The Online Landscape

[GabeZhul]

So, I was just doing some nostalgia binging on xkcd when I saw this classic about representing online communities on a fantasy-map based on user numbers [https://xkcd.com/256/].

I remembered there being another one, which you can find here. [https://xkcd.com/802/]

The thing is, the first one was made in 2007 while the second one is from 2010. So here is a fun little discussion fodder for you: How do you think things would have changes on this imaginary landscape by today?

My observations would be how Windows Live Messenger has conquered almost the entire Instant Messaging Island by conquering Skype, but then they stole their defeated foe's name for legitimacy even though everyone knows they are but one arm of the Kingdom of Microsoft.

The other big change is how a previous background player, Google+, who infiltrated the entire landscape and took over the Island of Video Streaming by conquering it from the inside in the name of the Google Empire.

What changes do you see?

 

[William Fleming]

Seeing the large area representing Myspace in the 2007 one. That brings back memories and how much things can change. I also remember seeing this article which compares Facebook to an infectious disease:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/23/facebook-infectious-disease-epidemiological-modelling-princeton

If you don't want to read it; it basically ends with that Facebook will likely die off when people get bored with it (not too different from what happened with Myspace really). I still see Facebook hanging around for a good while still however due to the social aspect alone (which Myspace had a bit of a lack of unless you were part of an indie musicians or interested in them).

Google+ doesn't seem to be catching on at all from what I've seen. Of everyone I know, only 2 people actually have it (and barely use it, could just be what its like here though).