Tech Primer

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is referred to as Participatory Web Technology. O’Reilly Media and Media Live International coined the term at a Web development conference held in October 2004. Web 2.0 involves the syndication of content using standardised protocols, browser plug-ins, or standalone desktop applications. It encourages and facilitates collaboration and information sharing. A few developed interactive publishing forms of Web 2.0 are live Weblogs, linklogs, wikis, podcast, RSS feeds and tag engines. Web 2.0 allows users to participate and create online social networks.

Web 2.0 vs Web 1.0

Web 2.0 builds on existing Web standards. While it’s hard to say where Web 1.0 leaves off and Web 2.0 begins, Web 2.0 sites utilise technologies such as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) that permit some of the interaction to take place on the client machine, thereby reducing the need for the server to be contacted for each and every change on a user’s screen. DoubleClick and Ofoto are referred to as Web 1.0, whereas Google AdSense & Flickr are perceived as Web 2.0. Pioneers of Web 2.0 include Wiki or Wikipedia, Google Maps, Flickr, del.icio.us and last.fm.

The Web 2.0 developer’s toolkit

Websites use AJAX and other technologies such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), XML (eXtensible Markup Language), XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language) and Mashups, and Internet applications such as AJAX, RSS, ATOM, and short URLs. The technology infrastructure includes server software, client application, content syndication, messaging protocol, and standards-based browser plug-ins. The relatively richer clients of Web 2.0 reduce the workload on servers. Mashups are lightweight, tactical integrations of applications or content that combine data and services from public Web sites and applications. They can meet tactical needs and are inexpensive to develop.

Library 2.0 and Marketing 2.0

The term Library 2.0 was coined by Michael Casey on his blog LibraryCrunch. It uses the concept of Web 2.0, a modernised and developed online library providing users with knowledge and information. Online services include the use of Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) where there is a constant flow of information. Some examples of library 2.0 are del.icio.us/tag/library2.0 and liswiki.org/wiki/Main_Page.

Marketing 2.0 refers to new marketing ideas and strategies emerging on the World Wide Web. Initially, users used banner advertisements, press releases, and search engines to reach people. Now there are new ways to reach out on the Internet Web sites—YouTube, newsvine, and digg are a few. These Web sites help users to reach the right type of consumers and market their products in the form of videos, pictures, blogs, etc. Web 2.0 provides an interactive mechanism to market and advertise products and services.

For more information visit:www.paulgraham.com/web20.html roughtype.com/archives/2005/10/the_amorality_o.php
www.slate.com/id/2138951/

— Garima Grover
grover_garima@hotmail.com