Weekend Video: Mossberg on the invisible Internet

Content is primary, obviously, and more important than platform. But when a platform is new, you spend a lot of time thinking about the platform or even promoting it: The following program is in living color; this interview is via satellite. Or “I’m going to go online to find it.”

There’s nothing wrong with that – it’s expected and it’s an important part of developing effective content when platforms or technologies evolve. But it’s a temporary state of affairs.

As Walt Mossberg notes in this talk, we don’t say, “I’m going to go on the electrical grid now with my toaster.” We say, “I’m going to make toast.” That’s because the electrical grid is ubiquitous and invisible (until the power goes out). Mossberg says the Internet will eventually be the invisible utility that connects all of our devices to our tasks, and “paying my bills online” will once again become “paying my bills.”

This talk is about an hour, and it’s pretty good. Mossberg also spends a chunk of time on cellphones and why they’re so important, and also why the iPhone is such an important bellwether for phones to come (hint: it ain’t the pretty browser; it’s what’s inside).

Worth your time, if you want to understand these developments better.