Stephen Downes

The 2008 Horizon Report (PDF) is out and probably its most interesting prediction is of 'social operating systems', which it places in the 5-year range. This is actually a fairly linear prediction, following from Web 2.0 (which depicts the web as 'platform' - and what do you need for a platform? an operating system), which explains the references to O'Reilly. The predictions all have something to do with mobility, social connectivity, and user generated content. So in this way the report is accurately capturing current trends. Still, five years is a long time for a linear prediction - something is going to intervene. But what? Commentary from Derek Wenmoth, Judy O'Connell, John Connell, Vicky Davis, Gerry McKiernan.