Web 2.0: A primer

So, what the heck does Web 2.0 mean? Is it an overheated, overused term? A phrase, like ‘synergy’ or ‘weapons of mass destruction’, that someone forgot to attach meaning to? I’m actually a bit disappointed that’s its status has so quickly deteriorated into another internet buzzword, because personally I really do dig what is happening in the online world these days. (The fact that it’s starting to feel a bit like 1999 all over again is besides the point right now, and a good topic for another day.)

Anyhoo, back to the original question. I’ve found plenty of blog posts and articles asking the same question, circa 2005. I feel so behind, but at the same time I think the past couple of years have helped generate clarity on the idea. It’s nicely gelled and worth mulling now that it’s got some veracity and consensus.

For the best definition possible, the source of the term is your best bet. Tim O’Reilly is credited with coining the phrase and his article provides a stellar description of what it really is. I won’t do justice to his explanation by rehashing it, so I’d suggest everyone read the original article in its entirety (good ideas take a while to explain; his article is five pages and worth every word).

So, welcome back. Now that you’ve read the article, you know that the idea of Web 2.0 encapsulates a few fundamental ideas:
•    User-generated content and organization of information.
•    Open source development and perpetual improvement (beta) of services.
•    A participatory culture of collaboration.

To further solidify the idea of Web 2.0 in your head, a visual could help.

So, that basically sums it up. These are pretty simple concepts. It’s all very let’s play-fair-in-the-sandbox together.

And that’s what I like about this concept. It’s about meritocracy, where all good ideas worth considering are given equal play just by being good, because if indeed it is ‘good’, it will catch on. As a small business owner, you can come up with a great idea to share music online. You can build it, launch it, use a long list of websites and applications to promote its existence, and ask for feedback from your users in order to improve it further.

What I don’t like these days is the mass consolidation that seems to be going on. My favourite Web 2.0 tool, last.fm, was just bought by CBS. Google is averaging one acquisition a week to add great ideas and strong talent to the monolithic company.

Just for fun, take a screenshot of the currently known Web 2.0 companies and services out there. Let’s meet back this time next year, and we’ll see how many were bought by Google, Amazon, Yahoo, Microsoft, or even Facebook.