Web 2.0
The term ‘Web 2.0’ refers to the idea of the “New Internet”, or the second wave of the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 is not a specific application or technology, but explains two paradigm shifts within Information Technology, ‘user-generated content’ and ‘thin client computing’.
User-generated content refers to social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace and YouTube, blogs, vlogs and any web application that enables users to create elaborate, personal web pages without any prior technical programming knowledge. User-generated content of Web 2.0 is changing the way we use the Internet. Users have transformed the World Wide Web into a pool of knowledge and news that is created and reported on by ‘citizen journalists’. Web 2.0 is radically changing journalism, creating new opportunities on the Internet and enhancing globalization at a pace faster than critics can comprehend. A major point of interest with Web 2.0 is the equalization on a mass scale between user, client and big corporations.
Thin Client Computing refers to data and applications that are housed on a web server, providing the user with universal access to information from any computer. Although not a new concept for the World Wide Web, thin client computing has the potential to revolutionize the Internet into one giant application server for all users.
Web 2.0 also refers to the application that creates information to seek out the user and provide him with specific and pointed information. Algorithms are employed to direct this information based on the user’s profile and browsing history.
Introduction to Web 2.0 The definition of Web 2.0 seems to be a matter of hype and marketing speak. In this first in a series of articles I will attempt to demystify and disambiguate the concepts of Web 2.0. In future articles I will expand on real world examples of Web 2.0 technology and what differentiates them from Web 1.0. I was recently at the JavaOne conference in San Francisco. I saw a salesman advertising a product as a “Web 2.0 Mashup Solution”. I thought I knew what Web 2.0 was, but once he finished his pitch, I was confused. …
Introduction to Web Services As part of our series on Web 2.0 we turn our attention to data management. Web Services are a way to allow an enterprise to give access to their internal data in a platform agnostic way. What is unique about web services is that the requests are made across the Internet the same way you would make a request using your web browser – using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This means that an existing infrastructure can be used to set up a web service and make it instantly accessible to the world. Another significant feature…
Web 2.0 and The Read/Write Web One of the emerging themes of Web 2.0 is the ability for users to add data to web sites directly. In Web 1.0 web content was managed by so-called “webmasters”. The webmaster would update HTML web pages using simple text editors (like Notepad) or advanced web management systems (like DreamWeaver). In Web 2.0 web sites are reaching out to the users and inviting them to add content directly. Wikis, Weblogs (Blogs), Forums, and Content Management Systems are making this possible. Wikis (from the Hawaiian “Wiki Wiki” meaning “quick”) are flat web spaces where users…
The Potential of Web 2.0 One of the most powerful functions of Web 2.0 is the ability it gives users to rapidly build applications. Not only can Web 2.0 allow users to build applications within a short period of time, they can do so without having advanced technical knowledge. There are a number of reasons why this is revolutionary. By reducing the knowledge that is necessary for building applications, more people can construct them. It should first be emphasized that Web 2.0 is not a thing. It is more of a group of approaches, and these approaches can be designed…
The Design Aspects of Web 2.0 There are a number of design aspects that separate Web 2.0 from Web 1.0. With Web 1.0, a small group of writers would generate web pages that would be exposed to a large number of viewers. Because of this, it became possible for viewers to go directly to a source to retrieve important information. However, a number of changes have occured. First, many people have now gone from simply viewing information to being responsible for writing and publishing it on the web. A good example of this is the rapid popularity of the blogging…
Web 2.0 Principles As of this writing, the term Web 2.0 is considered to be a buzz word in the online community. There is a fierce debate about whether or not it is radically different than Web 1.0. However, all the evidence shows that people are becoming more interested in the concept, and many conferences have been packed with people who are interested in learning more about this fundamental technology. To understand why there is so much hyper surrounding Web 2.0, it is first important to understand the underlying principles that are connected to it. Web 2.0 is a platform…
What is Web 2.0 Everybody is talking about Web 2.0 lately. It’s a real hype, but do you know what it is all about? Web 2.0 refers to the second stage of development of the Internet, according to some people. It’s about the change of a collection of websites to a complete platform for interactive web applications for the end-users on the World Wide Web. For some people it will mean the end of desktop applications. These web-based services make it easy for people to place things online, such as documents, pictures, movies, to-do lists… and share them with others…
Web 2.0 Concepts There are a number of important innovations which are expected to play a pivotal role in the introduction of Web 2.0. Some of these innovations are applications that are web based. One of the most powerful tools that has allowed this is Ajax. Ajax is powerful because it has now allowed many web sites to run applications that are very similar to those that are commonly used on personal computers. Some of these applications include spreadsheets and word processing programs. In addition to this, some websites are now capable of carrying out project management functions. A number…
Web 2.0 Characteristics While Web 2.0 is one of the most promising technological advances that will occur on the Internet, there is a lot of confusion that surrounds it. While you may think this confusion is limited to laypersons, this is not the case. Many Web 2.0 experts are confused about the nature of this new technology. While various experts will have their own opinions of the system, these opinions can be broken down into two categories, and they are • those who believe that there is no difference between Web 2.0 and 1.0, and • those who believe that…
Web 2.0 and Social Media The advent of blogs and the rapid availability of site building software has made it easy for a single person to reach millions of people in a short period of time. While this was a dream 20 years ago, it has become a reality today. With the introduction of syndication, social content can be spread across the Internet through various feeds, reaching millions of people in a matter of hours. For the first time in history, anyone is able to reach a large audience through blogs, websites, or syndication. The introduction of Web 2.0 is…
The Business Aspect of Web 2.0 Companies Slow To React To Web 2.0 Despite the fact that Web 2.0 is currently one of the most popular terms on the web, most companies have been slow to adopt it. Many experts feel that the primary reason for this is because the concept of improving company processes with online tools is not a new concept. Despite this, there are a number of differences between Web 2.0 and traditional online business tools. While the companies who embrace Web 2.0 are likely to be the industry leaders of tomorrow, the days may be numbered…
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Web 2.0 While Web 2.0 has become a popular term these days, few people have taken the time to weigh the pros and cons of these evolutionary change. While the advantages are heavily touted by those who are proponents of Web 2.0, there are also those who feel that this technology will do more harm than good. In this article, I wish to go over the key advantages and disadvantages of Web 2.0, and this will give readers the ability to decide what they think. However, to understand the pros and cons of Web 2.0,…
How Web 2.0 Will Change The Internet I personally feel that it is an understatement to say that Web 2.0 will change the face of the Internet. It is an emerging technology that has a number of important implications, and those who are prepared for such implications will prosper. Many have said that Web 2.0 will give users the same experiences that they first had when they used the Internet for the first time. However, many experts feel that Web 2.0 will be the result of small advances and tweaks that will gradually transform the net. While it took a…
How Web 2.0 Can Be Valuable To Businesses It should be no big secret that the Internet has become a new frontier for doing business. It has facilitated an environment where a true free market exists, a place in which anyone can start a business without having large sums of money up front. Most importantly, the Internet cannot be easily purchased and controlled by either government agencies or large corporations. Having said that, there are a number of key benefits that Web 2.0 can bring to businesses. For most IT organizations, a high emphasis has always been placed on the…
