Article at a glance:

When computers learn to talk: A Web services primer

Breathless predictions are too often the kiss of death for emerging technologies. Will it be any different for Web services, the latest wave of innovation on the Internet? Big investments by players like IBM, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems have convinced some observers that Web services will soon be a reality. Yet significant hurdles remain—including security and consumer privacy.

The take-away

Obstacles notwithstanding, potentially powerful innovations are building behind the buzz. This primer explains what Web services are, what you need to know to be conversant with the underlying technology, and why, in the end, you may decide to pay close attention as Web services evolve.