What is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 may be a buzzword that has existed for a few yearsalready, but it’s still creating a lot of buzz…and
disagreement. Experts are still debating about the exact
definition of Web 2.0. If you’re still feeling confused
about it, the following explanations might hopefully make
things clear for you.
Essential Characteristics of Web 2.0
Instead of looking for the exact statement that would
explain what Web 2.0 is, let’s just focus on what makes a
website Web 2.0 instead of just Web 1.0.
To begin with, let’s focus on the common examples provided
by most experts. What makes Netscape (Web 1.0) different
from Firefox (Web 2.0)? Hotmail from Yahoo Mail? Geocities
from Blogger? MP3.com from iTunes? Do you get the picture
now? If not then here are several essential characteristics
of Web 2.0 that all experts do agree with.
Knowledge-Oriented Environment – Web 2.0 acknowledges the
need and power of knowledge. Information is what makes the
world go round today – or at least it does in the Internet.
User-Generated Content – Now, what matters most is the
content that users themselves are not generating. They may
not be as professionally packaged or executed as what we’ve
been used to with Web 1.0 websites and applications, but
user-generated content also tend to have greater impact on
readers.
User-Managed Content – With Web 2.0, users don’t just
generate content. They manage it as well. They control how,
when, and where it’s presented as well as who gets to see
it.
Service-Oriented Architecture – It’s all about what a Web
2.0 application can do for you. That’s why Web 2.0
applications tend to offer as many features as possible
and expand continuously.
Human Interaction – Web 2.0 also acknowledges and makes
use of human interaction. It is why social bookmarking and
social networking sites are incredibly popular with people
nowadays.
Doesn’t Fight the Internet – Web 2.0 learned from its
predecessor, Web 1.0, not to fight with the Internet.
Rather than force the Internet to make itself suitable to
the services required by a particular application, Web 2.0
takes advantage instead of the inherent advantages of the
Internet. Its global audiences should be seen, for instance,
as a benefit rather than a disadvantage.
Syndication – Web 2.0 makes great use of syndication.
Syndication refers to the various processes used by websites
to make their content available and accessible, preferably
in digest form, with other users and websites for several
purposes. RSS feeds and podcasting are just a few ways of
syndicating content.
Innovation – Web 2.0 embraces innovation in all its stages.
It is why web 2.0 is defined as to be in a stage of
“perpetual beta”: not a day passes by wherein software
developers continue to find ways to improve their products
and services.
Four Levels of Web 2.0
Tim O’Reilly provided four levels to categorize Web 2.0
applications. Level 3 is at the top of the hierarchy: they
exist only in the Internet and primarily rely and improve
based on the frequency and variety of interaction with and
between users. Wikipedia, eBay, and del.icio.us are just a
few prime examples of level 3 Web 2.0 applications.
Level 2 websites are those able to operate offline but work
better online such as Flickr. Level 1 websites on the other
hand are those that also operate offline but provide more
features when they’re operated online. Examples of level 2
Web 2.0 websites are iTunes and Writely. Lastly, level 0
websites are simply those which produce the same results
whether they’re operated online or offline. Examples of
such websites are Yahoo! Local and Google Maps.