In the past, when someone was deemed “ahead of their time” it usually meant they were great thinkers that the world would only catch up to decades (or sometimes centuries) later. Well, it seems that gap has gotten a whole lot smaller these days, such as in the case of Thomas Friedman’s 2005 book, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.
I’m sure many of you know the book well, however for those of you who haven’t gotten the chance to check it out, The World is Flat outlines a number of technological advances and strategic business practices that Friedman believes have helped to connect (or flatten as he puts it) the globe on a massive scale over the past 30 years.
Keep in mind that since the book was published, we have seen the emergence of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Linkedin, Google+, The Cloud…you get the point. The tools we use to connect with each other are constantly evolving and Friedman himself has said on such programs as Meet the Press that the world is now not just connected, but hyper-connected.
So, what does this mean for us? Well, as we watch the world connect seemingly exponentially, it has become more and more clear that the next big step in flattening the globe has already begun to explode in the form of the mobile web. Forrester Research group recently put out a study in which they estimate that by 2016 there will be over one billion smartphone and tablet users worldwide. We’re sitting on the cusp of the next true shift in how we communicate and interact and businesses are beginning to realize that in order to stay ahead of the game, going mobile is essential.
While the wheels are in motion, the mobile web has just begun to pick up steam as currently only about 10% of websites are optimized for the mobile web. Our mission is to streamline mobile web development and bring a new level of professional customization to the mobile landscape. As mobile grows—and it will very quickly—we need to grow along with it. New features, new ideas, new possibilities; we’re excited about what the mobile landscape can become.
We’re doing our part to flatten the world between businesses and their customers. Let us know what you think below and connect with us on Twitter @fiddlefly or facebook for more updates.
