The term Web 2.0 gets bandied about indiscriminately, but the proclaimed originator of the term, Tim O’Reilly, has a new, extended explanation of Web 2.0 that is must-reading for anyone in the broad communications realm — Internet, cable, telco, wireless, satellite, whatever. Although O’Reilly tilts his text to software developers, he has managed to succinctly spell out the fundamental nature of the Internet now, as opposed to the Internet in 2001, or even the Internet as of one year ago.
Penned on the eve of his sold-out Web 2.0 conference, O’Reilly encapsulates the rise of the web as a platform for the creation of services, not packaged software, one which harnesses collective intelligence through user feedback. Web 2.0 companies, such as Google and Overture, have built their fortunes by understanding the “long tail,” the collective power of the web’s small sites, as opposed to AdClick, a veritable Web 1.0 company, which sought to sell to a small group of large sites.
Most intriguing for anyone in the online publishing business is the power of RSS, which is an active form of “subscribing” to a site, compared to “bookmarks,” a passive means of tracking content typical of the 1.0 era. Content, too, is now more dynamic, not only with database-backed sites that are continually updated, but also an extensive system of links across sites.
Databases, as opposed to mere technology, are the key to Web 2.0, with Google, Amazon, eBay, MapQuest, Napster (in its earliest form) all emblems of the power of data.
O’Reilly offers many other characteristics of Web 2.0 companies, such as aiming applications at multiple devices, not just PCs, and using lightweight, flexible tools such as XML and PHP. After walking throught these characteristics, he recaps what he believes the chief features of a Web 2.0 company are:
In exploring the seven principles above, we’ve highlighted some of the principal features of Web 2.0. Each of the examples we’ve explored demonstrates one or more of those key principles, but may miss others. Let’s close, therefore, by summarizing what we believe to be the core competencies of Web 2.0 companies: Services, not packaged software, with cost-effective scalability Control over unique, hard-to-recreate data sources that get richer as more people use them:-Trusting users as co-developers
-Harnessing collective intelligence
-Leveraging the long tail through customer self-service
-Software above the level of a single device
-Lightweight user interfaces, development models, AND business models
The next time a company claims that it’s “Web 2.0,” test their features against the list above. The more points they score, the more they are worthy of the name.
Cynthia Brumfield at 8:26 PM|Comments(0)
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