“Web 2.0” means a more robust use of web technology and the development of software to utilize the web more fully than in the past, or during what some call the Web 1.0 era. Or it may not be that at all. But we’ll get to that.

 

The term can be traced to Tim O’Reilly, the founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, Inc. It was during a brainstorming session for a web conference in 2003 that O’Reilly and Dale Dougherty, an O’Reilly VP, created this term to express the ever-changing and more exciting applications being built by web developers.

 

On the other hand, some, including Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with creating the Internet, believe that the no one can really define Web 2.0, and therefore it’s simply a good marketing term.

 

Whatever your opinion, O’Reilly and Dougherty had specific examples of what they considered Web 2.0 applications.

 

Before we get into specifics, let’s briefly define some Web 2.0 buzzwords, because in order to understand the changes, we have to speak the language:

• Blog – a combination of “web” and “log,” a blog is a website that users create to discuss anything. What differentiates blogs from regular websites is that readers can respond to content by writing comments for all to see. Example: www.tmz.com

• Podcast – a combination of “iPod” and “broadcast,” a podcast is a digital media file saved on computers and portable media players and listened to offline, anytime. People record audio, or audio with video, and give that content a web address so anyone can download that file. Example: www.npr.org, click on Podcasts

• Social bookmarking – when you bookmark a website, you save that site’s address in your computer so you can find it again quickly, instead of typing the address into a browser. Social bookmarking goes further; these are bookmarks stored on a website and shared by users with similar interests to pool resources. Example: www.del.icio.us.com

• Social networking – sites designed for people to meet online based on shared interests using a variety of ways to connect, including chat rooms, e-mail, instant messaging, discussion groups, etc. Example: www.facebook.com

• Tags – a keyword or phrase associated with a piece of content or photograph. The user types a tag to look for specific content. Example: www.flickr.com

• Wikis – these are collaborative websites; anyone can add, remove or edit content. Example: www.wikipedia.org

 

There are many other terms, but this is an introduction to the topic. Basically, websites are Web 2.0 sites if users are encouraged to participate, rather than just read and move on.

 

Now that we speak the language, let’s compare old vs. the new, as defined by O’Reilly and Dougherty.

 

First, online encyclopedias. The Web 1.0 version is Britannica Online. Content is provided by the company. The Web 2.0 version is Wikipedia.org, where users write the content, and others can add to it.

 

Another example is the personal website. The Web 1.0 version is one that users read. The Web 2.0 version? Blogs, which as we defined, are set up for users to discuss topics.

 

The last example is for photos. The Web 1.0 version: Ofoto (now owned by Kodak), where users upload their photos for friends and family to see. Web 2.0? Flickr, a photo-sharing website where users see photos posted by anyone on a particular subject.

 

How does Web 2.0 affect you? It improves your Webability. The tools are now there for you to build websites, contribute content and let your creativity – and opinions – flow.

 

Is Web 2.0 valid to describe new software applications, or just a clever marketing ploy? Whatever your opinion, expressing it here will be very Web 2.0 of you.

 

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