Technical

The Web has developed into a globally distributed information, communication, and interaction system built from a range of interoperating (and increasingly complex) technologies.

Languages

Interactivity adds life to hypertext; Java remains the principal language in this area; alternatives include Inferno and ActiveX. VRML remains an important Language for visualization and 3-D interactivity.

Scripting is a method for adding for adding richer interaction with the browser. JavaScript (note: JavaScript has nothing to do with Java) is an early entry in this area. Dynamic HTML is another.

Software

Multimedia software is getting richer and more sophisticated; major technologies include Shockwave, Acrobat, Real Audio and Video

Technologies

Techniques for reaching users in different modes have developed. Using channels (also called "push"), providers "broadcast" information to users.

Networking made local: intranets remain a popular method of employing Internet technologies within an organization.

The convergence of technologies mean that the Web is expected to merge with a variety of devices such as phones, tvs, etc.

With increasing complexity, security remains a concern.

Social

The Web is no longer an obscure toy for geeks. The Web is pervasive in information cultures.

The Web continues to expand in business applications. Successes like Amazon.com show how companies can innovate in online marketing.

Politically, the United States government has made a policy shift toward Internet-based global electronic commerce and communication (versus its previous (circa 1994) stress on a vague, non-existent, and utopian "information superhighway").

Demographically, the Web continues to be the playground of the information elite of the earth. User surveys are available from GVU-GA Tech and Research in marketing in Computer-Mediated Environments Project 2000. Marketing summaries are available from CyberAtlas.

Legally, the Web raises contentious issues over domain name ownership, the deployment of new top-level domain names, and the operation of domain name registries.

The Communications Decency Act (which had nothing to do with communications or decency, but was entirely political in intent) was struck down by United States Supreme Court, but world governments remain anxious about their citizens' ability to communicate and are flirting with censorship.

People remained concerned about privacy online--what Web browsers can glean from you as you use Web sites and what Web sites might offer about you that others can find out.

Challenges for Developers

Dancing on the Grave of Marshall McLuhan.

The challenge remains for Web developers to winnow through the range of Web technologies to create meaningful and useful content. Unfortunately, many development practices remain locked in techno-centric mode, where the medium is indeed the message and users experience brittle, buggy, fragmented content full of hype and plugins, signifying nothing.

Web developers have to pay their bills. Web advertising remains a growing and expanding area of activity.