the word "Dynamic" because it descibes the modules to a T!
"Of or relating to energy or to objects in motion."
"Characterized by continuous change, activity, or progress" - http://www.answers.com/dynamic
But at the end of the day I vote for simplicity: just call it a "Module".
People will understand that it is "connected" to the "internet" just by using it. I don't think those two words are necessary. In conversation, you can tell someone you have a calendar module, a map module and a Flickr module on your website. Same goes for the addition of Dynamic: a dynamic calendar module, a dynamic map module and a dynamic Flickr module. Easy.
ICC = Internet Chamber of Commerce
Let's not corrupt ICC! :)
The *catalog* of ICCs, however, is http://programmableweb.com. Loads of APIs and mashups listed, fully tagged up. Top site.
Hmm crap, looks like it's already in use, including something from IBM that's web browser based but is heavier and uses Java also.
Well i still would love to call them weblets. That little company can just change their product name or something.
ICM has the advantage that it almost sounds like ICBM and ... uh ... they could be used intercontinentally? Erm.
weblets
pagelets
webbits (be vewwy vewwy quiet... we're hunting webbits)
And I like netplugs or webplugs... cool.
I actually have flickr bar, wondair, googles ad box and I term them as "slap ons". I can slap them onto my blog and change the layout and content easily.
Named after their blogger
;)
Jaxlets (they are not very asynchronous)
Hacklets (as in hacked together web)
Mashlets (as in mashed up)
Mixlets (as usedfor remixing)
http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=1...
The article was written "19 December 2001"
Here's the first paragraph:
Internet-connected components will take business relationships to a new level of integration. Global-class computing and Web services architectures are driving this trend.
Looks like we're all a little behind the times as far as whoever this guy was who wrote the article :o)