By Francesqua and Sina

Key Characteristics of Web 2

• Web-based applications can be accessed anywhere

• Content is King - value lies in content, not the software used to display content

• Data can be readily shared• Employees and customers can access and use

tools on their own• Social tools encourage people to create,

collaborate, edit, categorize, exchange, and promote information

Web 2 – What can you do?

• Generic term for websites where– Non-web designer can put their own content (writing,

audio or video etc.) online in the www in terms of blogs or spaces

– They can customise and personalise their websites– Users generate and distribute content,

often with freedom to share and re-use (upload/download)

– Users are involved and take influencee.g. in online web services such as eBay

• Web 2 stands in contrast to ‘ready’ websites

Development of Web 2

• Began with a conference brainstorming session between O’Reilly and MediaLive International

• Noted that the Web was more important than ever, with exciting new applications and sites popping up with surprising regularity

Web 2 Timeline

• 1996The search engine BackRub, which later becomes Google, is developed

• 199923 Weblogs exist

• 2001Wikipedia launches

• 2003My Space is founded

• 20043 Millionth Weblogs created

• 2006100 millionth of MySpace pages created

Audience

• Everyone using computerse.g.:– Adults

(in form of Online Banking, eBay…)

– Students(in form of YouTube, MySpace, Google, Yahoo!, Wikipedia…)

Uses of technology

• Why is it possible?– Data storage is now cheap and easy– Data is „smaller“

– Data can be uploaded quickly– Quick connection to the Internet possible

• Web 2 is an important shift in the way digital information is created, shared, stored, distributed, and manipulated!

Significance of Web 2 on audiences

• Makes it easier and quicker to– Communicate with others– To transact business

• It is used to– Be entertained– To chat– To be informed or to get information

Significance/value of Web 2 for institutions

• Making money– Through advertisements– Charge user for value-added services

• Gain new customers=> popularity will increase profit

• People identify with product as well by using their website (e.g. mac)

Convergence

• Computers/Laptops

• Web cameras

• Cameras– to take pictures or– to make films which are later uploaded on the

website etc.

• Things which whom you have access to the internet– e.g. mobile phones

Implications for the future

• Information technology

• Personal communications

• Disadvantages:– People will not live in the “reality” anymore as

they use anonym names=> they only “exist” on the computer

– Students copy their homework from the web