OpenID is an interesting idea that has come about in recent years. Here’s a quick overview to what it currently does and how it could change the future of our virtual communities.
The whole purpose of an openID is to never have to create a login and password for every site that you sign up to. Instead, theoretically, you can just enter in a link to your own URI and the site will automatically recognize you.
Currently openID is not quite where it should be, because the ID is stored through a site that you have to sign up for (pretty retarded right now) but eventually all the information will be stored through your own server and not someone else’s.
How will this impact our current social networks? Let’s say you find a site of artists, you join by pointing to your unique URI and that site will pull in all your friends through your own XFN list (also stored on your own site), your CV, hCard and Profile (through your own microformats), creating a much greater open connectivity between networks. Soon sites won’t host all this information for you and will only work as an application to connect users of certain interests.
I'm Brad Cooper, a user experience designer and front-end programmer with a passion for actualizing visions. I strive to create a piece of art in each site that I put together both visually and technically.
