Web 2.0 - As Seen from the Eyes of Chris Gaskell

My thoughts on Web 2.0 Let me know what you think...

WHY CHANGE?
We moved away from services hosted on a mainframe and accessed by remote dumb terminals years ago. Then we installed the client/server model. This led to applications running on our PC’s, which without being connected to network services can’t perform the simplest of tasks.

Using a notebook PC or Mac has many advantages. But what happens when you want to access your desktop tools from another location? And what happens if your notebook PC gets stolen?

Web 2.0 promises to change all of this. You store information on the network so it is secured, backed up and available wherever you are. It provides similar functionality and simulates a familiar user interface to that available on the desktop, but without the need for Windows or Mac OS - all you need is a standard web browser and an internet connection.

WEB 2.0 DEFINED
Web 2.0 uses more advanced internet technologies. It’s the next step towards a more interactive environment delivered through a rich user interface inside the browser.

Web 2.0 is only a group name for collection of technologies and applications. Various technologies are being used for Web 2.0, although most of these are built upon existing technologies such as XML, Web Services and JavaScript.

AJAX
One of the key technologies used in Web 2.0 is AJAX. Asynchronous JavaScript and XML is a web development technique for creating rich, interactive web applications.

The key theme with AJAX is to shift a great deal of processing to the client’s browser, exchanging data with the server behind the scenes, so that the entire web page does not have to be reloaded each time the user makes a change. This increases the page's interactivity, speed, and usability.

REDEFINING THE WEB
Web 2.0 allows web developers to create true applications rather than functional Websites. Www2.writely.com is a great example. Rather than writing word documents through desktop applications you can write them with the same level of functionality, wherever you may be, without the need to install Word and pay licence fees. This is what users really need – the ability to create documents, save them online, print from the web, and access it all from anywhere with a browser.

Interestingly Writely was purchased by Google this year who themselves have released Web 2.0 applications such as Google Maps.

INTERNET REUNITED?
The richness of functionality in AJAX, web services and XML are starting to create true web applications that are being labelled as Web 2.0. Add RSS feeds to the mix and suddenly you have the ability to create applications that can retrieve information based on the user’s actions and needs.

The Internet may become what it has long been marketed as: users stipulate what, how and when they receive information, users share information and users define their space and how it is used. Sites such as flickr, and pageflakes already do this and myspace is one of the most used sites on the Web.

FINALLY
Depending on your point of view - Web 2.0 is coming, has been here for years or is simply a storm in a teacup. Whatever you think there’s no doubting that the users are now in control – will your average punter accept new rich web interfaces? The truth is the Internet is the only where all this can be possible – roll on Web 3.0!

FANCY MORE?
The defacto article (thanks Phil).