Web @ 25, W3C @ 20 – Creating an Agile Web Standards Ecosystem

Last week I wrote about the future direction of the Open Web Platform. The success of the Web emanates from numerous sources. Its success comes from the basic idea of the Web, generations of innovators who have found better ways to utilize the Web, investments by companies to improve the value of the Web, etc.

The Web Standards community cannot arrogate credit for the success of the Web. Nonetheless, this community has played a significant role. An earlier post described competing pressures from stakeholders which make it hard to reach consensus about future needs. It is even more difficult to reach such consensus with speed – a speed that matches the speed of innovation of the industry. Yet, we have seen success in the rapid introduction of new technology.

At the 20th anniversary of the W3C let’s reflect on how the Web Standards Community has become more agile to address the growing requirements of a stable, open core for our Web of diversity and rich application.

Standards are developed by different standards organizations with different degrees of openness, multi-stakeholder input, speed, and consensus. W3C’s approach to standardization is best summarized by the OpenStand principles to which we are signatories, punctuated by our strong focus on Royalty Free commitments. The formal W3C Process ensures that W3C is faithful to OpenStand requirements of consensus and getting the best possible ideas for the future Web.

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