Deconstructing the Web 2.0 hype

What’s this buzz about Web 2.0? You’ve heard people talking about it. But you’re not really sure what it is. Is it a new type of code, like HTML, only different? Does it require some kind of special browser? Does it make you wonder if your Web site is old-fashioned, too “yesterday”?

Good news, your Web site is not obsolete if it’s not “Web 2.0.” However, you might consider adding some of this technology to make your site more engaging.

What is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 plays off the idea of software releases and upgrades. It’s a trendy way to say a better, newer version of the Web. There is no “official” set of requirements to be part of Web 2.0, but refers to a group of technologies available that enable people to contribute contents or feedback, control their interaction with a Web site, or collaborate with other people online.

Before Web 2.0, a Web site could be successful as simply an online brochure, or a static set of pages that was changed infrequently by a webmaster or someone that knew html.

With an ever-growing number of blogs, increased use of social networking sites (like Friendster, and now MySpace), and business-friendly services like Google Adwords, Web 2.0 technologies gained prominence and indicated a shift in how the Web was being used and could be used.

Web 2.0 examples

1. Interactive Maps - Have you noticed when you visit Google maps, that you can use your mouse to drag the map around or resize it with the slider and you don’t have to wait for the page to reload? This is done using a Web 2.0 technology called AJAX. Yahoo’s new map service (in beta) provides the same great functionality.
2. Wikis - Wikipedia is an encyclopedia where anyone has the opportunity to add or edit the contents. Wikis might be used by a company to develop requirements for a project.
3. Social bookmarking - Del.icio.us is a web site where anyone can create an account and add, organize and share bookmarks of Web sites.
4. Photo sharing - At Flickr users can create accounts to post and share their photos.

Who should use Web 2.0 technology?

Anyone whose organization will benefit from them. If you think your Web site could use a map embedded in your contact page that people can easily resize and move, then add it! If you think your product would be better explained using a wiki where you let your customers provide instructions, go for it!