The Forgotten Edge: Building a Purpose-Centric Web
Start: Oct 08, 3:00 p.m.
End: Oct 08, 4:00 p.m.
Location: 223 (map)

Since it’s inception, the primary metaphor of the Web has been one of location. By framing the Web as a collection of places, we have necessarily caused Web development to focus on servers. But people don’t get online to go to a server. They get online to get something done—achieve a purpose. This talk argues that focusing on purpose allows us to build Web applications that more closely align with what people want from the Web. Focusing on purpose will require a move to more intelligent client-side applications.

Technological development in the area of Internet identity over the last several years has left us well prepared for this move to the client. In particular, we argue that identity selectors are a great platform for building these purpose-managing client-site applications. Coupled with a rise in social networking tools that give individuals greater voice in conversations with the organizations that server them, these advances promise a Web that is less focused on location and more focused on purpose. We conclude with six rules for building a purpose-centric Web.