RCA Adapters and Web Services

Here’s a way to explain web services to my baby boomer friends. In Loosely Coupled, Doug Kaye mentions a great metaphor from The Stencil Group talking about interfaces and components in terms of RCA adapters. The introduction of this easy to use interface drove the transition from stereos that looked like self-contained pieces of furniture into stereos that were stacks of metal boxes. (If you are too young to remember, check out this antique stereo to see an example featured in a KEXP fund drive.) Once there was an interface that could be used to connect any component from any vendor, you could build out a modular system. Even components which weren't invented until after the interface (like DVD players) could easily be added without altering any of the other components.