Web 2.0 Continues Internet’s Evolution, But What Is Web 2.0? Part I of II

From the August 2008 Issue

It seems that just about every technology vendor is referencing “Web 2.0” these days, but for those who are waiting to see some dramatic new product or technology arise, you can stop holding your breath. Web 2.0 is already here, and it has been for a few years now.

But for those still wondering, “What exactly is Web 2.0?,” well, that’s a little more difficult to explain. You see, Web 2.0 is nothing. It is not a new version of the Web’s infrastructure or specifications, or a patch or update of any definable nature. Nor is Web 2.0 related to specific websites. Heck, it isn’t really even a new technology, per se.

Web 2.0 Defined, Sort Of
So what is it? Web 2.0 was initially coined to mean using the Web as a platform for development of new programs and interactive tools, but its definition is greatly dependent on how users implement these functions. As such, my definition is that Web 2.0 is you and me, the users of the Internet, as well as the developers who design programs that run across the Web. The word programs is key here, because the best definition of Web 2.0 is that it is a change in the way we use the Internet for productivity, collaboration and information sharing. But more than just being an extension of existing tools that have been made web-accessible, applications in the Web 2.0 paradigm are designed specifically and exclusively for online usage. They are, in short, things that essentially couldn’t exist in another format.

The early Internet, now sometimes referred to as Web 1.0, was often referred to as a phonebook of sorts, or perhaps an encyclopedia omnis (of everything). It was essentially static, allowing users to read or view information, even play games or perform other functions. But aside from e-mail, there really wasn’t human interaction. Additionally, the functions these sites provided already existed in non-digital forms, so simply putting them online was not really a new concept. Likewise, many computer programs, including professional tax and accounting programs, were made accessible via the Internet but were essentially the same program and were often still hosted on a desktop PC. The programs were merely accessed remotely and had the same (or perhaps less) functionality. Web 1.0 websites still exist, of course.

The actual term Web 2.0 was coined in 2004 by Tim O’Reilly, founder of O’Reilly Media, a leading technology publisher. But as he defined it, the changes that form the core of the Web 2.0 concept actually started coming years before the term. As the Internet matured and access to high-speed connections increased, developers starting taking greater advantage of its inherent collaborative nature and began creating websites and programs that took advantage of these qualities.

Interaction
Initially, websites began to display Web 2.0 characteristics, with greater interaction capabilities by their users. Auction sites like eBay thrived and other static sites evolved, such as with the extension of Craig’s List from what was originally just a job posting board, into a much more interactive network. Wikipedia emerged as much more than just an online encyclopedia by enabling any person to make entries and edits, while under the purview of more seasoned and responsible users.