The New Web

My how time flies: Web 2.0 is passé. Web 3.0, or whatever else it may come to be called, is taking it's place. I may get back here someday and update this page too. Meanwhile here are some thoughts about Web 3.0 and a article in Wikipedia.

Web 2.0 -- the ubiquitous platform

The Web is quietly becoming a meta-platform -- something more than just a data transfer platform. The Web started as a communication utility. It was pretty much passive and one-way -- just a bunch of Web sites that constitute a giant library. Even email is just point-to-point. It is not in itself an efficient way to work jointly. Web 2.0 has become a catalyst for innovation of interactive processes.

In this third wave, the Web is becoming a much more open, dynamic and collaborative place. People are creating work groups and social networks with the Web. Developers have built a whole range of new services on the Web (more about that later), and new ones emerge every day. They are blending Flash, HTML, CSS, Javascript and other technology to create seamless and responsive Web interfaces, which they use to implement these new services. Google makes use of one effective blend called Ajax.

Web 2.0 also offers new doors to attack by the criminal set. In any new computing technology, programmers are simply unable to imagine all the ways things can go wrong. The new ground offers a fertile environment to the imagination of more nefarious denizens of the net. There is a good report at CNET News.com on the vulnerabilities.

Some see PCs being relegated to the role of running browsers to access the Web. Yes, the Web is indifferent about which operating system (or browser) is used. Any old computer -- Windows machines, Apple machines, Linux machines -- is an adequate gateway to the Web. It's easy to get carried away by the hype, but it is changing the landscape.

Web 2.0 is not going to replace PCs as we know them. It's going to extend their power further. The revolution behind Web 2.0 is enabling users to influence and interact with the other players on the Internet. The result is better access to the people, organizations and information that they find important.

Programming the Web

Google is the prime example of how the Web is being "programmed". Google also makes their search and mapping APIs (application programming interface) freely available. The APIs enable non-commercial users to easily find and manipulate information on the Web. [NewsGator API]

Google has several Web 2.0 style services based on those APIs, and there are many examples of how others have put them to work.

Gmail
Google Maps
Where to find cheap gas
Our bike ride -- click "Clear points and start over" to make your own
Google Feed Reader
Personalized Google page
More, more, more ...

A Web 2.0 community has been forming over the last several months. This community has the same character as Web 2.0 itself, namely open, networked and interactive. They're involved in things like sustaining the vision, writing standards, resisting hijack attempts, education and providing resources. They're using the Web 2.0 environment to do it.

Web 2.0 API Reference
Tracking Web 2.0
Web 2.0 Workgroup

More Web 2.0 examples

ThinkFree Office Online -- a good conceptual example
Num Sum -- a simple, sharable online spreadsheet system Webnote -- a very simple online note system
Yahoo! email (beta)
eBay
Amazon.com
Rollyo -- roll your own meta-search {Yahoo!}

The conversational Web

Wikipedia -- collaborative editing
Mozilla WiKi -- community example
Steve Rubel -- micro persuasion
The 2-way Web -- TheTwoWayWeb.com
Robert Scoble -- Microsoft blogger
Nobel Intent

Social networking

"Social networks" are connections of individuals and organizations via Web services and software. Internet social networks can be a "circle of (online) friends" or a mixed network where personal and business contacts are blended within an online community space. The online space is maintained as a Web service. The understanding is in the examples. :-)

Del.icio.us -- What's so cool about delicious?
Social Networks --Wikipedia
Meetup.com
Six Apart -- shared space
You Tube -- shared videos
Blogs as Social Software
Friendster
Flickr -- shared pictures
Google Groups
Orkut

Web feeds

You can find Web feeds for blogs, news, conversations or any other kind of dynamic (changing) online information. To use a feed, you "poll" it to find out what's new, and if you're interested in an item, you go get it. Web feeds are an important part of Web 2.0. They let people choose what they want to be connected to, and who they want to interact with.

Pluck -- browse for feeds using this simple reader
Comic Alert -- my daily dose of comics [alt]
Robert Scoble -- Microsoft geek blogger
More on Web Feeds
NewsGator and Feedster search for feeds
Getting started with Web feeds.

The essence of Web 2.0

More on the Web