The state of Web 2.0. The past, the present, the future.
Here we look at how Web 2.0 has developed over time, look at it’s current state of affairs and what the future may hold for Web 2.0.
The Past
Back in the 1990’s, the internet was still a relatively new to the general public. The idea that businesses could communicate with users for their own gain was rapidly catching on, with companies keen to fill gaps in the internet market. This led to a wave of new websites and the idea of Web 1.0. These are the more simplistic websites, compared to what we see now. For example, a web 1.0 site would be limited as to what could be done, the website creator would put up information on the site, which could be browsed, downloaded and viewed by the user. This went hand in hand with the slower internet connections used, these being dial up and the early forms of broadband.
The Present
As times progressed, the internet’s functionality was developing rapidly and the next generation of internet usage was upon us. Websites were now required to do more; User interaction and input was implemented with positive effects. Businesses could now trade over the internet with what’s know as ‘Electronic Commerce’. Other sites such as YouTube and Wikipedia rely solely on the users involvement, in uploading videos for all to see, review and discuss. Or to add information so that anyone around the world to use and benefit from someone else’s knowledge. Below is a brainstorm, from the O’Reilly Media website, showing examples of what they believe the movement of Web 1.0 –> Web 2.0 is about.
The Future?
Although the concept of Web 2.0 is still being developed and applied to Web 1.0, some believe we should be looking to progress into an age of Web 3.0.However since Web 3.0 is still an idea, defining it is somewhat tricky, but it is believed the next big internet revolution will be operating systems held online, with drives located on the net for near unlimited storage. Which would certainly be welcomed by the internet population as Web 3.0.
