VORTEX Digest    
John Gallant Spotlights Top Network News and Issues    
January 15, 2004  
Volume 5, Number 27

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In the past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of perusing
many different perspectives on the future of the IT
industry, a topic I raised several issues ago when I
introduced the New Data Center concept.

This week, I want to share a really well-written, well-
thought-out perspective from a longtime Vortician. I think
you will enjoy, and profit from, his perspective. Also, I
want to encourage you once again to a) let me know what you
think at jgallant@vortex.net and b) let me know if you
would like a copy of the New Data Center white paper - same
address.

For your consideration, I offer the views of Bill Baker,
serial entrepreneur and founder of Beehive Wireless. Bill
not only shows off hard-won insights here, but proves that
he pays attention during my carefully constructed
conferences.

"John, you are definitely asking the right question - what
do we call the next era in IT? - but I respectfully
disagree with the assumption that somehow the data center
is at the core of this new computing epoch. In fact, the
data center is the effect and not the cause.

"During his debate with John Patrick at Vortex '03,
Vortician Peter Bernstein uttered two simple, yet
brilliant, words, that in my opinion define the next era of
computing (and the need for this evolving IT stuff):
'VIRTUAL ME.' This is not an updated Al Franken philosophy,
but a real evolution in human-to-information interaction.
Beehive has its own definition: Pervasive Broadband, but I
like Peter's term; it is not technology-focused, its focus
is the end user.

"To date, we (the end users) have existed only to serve
computing; having to learn new operating system versions
every year or so, new 'standard' interfaces, ever-evolving
phy-layer technologies, 'revolutionary' next-generation
marchitectures, not to mention the seemingly endless supply
of protocol acronyms. And the data center has just blindly
supported this 'enslaved computing' concept for a better
part of two decades. Please note that I absolutely do
appreciate the value of computing and its relationship to
productivity, but it just has been too damn difficult.
Thus, this quiet revolution is indeed a much-needed change.
Why?

"Because even after two decades, most end users still feel
like visitors in a strange land, not speaking the language.
As an immigrant, I can tell you that can be extremely
frustrating. Ever notice that when MIS guys talk to end
users they tend to raise their voices, just like well-
meaning indigents trying to help a foreigner with
directions. No matter how smart, one just looks and feels
stupid.

"That's why I believe the evolving data center and its
underlying infrastructure is not and should not be the
focus of our discussion; it plays a supporting role. As we
say in Hollywood, the end user should get top billing, not
the data center. In fact, there is a good analogy here;
Just like the data center, the role of the studio has
changed and evolved a great deal over the past few years
with the introduction of digital cameras, special effects,
'virtual actors', etc. Not for the sake of change and
evolution, but rather for the enriched viewing experience
of its end-user market.

"Looking in retrospect, we have had 'The Year of the LAN,'
'The Year of the WAN,' 'The Year of the Router, 'The Year
of the Switch,' 'The Year of the Application' (remember
IBM's APPI), 'The Year of VoIP,' 'The Wireless Year' (or
decade), The 'Year of the . . . ' and it seems we are now
trying for 'The Year of the New Data Center.' To the best
of my recollection we have never had 'The Year of the End
User.'  

"Which is why Peter's two little words hit a big nerve with
me. It is what we have all been looking for; a computing
infrastructure that serves ME and not the other way around.
A computing infrastructure that knows who I am, where I am,
the type of device(s) I use, what I need, and gets it to
me. A self-healing, self-discovery network/computing
infrastructure that 'feels' what I need and provides it:
services, information, entertainment, whatever I need - it
provides, INSTANTLY!!! At work, at home, on the airplane,
at Starbucks, anywhere and EVERYWHERE.  And if the data
center needs to evolve to support this, so be it, but
that's more information than I need to know. As the slogan
goes, just do it!

"One look at the Youth Market and how quickly it adopts new
applications should dispel any trepidation on the part of
IT managers struggling with this evolution. EVOLVE or
DIE!!! should be the new data center mantra. Support new
and compelling services and applications and the money will
flow to data centers, studios, vendors, etc., and whatever
else support the value chain, but the originating point is
still the end user, hence my argument.

Having said that, perhaps it's time for David Isenberg, yet
another smart and insightful Vortician, to update his
write-up to: 'The Fall of the Stupid Network and the
Subsequent Rise of the Touchy-Feely Network.' Ahhh, the
real benefits of IT servitude and the elimination of
computing bondage. Now that's exciting!"

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ABOUT VORTEX DIGEST    
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VORTEX Digest is written weekly by Executive Producer John
Gallant and offers an ongoing dialogue on matters raised at
The VORTEX Conference, and within the VORTEX Community.
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Copyright: Network World, Inc. 2004