Ektron and SitePoint did a survey of 5,000 web developers over the US summer, and have just released the results in a report entitled The State of Web Development 2006/2007. It’s packed full of useful data, even in the 25-page preview (which is free). Particularly interesting is the section on Web Technologies that are being currently used and will be used in future by these companies.

Right now Ajax is not far behind Flash. Blogs are well-used, while wikis not so – no real surprise there, as blogs are generally easier to use. Syndication / RSS at 36% is still a little low.

Most web technologies will apparently be used more – in particular Ajax, which next year is predicted to surpass Flash for the first time.

Also interesting is the section about the upcoming technologies:

• Real-time visual 3D view and navigation of a site
• more standards compliance, responsible use of technologies and semantics
• portable information progress
• Paradigm shift: you will not search the Web for information. You will define what you want, and the Web will collect it for you.
• Voice interactivity/navigation
• “…total immersion. Cell phones, PDAs, laptops, PCs, TVs – so many different ways exist to access the Web and more are added every day. The Web is going to become –if it hasn’t already – the hub on which the world spins.”
• “Integration of Internet technologies into everyday life that does not involve a desktop or even a mobile/cell/PDA”