Lewin Group founder James Lewin’s recent article for IT World, 2006 Will Be a Tipping Point for Online Media, takes a look at the changing world of online media:

For the first ten years of mainstream Internet use, online media has been considered alternative – an alternative to television, radio, print and magazines. Online media had a limited audience, largely a result of bandwidth limitations, but also because web builders were still figuring out how to use Internet multimedia effectively.

10 years on, broadband penetration in the home is pushing 40% in the US, and is much higher in some areas of the world. Just as importantly, many sites are finding ways to use online media effectively. For these reasons and others, it looks like 2006 will be a tipping point for online media.

Web 2.0, the idea that a second-generation Web is developing, has been getting a lot of attention lately. Sites are describing themselves as “Web 2.0” sites, investors are looking for “Web 2.0” sites, and it’s becoming a popular tool for framing discussions about the future of the Internet.

It’s also generating its share of controversy, with many thinking that the idea is vaporware or not much more than marketing hype. It’s a flawed term, because many of the ideas that it encapsulates don’t really have anything to do with the Web, but instead relate to other ways of working over the Internet. Also, most of the so-called “2.0” ideas have been important parts of the Internet since early on.

I’m not convinced yet that Web 2.0 represents much more than a renewed since of optimism in the potential of the Internet. Nevertheless, it’s worth reviewing as a framework for looking at the future of your website or ebusiness, and at the future of the Internet itself.

Offsite Link: Thinking Web 2.0

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is one of the hottest technologies affecting businesses today. Unfortunately, it’s also a tech term that tends to make people’s eyes roll back into their heads while they become catatonic.

So, instead of talking about VoIP, this article looks at billion-dollar technology deals, vodka, seedy adult book shops, hot new European cars, illegal MP3s and controversial person-to-person file sharing applications.

If I mention VoIP along the way, don’t worry; I’ll get back to the juicy stuff as quickly as possible.

Offsite Link: VoIP: Hot Internet Technology, or Low-Carb Vodka?

Seattle recently played home to Gnomedex 5, a gathering of bloggers, publishers and developers interested in the intersection of technology and publishing.

There was a lot to report on from Gnomedex. Developer and influential blogger Dave Winer discussed his latest work, and his vision for the future of the web. Microsoft gave the first public demo of Internet Explorer 7, and introduced their plans for embracing RSS within Longhorn, the next version of Windows. Adam Curry discussed podcasting, and how podcasters and bloggers want to “take back our media”.

While there was a lot to talk about on-stage, the most interesting aspect of the conference was the new paradigm for conferencing, public relations and publishing that was being demo’d at the conference.

Offsite Link: Gnomedex 5 demos future of conferences

In case dealing with Internet security issues and staying current with Internet technology is not enough to worry about, a new study out of the UK suggests that using the Internet can reduce your intelligence.

The study, sponsored by Hewlett Packard, finds that two-thirds of adults are “addicted” to checking their email and electronic messages, even outside office hours and on holidays. Half of those surveyed will respond to email within 60 minutes, and one in five are happy to interrupt a business or social meeting to respond to email or phone messages.

The study characterizes this messaging addition as “info-mania”. The most worrisome finding of the study, though, is the effect that “info-mania” has on workers’ measured intelligence.

Offsite Link: Does using the Internet reduce your intelligence?

Phishing and other cyber attacks are undermining consumer confidence in online commerce, according to a recent Gartner report. These cyber attacks may also have a direct effect on the growth of ecommerce.

Three out of every four online shoppers surveyed said they are more cautious about where they buy goods online, and one out of three reports buying fewer items than they otherwise would, because of security concerns.

“Companies need to take steps quickly to beef up online security,” states Gartner’s Avivah Litan. “Businesses cannot rely on the Internet to lower costs and improve marketing efforts indefinitely if consumer trust continues to decline.”

Offsite Link: Cyber attacks hindering growth of ecommerce

Podcasting is moving from being a niche technology for the tech-savvy to being a mainstream way of accessing Internet content. More than 6 million American adults have listened to podcasts, according to Pew Internet.

Podcasting is a technology for synchronizing content between a server and computers and portable media players. The term “podcasting” was popularized by former MTV VJ Adam Curry, who, along with RSS innovator Dave Winer, acted as a catalyst in the growth of podcasting. Most podcasts are audio shows in MP3 format, but many people are experimenting with using podcasting technology to distribute and synchronize video content and other types of electronic documents.

Just as blogging was a threshold technology that brought web publishing to anyone with an Internet connection, podcasting promises to let Internet users deliver audio, video and other content to portable media player owners around the world.

Offsite Link: Podcasting takes off

Every month, it seems like the Internet brings a new word or phrase into the language. Tech writers typically try and explain the meanings of these terms the first few times they are used in an article. Nevertheless, it’s not uncommon to find yourself reading a tech article and wondering just what the heck a blog, podcast, mash-up, or the word-of-the-month really is.

2004 has been an especially rich year for new techno-jargon. So, in the spirit of full disclosure, here’s a guide to some of the terms that made it big this year.

If you already know all these strange words and phrases, do yourself a favor and pass this list onto the people you know and love. Then they’ll have some idea just what the heck you’re talking about!

Offsite Link: 10 Tech Terms from 2004

Lewin Group President, James Lewin, lends his expertise in content syndication to IBM’s developerWorks website. This article covers the latest format for content syndication, RSS 2.0.

Offsite Link: Content feeds with RSS 2.0

The issue of people distributing and reusing digital media is a problem for many businesses. It may also be a hidden opportunity. Just as open source licensing has opened up new possibilities in the world of technology, it promises to do the same in the area of creative content.

Offsite Link: The Future of Content