What is Web 2.0? Web 2.0 is coming!
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Web 2.0 is coming! Web 2.0 is here! But what is Web 2.0? <– This is Web 2.0. –>
I decided to write an article on Web 2.0 after having many friends ask me what exactly is Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is a buzz word that was first tossed around by members of O’Reilly media in late 2004 as a way of explaining the evolution of the internet. The basic definition of Web 2.0 is that “Users add Value” – Tim O’Reilly
What this means is that as the internet has evolved, advances in web programming languages and content management systems have made it possible for almost anyone in the world to contribute content to the internet.
This embodies the ideas behind the Web 2.0 concept, which are websites that allow users to influence content, and interact with one another. Look at sites like YouTube, Google Video, Flickr, and Blogger just to name a few, and you will start to see the many web services that have risen up to allow users to take control of web content.
A good way to understand what the internet has evolved into is to look at the content that was available only a few years ago. Before these “Web 2.0” sites were created users had to have a solid understanding of web design, and programming to contribute their ideas to the world. Because this is no longer the case the doors have been opened offering numerous opportunities for people to express themselves regardless of their technological background.
So as you can see Web 2.0 is not a definition or a standard. It is an idea of what the internet has become and continues to evolve into. You will hear many buzz words associated with this like blogging, mash-up, ajax, feeds, RSS, tags, wiki and podcasts. These are all examples of people controlled content services where the “user adds value” to the information.
The internet is becoming a social web more and more everyday. The focus of computing is shifting and companies are now beginning to look at how they can incorporate the user into their site. Whether it’s through comment systems that allow users to voice their opinions, or web based software that give users access to programs they would have had to pay for in the past, the evolution of the internet is providing more efficient ways of doing things each and everyday.
Because there is no set standard for what Web 2.0 actually is the definition grows and changes all the time. In doing research for this article I came across a great video by Michael Wesch who is an assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University.
The video does a great job of outlining the concepts that follow the Web 2.0 ideal. Please check it out, it was very well made and presents the ideas behind Web 2.0 in a 5 minute video.
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cool! Very informative.
Thanks man! I kept getting asked about this at work so I thought it would be good to put it down in writing.