What is Web 2.0?

Since the term was first coined in 2004, “Web 2.0” has gained notoriety, but many are still confused as to what it is.

1. Services and the “Perpetual Beta”
One of the main thrusts behind Web 2.0 seems to be breaking away from the desktop application model, with packaged product releases, moving toward a system where you are providing a service that you constantly improve upon, hence the term “perpetual beta.”

Examples of this can be found within some of the most successful web services, such as Google’s Gmail, which employed a “Beta” designation long after it was entered into broad consumer use, and still receives regular feature updates.

2. Allow Users to Work for You
Another main principle of Web 2.0 is providing the opportunity for users to not just use your service, but to participate in it, and to add to it, often referred to as the “architecture of participation.” An excellent example of this is Wikipedia. The online encyclopedia still receives large amounts of criticism, but no one can really criticize their success. Another example is the concept and practice of “Folksonomy,” or user tagging, allowing bookmarks to be organized by content as reported by users.

One more aspect of this principle is allowing users to upload product/service reviews to a website. If a user feels like their thoughts actually mean something on a website, they will be much more likely to return to that site. The more ways that you allow users to add value, the better.

3. The Wisdom of Crowds
The rise of blogs is often cited as one of the largest components of Web 2.0. The aspect of blogging that makes it so successful is RSS technology, which allows “subscribing” to blogs and other updating content, as well as allowing users to post links to very specific content on someone’s site, fostering discussion and, subsequently, friendships and rivalries.

4. “Some Rights Reserved”
Another divergence that Web 2.0 makes from convention is the idea of not only allowing systems to be re-used, but making it easy to do so. Some of the most successful web services are those that have been the easiest for “hackers” to take in new directions unimagined by the original creators. The phrase “some rights reserved” was coined by Creative Commons, and has become an excellent basis for many Web 2.0 applications.

5. Multiple Device Support
As technology has continued to evolve, the number of ways that the web is accessed and utilized seems to be increasing exponentially. Because of this, another mainstay of Web 2.0 is creating services that not only allow use over differing devices, but that excel at it. Perhaps the best example of this principle is iTunes, reaching from a massive online service, through the user PC/Mac, and onto the iPod handheld device.

By no means are these principles an extensive encompassment of what Web 2.0 is, and truly encompassing what Web 2.0 is may not even be possible, but this should give some insight into the basics of what it means. If you have questions, Heritage Web Solutions has answers.

For more information, please visit http://www.heritagewebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.