What I would like it to be is an XML based word processor. What I think the world needs is a way for people to easily write content, without having to fight about the presentation aspects of it - this would cover 90% of the documents in the world. MS Word, Open Office and others have the problem that the format/presentation is an intrinsic part of the document. This is useful for things like faxes or letters to people, but not for large-scale documentation, books, manuals, reports. While a document can be based on a template, changes to that template don't affect the documents that were based on it. And currently, information in these types of files are just about impossible to integrate into larger solutions.
Most companies/organizations have all of these standard formats and templates, but even with it, something like 50% of a user's time goes towards formatting the document, rather than writing the content. In some cases, companies pay to have document formatters on staff just so they can make the documents look like thy're supposed to, or convert them between formats. With an XML based suite, most people could focus on content, and only a few (custom or canned) style sheets would be required.
Yet, amazingly, there are no good XML documentation office solutions that I've been able to find. A few half decent generic XML editors, and quite a few overly expensive enterprise level content management systems, but not an office suite solution.
Not to mention all of the other benefits that would come from XML - searchability and indexing, metadata, simplified publishing to other formats (ie website and manuals), readability, ability to integrate into other IT infrastructures, etc...
I know in the organization I work for, it would be wonderful. If I had the time, I'd be starting an open source one...
