This is Web 2.0

Not being a very tech-savvy individual, I needed a side-by-side comparison of web 1.0 and web 2.0 in order to pick out the significance of the latter. After a quick web 101 lecture, the picture was painted - deceitfully - straightforward.

Web 2.0 could be defined as a movement, as a shift in the way people interacted with the internet and with each other online.

Web 2.0, as opposed to web 1.0, is cored with the concept of interactivity. While the latter could be summed up as “the mostly read-only web” in its static relationship with users, web 2.0 was all about lending the user more control and generating a greater participatory culture. With its open architecture, users are able to propagate their own content and contribute to the media/collective intelligence. While this was technically also possible in web 1.0, in the rather 2 dimensional way of uploading photos posting comments, the nature of the user-web relationship has evolved to a greater depth and range of interaction in web 2.0. One of its distinct characteristics is the emphasis on user friendly interfaces that promote user-to-user collaboration online.


Following are a few examples of web 2.0 in action.

1. Wikipedia - online encyclopedia.
According to Wikipedia's own page on Wikipedia itself, it is a:

A free encyclopedia built collaboratively using wiki software.

Wikipedia is notorious for its collaborative, participant-generated content. Virtually anyone can make an account and create articles in this online encyclopedia. For that reason, although it is often considered an academically unreliable source, it is a typical example of user-generated content and collective online consciousness.




2. deviantART - where art meets application.
In essence it is a community of artists and creative beings, acting as a space for creative sharing, networking, critiquing and grouping. From traditional media to digital creations and written poetry and everything in between, deviantART categorises all its content - uploaded by its members - to ensure easy navigation and access for existing/new members and visitors alike. Some members go to the extent of lending out their creative abilities for a fee or being commissioned artworks for fellow members.



3. Blogs - online diaries and portfolios.
There are many blog applicantions out for users to choose from, and they basically serve the same purpose - to write, publish and share. Some focus on having one dominant feature as their defining attribute, made for a more specific audience. For example, Tumblr has a focus on images and photo uploads, whereas Wordpress has more web features, for users who are more interested or knowledgeable in HTML, CSS, etc. Often, communities and groups are formed for like-minded bloggers to network and exchange opinions.



Some blogs act as direct portfolios for designers. This fusion of professional portfolio work and personal blog entries and updates allow prospective employers to see more of the designers personality and interests.