What is meant by Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is very hard to define in this rapidly evolving world. As fast as we try to define it, it changes. The phrase Web 2.0 is commonly used to describe any part of the internet which allows users to interact, edit or create in a way the original version of the Web didnt. Sites such as Wikipedia, Blogger, Facebook, and Google typify Web 2.0 examples. Users are able to interact and share information with other users via these websites in a way not possible in the past Pearce (2007)interprets the phrase web 2.0 as being the second version of the internet, along the lines of a second generation. The first generation of the internet was very static. Many web sites were text based, maybe with some graphics. There was very little interactivity between site creators or other users of the site. The second generation of the internet is all about interactivity, sharing, communication and input of users. Oberhelman (2007) describes Web 2.0 as tools that allow visitors to share information via a website, rather than just the website imparting information to users.
O’Reilly (2005) states, personal web-pages are evolving into blogs, encyclopedias into Wikipedia, text-based tutorials into streaming media applications, taxonomies into “folksonomies,” and question-answer/email customer support infrastructures into instant messaging (IM) services.
Previously an individual may create a family website to keep in contact with family and friends. With the advent of Web 2.0 this is more likely to be a blog, (short for web log). A blog is almost like an online diary for the creator in which visitors to the blog are able to leave comments. These are very popular with travellers as they are able to be accessed from any computer with internet access, anywhere in the world, whereas the owner of a website may have to have specific software to enable them to update their site.
The modern internet is all about communication, with messaging, real time chat or posting as a means for people to communicate with each other becoming the norm. Sites such as Facebook and Myspace are gaining popularity on a daily basis. On sites such as these, users sign up and are then able to edit their own profile, adding information almost like a diary, adding links to friends’ pages, uploading and sharing photographs, and communicate with friends and family. Sites such as this have made the world a smaller place, with family overseas brought into our daily lives as if they were right here. It is possible to link with video sites such as Youtube, ( a video sharing website) to share personal, or favourite videos via your individual social networking site.
Wikipedia is a free web-based encyclopaedia that allows users to add and edit its pages as they wish. Anyone at all can edit this encyclopaedia, which can cast doubt on its content. It is a very popular resource, even with the mistrust of its authoritiveness, but as Pearce (2006) states it is a very useful for basic information and an overview of a subject. Wikipedia usually has links to external sites which may be more authoritive.
Overall the advent of web 2.0 technology has moved the internet into the next generation. Whether we want to use the term web 2.0 or something entirely different there is no going back. The tools this phrase has come to encompass are constantly evolving and it essential we keep ourselves current or we will become computer illiterate.
References:
Facebook. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/ on August 1st, 2008.
Myspace. Retrieved from http://www.myspace.com/ on August 1st, 2008
Oberhelman, D. (2007). Coming to terms with Web 2.0, Reference Reviews
21(7) 5-6. Retrieved 3rd August 2008, from Emerald Insight database.
Oreilly, T. (2005). What is web 2.0 retrieved from http://oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html on July 30th 2008.
Pearce, J. (2006) User collaboration in websites. Paper presented to Framing the future, ARLIS/ANZ Conference. Retrieved July 21st, 2008 from http://www.nla.gov.au/nla/staffpaper/2006/jpearce1.html
Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia on 29th July, 2008
Youtube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/ on August 1st, 2008
Web 2.0 is very hard to define in this rapidly evolving world. As fast as we try to define it, it changes. The phrase Web 2.0 is commonly used to describe any part of the internet which allows users to interact, edit or create in a way the original version of the Web didnt. Sites such as Wikipedia, Blogger, Facebook, and Google typify Web 2.0 examples. Users are able to interact and share information with other users via these websites in a way not possible in the past Pearce (2007)interprets the phrase web 2.0 as being the second version of the internet, along the lines of a second generation. The first generation of the internet was very static. Many web sites were text based, maybe with some graphics. There was very little interactivity between site creators or other users of the site. The second generation of the internet is all about interactivity, sharing, communication and input of users. Oberhelman (2007) describes Web 2.0 as tools that allow visitors to share information via a website, rather than just the website imparting information to users.
O’Reilly (2005) states, personal web-pages are evolving into blogs, encyclopedias into Wikipedia, text-based tutorials into streaming media applications, taxonomies into “folksonomies,” and question-answer/email customer support infrastructures into instant messaging (IM) services.
Previously an individual may create a family website to keep in contact with family and friends. With the advent of Web 2.0 this is more likely to be a blog, (short for web log). A blog is almost like an online diary for the creator in which visitors to the blog are able to leave comments. These are very popular with travellers as they are able to be accessed from any computer with internet access, anywhere in the world, whereas the owner of a website may have to have specific software to enable them to update their site.
The modern internet is all about communication, with messaging, real time chat or posting as a means for people to communicate with each other becoming the norm. Sites such as Facebook and Myspace are gaining popularity on a daily basis. On sites such as these, users sign up and are then able to edit their own profile, adding information almost like a diary, adding links to friends’ pages, uploading and sharing photographs, and communicate with friends and family. Sites such as this have made the world a smaller place, with family overseas brought into our daily lives as if they were right here. It is possible to link with video sites such as Youtube, ( a video sharing website) to share personal, or favourite videos via your individual social networking site.
Wikipedia is a free web-based encyclopaedia that allows users to add and edit its pages as they wish. Anyone at all can edit this encyclopaedia, which can cast doubt on its content. It is a very popular resource, even with the mistrust of its authoritiveness, but as Pearce (2006) states it is a very useful for basic information and an overview of a subject. Wikipedia usually has links to external sites which may be more authoritive.
Overall the advent of web 2.0 technology has moved the internet into the next generation. Whether we want to use the term web 2.0 or something entirely different there is no going back. The tools this phrase has come to encompass are constantly evolving and it essential we keep ourselves current or we will become computer illiterate.
References:
Facebook. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/ on August 1st, 2008.
Myspace. Retrieved from http://www.myspace.com/ on August 1st, 2008
Oberhelman, D. (2007). Coming to terms with Web 2.0, Reference Reviews
21(7) 5-6. Retrieved 3rd August 2008, from Emerald Insight database.
Oreilly, T. (2005). What is web 2.0 retrieved from http://oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html on July 30th 2008.
Pearce, J. (2006) User collaboration in websites. Paper presented to Framing the future, ARLIS/ANZ Conference. Retrieved July 21st, 2008 from http://www.nla.gov.au/nla/staffpaper/2006/jpearce1.html
Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia on 29th July, 2008
Youtube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/ on August 1st, 2008
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