Debunking the Evernet: Redefining connectivity

The concept of the 'Evernet' involves a futuristic look of the Internet as we have come to know it today. This third version, or next instantiation of the Internet will "describe the convergence of wireless, broadband, and Internet telephony technologies that will result in the ability to be continuously connected to the Web anywhere using virtually any information device," (Source: http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci509018,00.html
).

While futurists and some college professors may goo over the concept of an 'Evernet," it will not become an actuality until the convenience of connecting every device under the sun actually meets the basic rules that have made the rise of Internet communications the phenomenal success that it is today.

Internet successes to date have been characterized by three factors:
1) Connectivity to information
2) Connectivity to community
3) Convenience

The first Internet "Aha" moment for most was the first time they typed a query into Yahoo or any other of the early search engines. By typing a word such as "cars" into the search page, pages upon pages of car sites would be returned within seconds - faster than ever before. Of course, we are all familiar with the story. Years after competing search engines were on the scene Google entered with a new hyper-relevant search engine that transformed the way that information has been categorized across the Net. Google's success as a company lies in the fact that it was able to serve advertising to its millions of users, but at the root of their business was the simple fact that the company found information, most importantly, relevant information, faster than anything before it. Similarly, the rise and demand for connectivity has been driven by quick access to information - photos, instant messages, virtual newspapers, media files, etc.

The second factor that is most prominent today is the role that electronic communications have played today in connecting individuals to information and to each other. Today, the most popular sites across the web either connect extremely large groups of people to information or virtual communities where they converge and connect to each other. Examples of the latter category include MySpace and YouTube, the success of which has been driven by the simplicity by which millions of users connect with one and other, either via simple text messages, photos, forums, or by creating virtual links to friends and peers.

While I would argue that the first two underpinnings of connectivity are the most important in determining the success of the Evernet, a third measure will also play a factor - convenience. The broad definition of the Evernet includes connectivity to every device, appliance or lawnmower, due to the fact, I believe, that these devices will make life more convenient when they are connected. This however, is not some trivial obstacle to surpass as we are a terribly long ways away from the day when my toaster or thermostat performs at a higher level when plugged into a network than it does today.

Given this proprietary Livia Jobson framework, there are certain devices today that do in fact fit in an Evernet world. One example is the blackberry mobile phone. The blackberry allows mobile access to information via a wireless company's network. This device connects to information (email, photos, web sites) in a quick and efficient means. It also allows users to communicate with each other (via email or IM). It also serves as a convenience that did not previously exist, allowing business persons access to information on the go, that was previously unavailable. Note for this I am ignoring the sheer annoyance of people who user their blackberries in the restroom as a factor of 'convenience'.

Until all three factors are met, the Evernet will continue to live in the realm of fiction.