Here's the thing with personal directories:
If I have a copy located on my local drive - I can only access my information while at my PC or while my PC is logged into a network (so I could log into the directory via the internet). So if I'm not using my PC with Personal Directory installed or able to access it from a network connection, the information would be "offline" and unavailable to me.
Even with "federation" myDirectory would still need to be accessible to me. What if I'm not at my PC where "myDirectory" is located. There is a way to make copies can carry that around but do you really want to be installing Directory on your friend's PC when you are there visiting? Or do we expect people to accept the limited functionality while you are away from their PC? Or to expect people to add the complexity of constantly-on internet access to their lives (not completely possible is it)? This type of access brings a host of different issues into play...and not to mention costs too.
So what would really make Personal Directories more functional would be for me to make a "replica" (a copy) of it on a hosted service. This way, my information would be available at all times. In fact, with filtered replication, I can copy only that information I would NEED to have available at all times (usernames, passwords for sites, my bookmarks, preferences for internet applications etc) while I keep other information securely stored on my local drive.
From this centrally hosted "replica", I can then share selected information with just about anyone (banks, merchants, friends & family, etc).
Let's take it a step further -- creating applications that would enhance Personal Directory. Well, I for one would love to see a personal ICS-type of service written for individuals. The ability to protect my "home network" as well as introduce caching would be a great benefit. Even better yet, a hosted service I could subscribe to would handle that caching (& VPN service) for me and Personal Directory would merely authenticate me to that service and allow me access to the content I have selected. So I don't really traverse the complete path to the origination server but merely to the content exchange center nearest me :)
More applications - how about telephony! How about digitalme integration into pNDS? What about syncing my PDA! (If anyone uses a Palm and Avantgo would instantly see a neat benefit into integrating that type of service).
I could go on and on :) But I think I make a good point - there are endless possibilities using Personal Directory as an anchor to a solution (or even a strategy). Now if I could only create Directory Map objects in Personal Directory that pointed to my webfolders....
Regards,
Peter J Strifas |
