This is so gorgeous, I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to write about it. Hyperakt has created a beautiful, interactive application that showcases the Evolution of the Web, specifically browser and web based technologies. The explanation from the site:

The web today is a growing universe of interlinked web pages and web apps, teeming with videos, photos, and interactive content. What the average user doesn’t see is the interplay of web technologies and browsers that makes all this possible.

Over time web technologies have evolved to give web developers the ability to create new generations of useful and immersive web experiences. Today’s web is a result of the ongoing efforts of an open web community that helps define these web technologies, like HTML5, CSS3 and WebGL and ensure that they’re supported in all web browsers.

The color bands in this visualization represent the interaction between web technologies and browsers, which brings to life the many powerful web apps that we use daily.

The app scrolls open to reveal a timeline with your favorite browser badge at the appropriate spot on the continuum. Click on the badge and get more information about it. The app comes in several languages and there is an incredible breadth of information available if you click all the links. The take-away is that a whole lot has happened in web development in a relatively short time – and development appears to be moving faster all the time. Can you imagine the infographic  / visual application needed to document this information in ten more years?

Happy browsing!