To tell the truth: I haven’t even considered this matter for a second until I’ve read the fcw.com article “The IPv6 elevator speech“.

Just to say IPv6 covers 2¹²⁸ or 340.282.366.920.938.463.463.374.607.431.768.211.456 adresses may be enough for someone who is aware of the problem but how can I explain it to my mom or an executive that isn’t quite familiar with IT topics?

Here are 7 points for selling IPV6 (from Matthew Weigelt):

1. Dump the term IPv6. It’s too techie. Instead use the term next-generation Internet.
2. Describe in layman’s terms the problems necessitating the transition.
3. Put the transition in perspective. IPv4 is 30 years old and was launched when “Cagney and Lacey” was a popular TV show, online banking was unheard of and few people had computers.
4. Establish a general timeline for the transition through June 30 and beyond.
5. Explain how the next-generation Internet will affect the agency. Stay away from George Jetson-esque examples, such as refrigerators telling you it’s time to buy more milk. Use examples that relate to the agency’s mission.
6. Tell the boss the transition won’t happen all at once but over time as the agency buys new computers.
7. If all else fails, simply say that the Office of Management and Budget told agencies to do it.

I had to smile both times I’ve read the text. It’s that simple one the one hand and maybe also because of the simplicity that ingenious on the other hand. Just try to apply the pattern to other incremental innovations or call it “2nd version stuff”!

Posted by maz on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 19:02.