Few things change as fast as the world of technology, so why should the standards world be any different? This editorial, and the stories that follow, highlight the way in which standard setting mirrors, keeps pace with, and in turn influences the evolution of technology.
Can a standard setting consortium stay useful and relevant for ten years? In the case of OASIS, the answer is "yes" - but its founders would never recognize it now. Today, everything from its name to its structure has changed, on the way to becoming one of the important organizations in the global standard setting infrastructure.
The press has made much of the competition of Bluetooth and WIFI for the hearts and minds of the industry. Are competing standards good or bad?