Web 2.0, An Elusive Definition

Web 2.0 was originally a term coined by MediaLive International and Tim O'Reilly. Web 2.0 is a more user orientated and interactive device for its audience. To understand this, there bus me an understanding of Web 1.0.

With Web 1.0 a majority of information that has been uploaded, was composed from only a small about of users. This differs from the use of Web 2.0 which allows for multiple users to create content, and upload their own information. An example of this would the the shift from using Britannia Online - an encyclopedia that was edited and monitored from a single client - to Wikipedia, another information site that can be edited by numerous users to verify and change information. The main distinguishing difference is that the users that verify information on Wikipedia are also the consumer/community.

Web 2.0 looks to the audience to create its own content such as comments, blogs, videos and photos. It encourages the user to give feedback and their input to a certain post. Allowing for further redevelopment. Web 1.0 was information displayed to the Audience and users of the internet. While in Web 2.0 information is uploaded from the user instead of from a central 'Authority.'

Examples of Web 2.0:

• Blogs: A shortened version of the term 'Web Log.' Blogs are considered a form of Web 2.0 as seen from the 'posting' which can be further commented by other users who are reading the blog. Web 1.0 had an equivelant to this but it was a simple webage. It did not allow for user feeback from the readers. Yochai Benkler calls the 'feedback' given to an authors post - also known as commenting - a weighted conversation. The audience has an opinion and was able to display this.
  
  "since, 'blogs enable individuals to write their Web pages in journalism time - that is hourly, daily, weekly - whereas the web page culture that preceded it tended to be slower moving"(Benkler, 2006, p.217).
  
  Blogs allowed for the content create to upload, change and add information whenever they please, even on a daily basis adding new information, but Web 1.0 pages were updated on a slower basis.
  
  
• Wikis: a shorthand version of the name 'Wikipedia.' This site has grown at a massive rate and is chosen as the new website to which most people on the internet will get their information. This is considered Web 2.0 because the user creates the information from their knowledge and edit the website. This differs from the early development of the web because the users are able to upload information. Once again using the example of Britannia Online, the information is given and there is no way to change that. But on Wikipedia the users are able to change the information if it is incorrect, or has been proven otherwise. This causes problems as not all sources can be reliable.
  
  
• Youtube: Youtube is just one of many different kinds of multimedia sites used to share and exchange content. This is now a very big part of Web 2.0 possibly big enough to add to its definition. Many people use videos, podcasting and photographs on the internet. Since users can upload all sorts of multimedia, the audience is also able to contribute to that information and add feedback to the new multimedia.