Web 2.0
Web 2.0
I know I have written quite a bit about the importance of networking, but the fact is that the art of networking is present everywhere…. at least anyplace that is worth looking at in the first place. I bring up networking because this is the basis of the idea of what web 2.0 is. Do not be fooled with the 2.0. This does not necessarily mean there is a change or update to any technical specifications, but rather it is changing the way people use the web. In today’s technical conversation you can hear terms such as “user friendly”, “technologically advanced”, and perhaps most affective “social networking”. The last, social networking is the premise of the theory of web 2.0. Accordingly to the O’Reilly Radar Web 2.0 Principles and Best Practices, they define Web 2.0 as a set of social, economic, and technology trends that collectively form the basis for the next generation of the internet- a more mature, distinct medium characterized by user participation, openness, and network effects. They claim in order to achieve Web 2.0 success; there are eight core patterns you must follow. They are as follows:
1. Harnessing Collective Intelligence
2. Data is the next “Intel Inside”
3. Innovation in Assembly
4. Rich User Experiences
5. Software above the level of a Single Device
6. Perpetual Beta
7. Leveraging the Long Trail
8. Lightweight models and Cost-Effective Scalability
When Harnessing Collective Intelligence, you must create architecture of participation that uses network affects to produce software that gets better the more people use it (O’Reilly Radar). An example of this is Google. The most people use it (users posting information) the most the site can be informative to the customer.
The term “Intel Inside” in this case is referring to using unique, hard to re-create data sources. This is because we are in an age that data has become one of the most vital things we use. Gracenote does this by enhancing core data and designing data for their own reuse.
In Innovation in Assembly, they say you need to build a platform that fosters innovation, in which remixing of data and services will create a new opportunity. A prime example of this is Google Maps. In Google Maps, you have a platform to use and not just an application.
You must create a rich user experience by going beyond the traditional web-page metaphor and create one that will combine desktop and online software.
Today, you can no longer rely on only one network. This is why it is important to create software that will work over several networks, which will combine the internet use with that of different software. iTunes does this. You are able to retrieve music over different networks over the internet.
In Perpetual beta, it is important to move away from old methods of software development and gear toward that which is more user friendly and web oriented. When you Leverage the Long Trail, you are capturing market profitability’s through low cost economics that are available via the internet. Amazon does this by using algorithmic data management.
Last, you must use lightweight models and cost effective scalability that will produce products quickly and cost-effectively. Some companies like Digg uses scale pricing and revenue models.
It takes two players to achieve successful web 2.0. The businesses wishing to implement such a technology, and the user that will acquire the need for these products. Either way, the end results will be a more interactive, and more user friendly products that people can use over the internet.