In today's Times - an interview with Steve Ballmer that ended like this: -
Q. What do you see as the most significant changes in how people use software?
I think one pervasive change is the increasing importance of community. That will come in different forms, with different age groups of people and it will change as the technology evolves. But the notion of multiple people interacting on things — that will forever continue. That’s different today, and we’re going to see those differences build. You see it in a variety of ways now, in social networking sites, in the way people collaborate at work, and in ad hoc collaboration over the Internet. You see it in things like Xbox Live, the way we let people come together and have community entertainment experiences. And you’ll see that in TV and video. It’s not like the future of entertainment has been determined. But it’s a big deal.
Community is not a feature of where we are going it is a centrality. All the growth will come from design that takes this new reality to heart. Community is also not ranting on message boards but happens best inside a Trusted Space where there an ecosystem for good behaviour.
