Web 2.Huh?

Avery Nubson

It’s not an upgrade to the next version. It’s an upgrade in concept.

You’ve probably heard the term “Web 2.0”. Although Web 2.0 sounds like a new version of the internet – what it really means is a new way web sites are developed. The phrase was coined in 2003 by O’Reilly Media and became popular in the first Web 2.0 conference in 2004.

Web 2.0 is really defined by its attributes. Websites like gather.com, youtube.com or wikipedia.com feature content driven by the site’s users, not the owners. These websites require a user to log in and post whatever information they like about themselves or about specific topics that users feel they are experts in.

Other attributes a Web 2.0 site might include:

Blogs
A blog is like a user diary. Blogs allow a user to write and display content about themselves or a topic and allow users to post comments about the article for others to view and read. Blogs can create quite a following – provided the content is accurate and usable.

RSS Feeds

Since Web 2.0 websites are content rich, the content should always change. Many websites subscribe to a service called RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication). An RSS Feed is a stream of dynamic content that will automatically update itself on your website.

Websites can also generate an RSS feed by providing content for other user’s websites.

Design Trends

Web 2.0 is also about image. Websites that claim 2.0 enabled usually have one or more of the following design elements:

• A starburst of some sort
• Reflections & Shinyness
• Gradients
• Large Text & Icons
• Boxes with Rounded Corners

Personalization

Many Web 2.0 sites allow users to customize the way the site looks and works for them. Streamlining the way they navigate and interact with the site.

Some sites even go so far as to modify themselves based on user actions. So if the site detects a trend that you always go to the sports scores first every time you visit the site, it will adapt and move the sports scores to the top of the page or make them larger and more prominent.

On the technical side, Web 2.0 sites might make use of new technologies like AJAX and Web Services to enable a more interactive and dynamic interface which is more intuitive and responds faster. (Think: Google maps.) Features like these make web sites easier to use and more enjoyable.

Who knows how long the trend of Web 2.0 will last but one thing’s for certain, Web 2.0 is taking strides to make the internet more accessible, user friendly and shiny.

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