There has been a lot of buzz regarding the term “Web 2.0.” The term was originally used by Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Media. Contrary to what the name implies “Web 2.0” is not an upgraded software but rather a change in the internet environment which was ushered in by the prevalence of high speed connections and more powerful entry level computers. This evolution set the stage for “software as a service” (SaaS) and the influential social networks with user generated content which characterize “Web 2.0”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2
Web 2.0, a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2003[1] and popularized by the first Web 2.0 conference in 2004,[2] refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services — such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — that facilitate collaboration and sharing between users. O'Reilly Media titled a series of conferences around the phrase, and it has since become widely adopted.
Though the term suggests a new version of the World Wide Web, it does not refer to an update to Web technical specifications, but to changes in the ways systems developers have used the web platform. According to Tim O'Reilly, "Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform." [3]
“Software as a Service” (SaaS) or Thin Client Computing
Thin client computing or “software as a service” provides applications as a service by storing them on a web server. Users can access these programs from any computer terminal. An example of “software as a service” (SaaS) or thin client computing is Google Aps, a collection of Office style applications. Accessed through a gmail email account the user has access to a variety of programs. One of the benefits of this method is the flexibility and portability of documents. Your documents can be accessed from any computer from any place. Having your documents and applications stored on a server also releases the problem of information loss due to personal computer failure.
Social Networks and User Generated Content
User friendly applications which encouraged the development of social network sites provided venues for the user to post content easily with little technical knowledge have flourished with the faster internet connections and more powerful computers.
In this environment social networks grew (myspace, friendster, facebook, mulitply, flickr, etc). Online communities are growing, exchanging information, developing relationships and actively participating in discussions and word of mouth testimonials on a global scale. We once were dependent upon network news to give us information on current events. Now first hand observations, reactions and information can be immediately posted for mass consumption. Blogging services are packaged and presented as “content management systems” providing user friendly interfaces. Individuals and businesses have gained easy access to publishing content on the web for all to see and share and now consumers have a forum to respond.
The Wikis, a website with its contents developed and edited by the site’s visitors, are regularly visited by internet users to answer their questions. The most popular and accepted wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia has proved that a social group adding and moderating content can generate a rich and reliable database. Sites have specialized in multimedia. Videos sharing is available on sites such as YouTube. All of these venues have developed and have now transformed the internet into a socially driven forum.
The validity and power of these forums is remarkable. Presidential campaigns use these forums to promote their candidates. Internet savvy entrepreneurs are using the social networks to promote new products and gain user feedback.
So much is being posted, flooding us with information and venues to seek information and all moderated by the general web surfing public. With this huge influx the cream rises to the surface and the compelling writers, video makers, content generators of all kinds can now generate an audience of greater proportion than ever. Web 2.0 has democratized media.
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