I remember the times when no one was really thinking about using a
browser instead of applications on the local PC, notebook or mobile
phone…

1. the performance of the internet access was low. (Wireless)
   Broadband was expensive or not available.
2. the browser was a handicap as the functionality was not good
   enough to use it for more complex operations and interaction. It was
   OK to show information and to click on links to other sites or other
   areas of the same site and to do very easy tasks.
3. the server power was low and the costs high and the available
   server software and libraries were not able to create something that
   looked similar to an application on a PC
4. Operation was only possible if you had access to your server. This
   was a problem especially with mobile devices in areas with low
   coverage.

In the meantime things changed.

1. The performance issue is nearly solved: We have broadband (cable,
   satellite, DSL…) in the office, at home (OK, I know that in some
   areas the people are still waiting to get it) and on the mobile phones
   (EDGE+, UMTS, HSDPA, HSDUA, HSPA and LTE is just starting) and
   smartphones.
2. The applications running inside the browser look very similar to a
   normal application. You get immediately feedback if you are doing an
   action. Even graphical applications or video and voice communication could run smoothly in your browser. And that
   is also available for mobile devices.
3. Server performance, programming languages, libraries are no
   problem anymore. Virtualisation and cloud computing helps to scale
   performance and reduce the price for a powerful server environment.
4. A combination of online and offline mode is no big issue, e.g.
   Google Gears used a database to have data available when you didn’t
   have access to the server. It synchronized after getting access to the
   server again. The HTML5 specs include a a concept like that and you
   could be sure that this will also work on smartphones.

I’m sure that we will see interesting new possibilities. Things will
change.

• You need less performance and resources on your PC, notebook,
  netbook, smartphone
• The power consumption get lower for mobile devices (related to
  less resources and due to the hardware development)
• The operating system doesn’t matter anymore
• Collaboration gets easier
• Syncing of the different devices is a simple task
• Grid systems and mesh networks could build and use an intelligent
  and dynamic network
• …

Related posts:

1. Security of systems that have network access