There also is a great deal of information written in one application that can't be read in others due to proprietary file formats. Those barriers will also begin to dissolve as open standards continue to permeate computing. Just as the first generations of Netscape Navigator were successful because they tore down barriers and cross borders, so will the next. Here are some clear barriers and trends that should be looked at carefully. This will give 'roaming' users within the walls of a company access to information that has classically been tied to their desktop machines.
Location independence is predicated on standard protocols and platform independence.
If a user must use a certain type of system running a certain type of proprietary software, they will always have to bring their machines with them in order to guarantee access to their information. Open standards and machine independence are vital. Massive Collaboration With the advent of 'workgroup' software, networked machines were able to help share of information via publicly shared folders and discussions. The web gives collaboration a whole new scope. Not only does it facilitate the exchange of information within a comp- any, it facilitates the exchange of information between companies.