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What Is Web 2.0? Whats All The Fuss About??

You may of heard of the phrase Web 2.0 and thought "what the?" Well this post will explain all about what it means when someone refers to web 2.0

Web 2.0 isn’t a new thing, it’s simply a state of mind. It does not refer to an update to Web technical specifications, but instead a change in the ways software developers and end-users interact with the web as a platform.  In the last few years you may have noticed that the web has become a bigger and more complicated place, now containing many social sites (myspace & facebook) and everywhere you go you are surrounded by blogs and rss feeds. These, Wiki’s, and graphically friendly sites are what we today refer to Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is not really much more than a nickname for the new, more interactive stuff developers are putting out (made possible by new, advanced coding languages). It essentially includes all the sites that are vastly different from the static, controlled web-pages of the dotcom era: more dynamic, more interactive, easier to use, user-controlled, and even imitating the desktop experience (for example drag-and-drop). 

If you’ve watched a video on youtube, owned a blog, networked on myspace, subscribed to a feed, or seen Google ads, then you have used Web 2.0.

Web 1.0 VS Web 2.0:

  • AltaVista vs. Google
  • Hotmail vs. Yahoo Mail
  • Ofoto vs. Flickr
  • Mp3.com vs. iTunes
  • Geocities vs. Blogger
  • MapQuest vs. Google Maps
  • Encarta vs. Wikipedia
  • Netscape vs. Firefox

Web2.0 has helped ease communication, which is very good for non-technical people. It is easy to use and has rich content. Sometimes even fuctioning like a traditional application, Web 2.0  provides a service, not a product, which encourages user contribution such as reviews and comments. There is a sense of community and users feel part-owner .

Some interesting features:

  • The coding language CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) – an easier and more flexible way of designing sites has allowed the huge improvements in website design.
  • RSS (Really Simple Syndication) – a way of separating the content from the formatting (i.e. the words from the pretty pictures) and distributing it in various forms (such as to a feed reader)
  • Wiki – A Wiki is a collaborative website that allows the public (you!) to edit the information
  • Blogs – Short for Web Log. If you don’t know what this is, I’d love to know what you are doing reading one!

Useful (or just fun) Web 2.0 Sites:

  • WordPress
  • Last FM
  • Youtube
  • Flickr
  • Wikipedia
  • Myspace
  • Facebook
  • DIGG
  • Feedburner

Is your Website really Web 2.0? Check it out by clicking here!

 

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