As social tools : Wikies, Blogs, Facebook and Twitters can be implemented not only PC platform, but also other devices.This blog is going to demonstrate the fifth pattern : Software above the level of a single device.
The feature of that pattern is that web 2.0 is no longer limited to the PC platform. (Tim 2005)That means nearly all software can be applied in some platforms, like palm computers, and mobile devices. People are more interested in convenience of applying those web applications.
Most web tools can be used with PC and Mobile devices. I am going to introduce a new tool, which will be used by most chinese users, which is QQ.
Based on a great number of user(online QQ accounts exceed 160 million on 19th april 2012 ) , advanced central processing system, and powerful data-storage system, QQ has been one of the biggest and most poplar web tool in World.
In Feb 1999, Tencent developed an instance message software OICQ( later named QQ) which has all the functions of OICQ, like MSN. The first net paging real-time communications service was being released by QQ. Then other great functions had been successfully created such as chatrooms, games, internet storage, and internet dating services.(Tencent QQ 2011)
The reason of why QQ has been widely used is that QQ can support multiple platform, like PC, Mobiles, palm computers. The current version of QQ2012 could be applied on Windows XP, Vista, 7. In addition, as we all know, some softwares are not supported by MAC operating systems, in 2005, QQ has developed the tool for MAC users. For the mobile platform, the Android and IOS are available as well.
Moreover, although QQ is popular in China, they published a standard as International QQ available in 6 languages English, French, German, Spanish, Korean and Japanese. Therefore, QQ has been a global web tool.
QQ company has designed games, which can be supported by mobile and PC devices. As a general entertainment tool, QQ games can attract more users to use as it is easy to be operated and can decrease data usage.
In addition, based on QQ powerful processing system, Weixin has been created, which is like talk box. Weixin can post not only literature, but also images and voice messages.
I had mentioned a number of great functions QQ created. However, there will be some demerits with it. As there are a great amount of users, one problem is leaking privacy. In the back of the QQ processing system, when users try to implement it, there will be an opportunity to make it happen, unless users have to use fire wall to prevent that.
References:
Tim O’Reilly.(2005).Design Patterns and Business Models for the next generation of software. Retrieved from: http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html?page=4
Tencent QQ.(2011). Tencent QQ. Retrieved from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tencent_QQ
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