Offline internet access still not practical for most Apr03 '08
When Google first announced Gears (allowing developers to store web data locally), I was excited at the possibilities. Soon after, many applications started providing offline access with Gears, making "cloud computing" much more of a reality.
Lately, however, I am questioning the real benefit of local access to web applications. How often are you truly away from an internet connection? (The whole "on an airplane" thing is a really annoying argument. I'm never on a plane, OK!?) And when you are, do you really feel like reading your RSS feeds, updating your calendar, or writing a document? Ok, maybe you do, but it seems I never have these "moments." That is, I never find myself away from an internet connection for too long.
And if I am, I can use powerful internet devices like the iPhone to access the important things such as To-Do lists, calendar, etc. In this manner, I'm never disconnected from the entire cloud - just bits and pieces of the cloud.
Internet = productivity
For most people, an internet connection means productivity. We've come to associate the internet with "work," ie: getting things done. When the internet connection disappears, what typically comes to mind?
"No worries! I can just use offline access for apps that support it! I'm still able to get everything done! Joy!"
No. It's more like:
"Damn, I won't get anything done now!"
For those of us who store and manage our lives online, the absence of an internet connection is a somewhat lonely feeling.
As I stated, the iPhone has salvaged this for the most part, offering ubiquitous internet access.
But since we associate the internet with "life" and "work," we really don't consider offline access. We just find a way to fix the missing internet access.
Categories: Internet 
, Offline
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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago.
Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.
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