There is one thing folks on both sides of the iPad debate may agree on; the iPad is bold. Does it take a bold move in the computing industry to change the way an entire market operates? Probably.

Is the iPad the bold move that will single handedly changed computing? Probably not.

It’s doubtful that in 50 years, historians will look back on the piece of Apple hardware and give it honors as the device that changed the world.

But, perhaps, the iPad is more like the great-great-uncle to the “appliance computer” of tomorrow: a small, thin screen operated by touch, with a fast processor and full OS capable of even the most difficult computing tasks.

It could be that in 50 years there will be no such thing as a laptop, netbook, or desktop PC. Your computer will be an integral part of life. It will be small enough to be brought along on any outing and powerful enough to handle just about any task with ease.

What does this mean for the web?

It’s 2010 and the web is everywhere. It is hard to imagine a world without the internet in some form or another.

The iPad and other similar devices haven’t been on the market for long, but they’re an increasingly popular and important segment of web traffic. Sites that are “iPad Ready” are already popping up, using new technologies like CSS3 and HTML5 to increase compatibility across almost all forms of computing. These technologies add more interactivity, yet are less resource-intensive than their predecessors. 

iPad-like devices could end up being the way most online shopping is done. The devices are convenient; their size, weight and functionailties mean that they’ll stay close by at any time. The high-resolution screens are great for displaying products and photos. With HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, changing product colors, shapes and other attributes is a breeze.

Business may also be able to target users in a specific area. For instance, on an iPad-like device, a clothing store’s website may use GPS or a cellular network to find a user’s location and let you virtually shop at the closest retail location automatically.

Apple’s first-generation device may not single-handedly revolutionize the market, but the trend has started and it’s a great time to make your site “iPad Ready”.