We have often heard the term Web 2.0. What does it mean? Surely there's no new version of the web available and neither there are any particular group of web sites that open only in Firefox 2.0. Then, what is it?
Web 2.0 points out to the new era of web which is much different from delivering just HTML content to the user. It is a new way of thinking, it points out to the web that is getting smarter and richer as more and more people start to use it. The trend for the Web nowadays is Social interaction, user-generated content and blogs which when taken together form the next generation, user driven, intelligent web.
Soon gone will be the days when people used desktop software that came in versions. The software has become an service now. The versions are no more there, only improvement goes on. Do you know which version of Google reader or Gmail do you use, or do you know what have been the improvements going on? The whole software cycle of design-develop-test-ship-install will be finished. Software will now rely on the Beta development model, where it is continually refined and improved and the users will become beta developers. It is Web 2.0.
The above description has been taken from the Expert of the Web2.0 report published by John Musser and Tim O'Reilly called the "Web 2.0, Principles and Best Practices".
Also there is a Third Annual Web2.0 Conference from November 7-9 , 2006.
The term Web 2.0 was coined by O'Reilly's Media in 2004, pointing out the second generation of web services , where people could collaborate and share information. There are many examples of Web 2.0 services:Orkut and MySpace are two of the most popular web social networking sites, Google's Spreadsheet and documents are an another example, then there is YouTube for sharing videos and Slideshare.net for sharing slide shows. Also there's an Indian startup like burrp, where users write reviews and recommendations for the right spots, be it a pan vaala or a good restaurant......and the list is unending!!
I would like to end with line by Ross Mayfield,
Web 1.0 was commerce , Web 2.0 is people.
5 comments:
hi Udit Sajjanhar,this is srinivasan..recently i attended a microsoft seminar in chennai. they claimed that web2.0 is their product(or)technology to replace or make more functionality than AJAX.so wheather it is a MS product or SUN product..could you give more information on this technology..thanx in advance..
Hi Srinivasan,
Firstly Web 2.0 is not a product, its an evolution that has transformed internet from just another luxury to a platform where software is transformed into service.
Another definition of Web 2.0 is that it is an intelligent form of internet, which gets better as more and more people start to use it. It harnesses collective intelligence and user generated content to become smarter than anyone else.
In my opinion, Web 2.0 isn't a product by some software gaint, its an era where you can use web as a platform to launch your service.
Very true...Web 2.0 is more democratic, more interactive, more shared.
Audience/consumer/user is getting more powerful everday as user can generate the content for free (blogs-blogspot, wiki-wikipedia, pods-podcasts, Videosharing-You tube, photo sharing-Flickr, Presentation sharing-slideshare.net)and consuming it to too. Also traditional media (Radio/TV/Print)is loosing its relevance as Media Gatekeeper as anyone can raise its voice through Internet and mobile. Web 2.0 is part of transition from traditional media to new media.But all netizens has to be careful enough to publish credible info on this new meduim of web and mobile.
just a question, isn't web 2.0 encroaching upon individual privacy? I know you always get the option to turn off personalisation in google (and may be other services which are heralding web 2.0); however, aren't we getting tracked down, isn't somebody mapping our profiles and our actions can be anticipated by our prospective employers, or anybody who wants to profile us with the personalised data that is there on the web which these web 2.0 services may analyse and profile us?
An answer to Jadda's Question:
Yaah u r correct in saying that we are being tracked down and being profiled. But there lies the reason for success of Web 2.0. When you are tracked down and profiled, the service provider provides a better service to you. For eg. Your mother might be the best cook according to you, because she knows your like and dislikes.
So it is time to decide whether to provide more information about you and get better service or not to.
At nay time, you can choose the service provider to whom you provide the information and you can always control how much information, you provide to him.
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