Web 2.0 debabbled
Nothing has conjured up more hype (and confusion) in the internet world lately than the phrase "Web 2.0". It's easy to dismiss the hype, but, while the man behind the curtain may not be a wizard, he is worth getting to know.What is Web 2.0?
Let's start with what Web 2.0 isn't. Web 2.0 isn't a technology, which is to say that it's not a piece of hardware or software, nor is new technology necessary to take advantage of it. Practically speaking, Web 2.0 isn't really a "thing" at all; it's really just a formal recognition that the web has changed in fundamental ways. Clear as mud, I know. So, what are the ways the web has changed. Well, I can boil it down to three: (1) the rise of dynamic content, (2) the advent of the user-driven web, and (3) the evolution of distribution.
Change #1 just means that websites, once static creations where pages had to be individually updated, are now often driven by databases and created dynamically. This has led to change #2, allowing web surfers to contribute directly to content, in the form of comments, reviews, blog entries, product preferences, order histories, and on and on. Instead of a few thousand developers of web content, we now have almost a billion potential authors. Finally, all of this content requires new ways to get at it (think Google or RSS), which leads us to change #3. Put it all together, and you've got a second generation of the worldwide web.
What's in it for me?
If Web 2.0 is just a fancy way of saying that the internet has changed, what does that mean, practically speaking? The reality is that all of these trends represent very real and important shifts in not just the structure and function of the internet, but in its opportunities and economics. Web 2.0 has brought with it real innovations in both the technologies and business models of the internet, and is changing the face of e-business. While the original internet was built by academics and governments, Web 2.0 is ultimately being driven by consumers, and that means many more changes yet to come.
