What Is Web 2.0?

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Because of the continuous improvements in technology, processing power, and programming language today, the Internet and the way we use it is also evolving.  In just a decade, static websites which were used only by academic institutions and military personnel have now transformed into popular consumer use. From online encyclopedias that serve the masses of students and researchers, the travel websites that promote reservations, to e-mail, all of these websites provide not only the basic services that consumers are attracted to, but also gives a host of media rich content which has been one of the crucial factors in the modern popularity and boom of the Internet.

The World Wide Web, as it is now known, but is not anymore merely a detached form of information retrieval but a real life geography where in individuals are able to interact with each other in their community — a community slowly but surely expanding into a global one.

These recent innovations and improvements have led to the development of a term — Web 2.0.  Formerly, about two years ago, the term Web 2.0 had only been popular and interesting among circles of computer and programming enthusiasts.  Recently, however, almost any consumer which uses the Internet for social networking, research, communication, design — which is to say everyone — the term Web 2.0 is gaining popularity.

What is Web 2.0 in the first place.  It is a term originating from computer circles used to describe the recent improvements and changes as well as trends on the Internet.  It includes design, creativity, sharing capabilities, and the key word which makes it popular event along ordinary consumers and computer users, social networking and professional

The ability of Web 2.0 which differentiates it from the previous version of the World Wide Web is that it gives powers to users and consumers rather to the owners and designers of websites.  Enter action and a hands on approach by consumers is the key highlights of this trend and it is already extremely popular nowadays even though consumer users do not realize it.

A culture of participation is being built around new Web 2.0 designed and created sites which separates it from traditional old websites where the action of visitors are limited merely to gaining information from them without putting in their own input.  Some have even stated that Web 2.0 started as early as the time when the Internet began integrating within its structure for rooms and interactive discussions.  However, a difference of those forums with Web 2.0 architecture is that those in the modern version of the World Wide Web actually give power of information and not only opinion.

Modification of websites — which is every past designer’s worst nightmare — by consumers and users is actually given strength and highlighted as a way for people to reflect how the median voter theorem complies with everyday life — even the Internet.
This theory states that a large number of people will tend to deviate their decisions towards the mean — or the average — so that extremes are left out and the overall result is something that most people would find on average to be pleasing.

A designer may you build a website that is attractive to his or herself and to the stakeholders or the owners of the website, but it is not necessarily the case that the same website design would be pleasing to consumers.  Therefore, in the process of Web 2.0 and its collaboration mechanisms, designers are given the chance to make the most creative output while at the same time allowing for comments and suggestions to be made in real time.

There are many other applications of Web 2.0 technology and its concept, but participation is the key and highlighting phrase.
 

Bruno

Tags: web 2.0 technology, web 2.0 design, internet, Web 2.0