The beginning of 2006 puts us at the mid-point of the first decade of the new millenium. What will things look like over the next four years at end of the 1st decade of the new millenium.

Web browsers
Future web browsers will no longer be just designed for searching the Internet, but will include a set of features almost incomparable to todays. Some of these features will be built in XML feed readers, bookmarks that detect when a web site has been updated. Even perhaps cellphone synchronisation. Your mobile phone will recognize your updated bookmarks and will automatically update your home PC, via bluetooth, when you arrive home from the office.

With release of Internet Explorer 7 in late 2006, the Firefox browsers increase in market share will start slowing dramatically. Browser market share between the two major browsers will stabilize.

Google
Towards the end of 2006, people will start noticing Google is no longer just a search engine, but a fast growing (do I dare say it) web portal. With the alliance of Sun Microsystems, Google will commence releasing it's own suite of open source applications, including their very own web browser that knows what type of sites you like to visit when you search the Internet.

In late 2007 Google will announce a service for VOIP and will later implement video calling. As the technology in mobile devices and wireless networks advance, Google will release their first major hardware product, the gPhone. This mobile phone will operate on a data channel provided by your GSM network provider and will allow for very cheap international video calling and instant messaging.

Interactivity
Over the upcoming five years, more and more Web2.0+ enabled web sites will start to emerge taking the Internet by storm. This has already started with sites such as gMail and digg.com and will very soon make it's way onto blogs, forums, and other sites that have a strong user orientated design. These sites will update themselves before your eyes as new content is added.

As the world marvels at the new experience these interactive web sites have to offer, a new set of web standards will emerge. You should expect a new set of standards allowing for persistent HTTP connections and SVG animation.

The web server will no longer have the task of building the presentation of web sites, but will simply serve data to the client via XML. This will at first happen on demand by HTTP requests from AJAX enabled web sites, however towards 2009 the server will notify the client via PHTP.

Household Connectivity
Most people think wires when they hear their fridge will be connected to the Internet. At first, these appliances will be connected via wireless to a central router. 2010 we will see these appliances connected via the build in router in your cable decoder, messages will scroll across the bottom of the TV screen when your washing is dry, or when you leave the fridge open. Your alarm clock will keep time with your cable service provider and your bathroom mirror will display the local weather forecast.