Nine unheralded technology innovations

August 28, 2012 by  
Filed under Every thing you Need to Know

Because some of these achievements are so widespread, they are also easy to overlook. Not anymore. We’re giving nine of these unheralded technology innovations their due here. Information comes directly from the people responsible for these advancements.

1. Server-Side Scripting

It all started with a TV show in Boston. In 1994, Fred DuFresne was working on an interactive website for the local station WCVB-TV. DuFrense created a technique called server-side scripting, which was a stark departure from the common programming techniques of the day. Essentially, it “programs” a server to carry out commands such as showing you a video or a Flash animation.

Before server-side scripting, programmers had to write complex HTML commands. Today, it is used on everything from Facebook pages to foodie blogs. “With SSS, the level of training required to create dynamic pages was drastically reduced. no formal training in computer science was required to create a simple PHP page. There is no linking to object libraries, no compiling source code to object code,” DuFresne says.

2. IP Cameras

You don’t hear about IP cameras much, but there is probably one monitoring your parking lot right now. interestingly, cameras that use the Internet to stream video are not as dominate as they should be. Axis Communications, the company that invented IP cameras back in 1997, says only 40 percent of the security cameras in use today are connected to the Web, but that is changing.

Review: Dropcam HD: Monitor your Home over the Internet

IP cameras can scale much faster-adding 32 cameras is essentially like plugging more computers into a hub-and the quality is arguably superior. they are more affordable, too, and provide additional features such as motion tracking.

3. Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions


4. OAuth

OAuth, the open standard for authorization, is like the missing link in evolutionary theory, bridging the gap between two known entities. the technology uses a token as a credential. Say you want to use data in Facebook. OAuth might be the authentication method used to connect one data set to another.

Analysis: OAuth 2.0 Security Used by Facebook, Others Called Weak


5. Keystroke Encryption


News: Microsoft Dragging its Feet with IE 9 Fix, Strikeforce Says

Fortunately, keystroke encryption prevents these attacks. Companies such as Strikeforce Technologies invented encryption technology at the hardware layer for companies to augment security detection techniques. Now it’s used on more than 4 million computers, with the potential for much more.

6. Virtual Market Research


7. Open Database Connectivity

This unheralded tech is so commonplace now, many IT experts can’t imagine how in-house applications could run without it. Developed in the early 1990s, the concept was ahead of its time; as an open standard, ODBC can connect to any other Database Management System (DBMS). the drivers can run on any platform and even connect from one platform to another. In that way, they pre-date the open standards used on the Web. the only catch is that many Web apps skip ODBC and connect to databases using PHP.

8. Reputation Management

the reputation of a large company is hard to control, but it’s not impossible. Reputation management systems, including for Business, can track customer sentiment for major brands.


9. Local News Aggregation


John Brandon is a former IT manager at a Fortune 100 company who now writes about technology. he has written more than 2,500 articles in the past 10 years. You can follow him on Twitter @jmbrandonbb. Follow everything from on Twitter @CIOonline, on Facebook, and on Google +.

Read more about innovation in CIO’s Innovation Drilldown.

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...