What is Web 2.0?

Here's a confession: Until six months ago, and bear in mind I was a reasonably web savvy sort of guy, I thought Web 2.0 was something tangible! I believed it was a new version of the web which would sit alongside Web 1.0, offering new technologies and using new browsers and software. I know that sounds scary, but I'm guessing there are many, many people out there who think the same. So to help them, let me now explain what Web 2.0 is:

It's a Culture or Style rather than a Platform

Web 2.0 is really in idea and an approach to using the web - it doesn't involve any new software or hardware, it's a notion, rather than something physical.

It reflects the move to user generated Content

In the early days of the internet, content was generated by companies and the web was used to showcase their products and services. With Web 2.0 the content is created by all of us, and this has come about with the use of much easier content management systems. Anybody can now create a blog, anybody can write comments on a site, anybody can add or amend Wikipedia, and many other similar sites - we can even set up a blog and write what we want without any cost! So Web 2.0 reflects the fact that the internet is now for and about the people who use it. The downside is that all you read may not be true!

It's about multi media

Web 2.0 utilizes new technology which makes it possible for pretty much anyone to use audio or video on their sites - so you'll find a great mixture of those technologies wherever you encounter a Web 2.0 site.

It's also about Social Media

Web 2.0 has created a change in that the people behind websites are now front and center. They are personalities in their own right and they bring their personalities to the site via their writing, or their videos. This has lead to the proliferation in social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and so on.

It can be used to define a website's style

A Web 2.0 site will be clean and clear, with large navigation buttons and lots of social media connection points.

It's about open source data

This is a key benefit for all - open source platforms are becoming the norm now, and most of them are free to use. Google are at the forefront of this move, with applications like Gmail, Google docs, Feedburner and their terrific RSS reader. All these are free, and all are excellent, creating real benefits for all who use the net.

It's about data being used across many devices

You can Tweet via your Blackberry, upload photos from your iPhone and access your site from your PS3 - technology is converging now onto the web.

It means the web is changing

Where once the web was about finding information and delivering information, it is now an application platform for us to share our data across many devices

It's Here!

Web 2.0 is right here, right now. If you're reading this, chances are you already are a Web 2.0 person.