The web is awash with a plethora of new apps all competing for our attention and time. Developers are conferencing around the states vying for VC funding, to build their newt big thing. The new Twitter or the new Facebook? Do we want or need a new Twitter - the current model seems to work just fine as a communication medium. A new Facebook - a case could be argued, but then I am biased away from the walls and gatekeeping that goes on there.

So, the design process, how does that work? The technology can do this and so lets build it and see where it goes?

I confess here that I suspect a degree of risk and return is f

actored in at this level. We all know it is a gamble to spot the next trend and lets face it $41m for Color is well documented …...( Adds gratuitous ink ).

But what if an actual “need” was factored into the design structure, an app that solved a problem or had a real purpose other than Badges, Mayorships and Karma. As noted on another blog I am susceptable to Karma ;)

I wonder if I am confusing the issues here. The value of the likes of Facebook and Twitter is the data. The sheer volume of data that is within Facebook is where the valuations lie, and not the privacy issues either that’s just personal detail So the next app that makes it big time will be about fulfilling a need whilst at the same time collating data.

If the future of communications is mobile, how will that affect search and data colection? Apps are downloads to handsets, will the majority of apps be backed up to the open web?

Coming Next: Localmind :)