Tags: | web 2.0 |

2007-08-14 18:26

Guest Post: What is Web 2.0 Anyway?

Jorge Goyco is a blogger who runs two interesting and well written blogs, Ideas from Jorge and Stories From Papi. He has graciously agreed to write a few blog posts for me while I am on vacation, and this is the second of them. If you enjoy his writing, please drop a comment either here or at one of his blogs, and please go check out his blogs to read more of his stuff. Good times and enjoy!

-Kevin

Well, as far as I can tell, Web 2.0 is more of a concept than a product.

It's like moving in to the "teen" years: It's a new experience, with new stuff to think about, and more things to do.

It's like moving out of your parent's house: There's a freedom, with more decisions, and more hope for the future.

It's like moving to a new OS, or like upgrading from dial-up to broadband.

It's like developing a Star Wars character (that was not mentioned in any of the movie scripts, but maybe walked past Anakin when he lived on Tattoine) into a three part novel that has him living and dying, and maybe was the first to attach an E-11 blaster rifle to the bottom of the Wookiee Bowcaster just in time for the Imperial occupation of Kashyyyk.

It's also like shaving: Once you do it, you can't ever have that smooth, soft chin and cheeks you had in your youth, and you'll have to do it for the rest of your life. Some might say shaving rocks... I think it's a pain.

That last example is a little depressing. Anyway, what I understand is that the internet is different. It's a perceived second generation. It's a richer user experience. And honestly, "Web 2.0" is really just a name.

There's no "Web 2.0 Software" or "Web 2.0 Compatibility". It's just a different way to do things, and the truth is, it's substantially different than what it was, so I totally agree with the idea of naming it.

Take a look at Wikipedia. Sure it's a few years old, but it's got the Web 2.0 idea right on. It's a user-developed product. Something that not just one authority created, it's been co-developed by thousands, if not millions of people. This is cool. It's where things are going, if they haven't already gone yet.

Take a look at Podcasting, Epinions, Amazon, blogs, YouTube, Flikr, Ebay, etc. They are all working under the idea that the user is king.

Where websites used to be created for visitors to come back every once in a while, now, with RSS and syndication, visitors can get the info they want (or don't know they want) every time the site is updated, and they don't have to go to the site. In fact, they can even get it on their phone.

This multi-device compatibility is "it" as well. As is open source and remixability.

I just added a "Some Rights Reserved" tag to my children's short stories blog rather than a "do not ever use this for any reason or I'll sue you" tag. Things are different. I wouldn't mind if people took my stories and modified/developed/animated them. That would be cool.

The point is that users are demanding (if not expecting) more ability to modify, and less control taken away from them.

I'm digging this move, even if I don't understand it completely. Mostly just means I'll have to learn some new things if I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing.

-Jorge Goyco

- Kevin
Kevin (at) Upcsite (dot) Net

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