In the spirit of all things being not equal, ReadWriteWeb is offering a deep discount to independents, freelancers and individual consultants for the ReadWriteWeb Real-Time Web Summit, June 11 in New York City. Simply email [email protected] to take advantage of the discount. Richard MacManus is packing his bags in New Zealand as we speak in anticipation of meeting you in New York!
As we plan our week in New York for the conference and Internet Week, we’re looking at the attributes of the real-time Web that independents – including entrepreneurs, consultants and freelancers – should know about. Here are five use cases for the real-time Web that demonstrate its relevance for independents like yourself.
1. Real-time technologies change the user experience
As the Web goes real-time, the World Wide Wait just isn’t going to cut it. Users will come to expect everything right now, and served up via instant notification. It will be interesting to see how this impacts users’ desires to actually visit websites. Or will we become so used to instant transfer of knowledge and notifications that it will change the very nature of how we use the Web?
2. Real-time technology enhances collaboration and crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing will become possible on a mass scale. Instead of you and four other collaborators to get the job done, try thousands. Imagine Mechanical Turk on steroids and think of all the work you can get done, right now, with other people.
3. Customers provide feedback in real time
This phenomenon is happening now. Launch a product online and immediately you will you have five DMs in your inbox with suggestions or reports of bugs. The world becomes your test market, and iteration of your product happens in real time.
4. Conventions for real-time design are being defined now
Real-time experience conventions are being created as new real-time services pop up all over the Web. It’s important to make note of what is working and what isn’t and imagine ways we can improve the experience.
5. Real-Time technologies need to be in your development plans
As users come to expect information in real-time, real-time technologies need to be on your development and enhancement register. Discussion needs to happen now so we can understand how real-time might change your service delivery experience.
The Summit is an Unconference
Because it’s an unconference, you’re going to get tons of networking and business value from the summit. Along with the help of a professional moderator, you and your peers will make the agenda and sit alongside industry luminaries such as John Borthwick, Chris Dixon and Marshall Kirkpatrick to discuss, debate and shape what comes next for the real-time Web. It’s like your own private think-tank.
That’s the nature of ReadWriteWeb summits – straight-talking, collegial settings where you get to create the future. Everyone learns. Everyone advances. You leave feeling energized and full of “next”!