What is Web 2.0?

[Niheel]

Web 2.0 is this big buzz word that describes what is going on with internet technology today. It isn't this any one thing.

Like many of you, when I first heard it, I was confused. Immediately I thought it must be some new wierd technology that just slipped by me. It took some reading and I finally made some sense of it.

Here are the links that really helped me out:

• What is Web 2.0? (It's really long and you might fall asleep at your keyboard reading it, but if you want to know you must suffer like I did!)
• Best Web 2.0 Explanations (Read, but avoid all the links, you will never make it through in one piece, if you click on all the links!)
• Web 2.0 (A really smart guy laying it down like it is. If you must read only one, this be it!)

What I took out of all the reading:

Don't waste your time trying to think about what web2.0 is. For the most part you aren't missing out by not knowing what the heck this term is.

Instead just focus on creating applications and services that focus on the user's need. Use technology (cough cough ajax) only as a means to an end. Innovate, Innovate, but never forget about your user!


What did you take from all that reading?

[Sherry]

Haha, your comments are funny.

You know, I was watching Charlie Rose recently one night. He was having a technology round table. He started talking about web2.0. I thought it was funny.

People in the media are making such a big deal of this. We recently talked about this at the office because it became a topic of discussion in our dealings with clients. The conclusion we came to was that nothing really changed except for some innovation in client side scripting, the ruby on rails thing, and a deeper focus on usability and web standards.

On the positive side, it has brought a lot of validity to web based software and services. If you don't believe me, call my boss. All this web2.0, ajax and web services talk has put a big smile on his face. He gets to charge more now.

~toodles

Sherry

[JeffDevelops]

People in the industry should know try to understand what "Web 2.0" is. There is a big change going. Confidence in the use of internet as a distribution point to deliver media and services is rising, and I am not talking about the hype the media is feeding us.

The confidence is coming from consumers. Businesses and people alike they are spending time and money using web based services and software. It is also coming from companies. There are plenty of companies out there that are or were once desktop only software providers or print only media outlets that have really focused in on web as a distribution point.

This change in attitude, although not overnight, has been in process since the bust. It deserves a name, it's a rallying point.

Personally, I am really excited to see all the new tools, services and media that will be coming out in 2006. I am constantly scourning industry blogs to find these launches.

Jeff "Develops" Daniels

[Niheel]

Jeff you make good points.

I am going to stand by my statement of not wasting time. The focus should be on developing good services and software.

I do agree with you though. The industry does need a rallying point and there is a resurgence in trust & confidence both from businesses and users.

:-)

[rajab]

As far as my knowledge goes it's like this.

Before Web 2.0, someone controls the data for you.

With Web 2.0, you can control the data yourself.

I think that should be the simple in enough. :)

[drhowarddrfine]

I couldn't figure it out either but I think I have a handle on it. Many think it's a design concept; rounded corners and using AJAX. If it was just that then it's just garbage and should be ignored.

But O'Reilly, apparently, are the ones who are involved in this and, apparently, it's trying to give structure to web applications. A methodology perhaps.

In that case, it might be worth looking into and studying for good ideas.

[bartonc]

KUB hits another on out of the park with this topic. Thanks KUB

[Ganon11]

Web 2.0 is a new way to approach the internet. Instead of the few and proud presenting their material for the public with the attitude of "Look how awesome we are!" the internet is being opened up to the common person - either for simple things like blogs, or advanced ideas like eBay or Wikipedia. It's a new way of approaching the same ideas at the core of the internet - the sharing of information.

[AricC]

I just linked the article KUB linked originally. A googled def:

Web 2.0 is a term often applied to a perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full-fledged computing platform serving web applications to end users. Ultimately Web 2.0 services are expected to replace desktop computing applications for many purposes.

[AricC]

LOL Just read this description of Web 2.0 from someone on /. :

Web 2.0 is mostly about rounded corners, low-contrast pastel colors, and domain names with missing vowels.

[Ganon11]

LOL Just read this description of Web 2.0 from someone on /. :

Web 2.0 is mostly about rounded corners, low-contrast pastel colors, and domain names with missing vowels.

The sad thing is, that's kind of true.