Microsoft has been working a few interesting projects that could empower new users.
First one is Silverlight, which carries the best of traditional software development and Web development in a new model that extends the skills and reach of both disciplines (procedural code versus or used in conjunction with scripted code). The idea is to allow a high quality experience to be created by a large number of pros with skills in .NET, JavaScript and eventually Python and Ruby, plus the ability to compile dynamic and scripted languages into a multi-platform CLR that works well both on a Mac or a PC.
The second one is Popfly which is tool like Yahoo Pipes that enables developers to quickly develop mash-up style Web applications and services. This will drive the expectation of user experience in software from the bottom up. People ask questions about why do big expensive software packages cost so much and provide so little. I wonder why people are not asking that enough.
The third one is Surface which is a next generation computing paradigm that's built on the same technology many of us use today or will use in the coming months (Vista and WPF). After years of development, they plan to release a computer that uses the tabletop as its high-resolution display, recognizing objects placed on its surface and skipping the traditional keyboard and mouse in favor of a touchpad-like control interface. This is a biggie. They envision a number of applications such as people placing a card on the table to call up a virtual stack of digital photos from a computer server and then rotate, resize and spread them across the table using their hands. In another, diners split a tab by dragging icons of their meals to their credit cards. Practically from general retail to fast food and casino.
And then there is aQuantive's Atlas, which will be powered up by Microsoft and will have a chance to become the dominant platform. Plus Microsoft Web 2.0 strategy that includes Version 2.0 of the so-called “Community Kit for SharePoint,” which includes new versions of its Enhanced Blog, Enhanced Wiki, ChatterBox Ajax and Tag Cloud editions. Microsoft is ready for the game.
