Widget terminology often confuses newcomers. The variance of terms -- widget, gadget, module, badge, button, etc. -- can create impressions of a fragmented industry in its early days, not able to agree on anything as simple as a name. In this post I will walk you through the etymology and nomenclature of widgets and its variances. I interpret each term as a separate meaning, not a synonym, depending on the structure and use of widget content.
The widget technology we take for granted today has been over 25 years in the making. Small pieces of customized desktop and web content have made their way into our lives whether you call it an accessory, a widget, a web part, or a gadget. This post highlights some key moments in widget platform history that have shaped where we are today.
Google introduced a new advertising unit tonight: Google Gadgets. This new form of rich content is available everywhere AdWords image ads are currently served, and includes a completely new widget analytics system.
Niall Kennedy is a web technologist in San Francisco, California in the United States. I am very interested in the world of... MORE »