Definitions: Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0
Jun 5th, 2009 by Val Nelson
Here’s some quick definitions of these web evolution terms that leave many in the dark.
Understanding these terms can help you understand more about how web marketing is evolving.
Web 1.0
Web 1.0 is a description of the web being like a library or shopping mall where you can look up information, but contributing to the content isn’t easy. It’s one-way communication.
Web 2.0
In this scenario of the web, you can still find information on the web, but users now have the reins — they can customize views, add to the content (e.g., post YouTube videos, leave product reviews), share their own news (e.g., write a blog), and interact (e.g., socialize on Facebook or Twitter).
There have been interactive qualities of the Internet since the beginning, including email lists and forums. Those were so useful and popular that everyone is getting on board especially as new technology makes it easier and more affordable to build these kinds of web applications.
Interestingly, the founder of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, said this user-driven reality was the whole point of the web to begin with, so he discounts the term Web 2.0, even though I suspect he’s glad we’re finally taking the original concept more seriously. (See “2.0” post for more details.)
Web 3.0
What will Web 3.0 include? This is still in a murky phase; some of the technology and concepts are still under development. But some pieces of the puzzle are emerging already.
Web 3.0 promises to make research on the web faster and easier. You’ll be able to find more comprehensive and meaningful information without having to visit so many websites. Web programming is evolving to handle all this collaboration (“mashup”) of information. (Whoa, major ramifications for web marketing and web development.)
The “semantic web” (which is still in the works) is an essential component of Web 3.0. Mind-blowing stuff when you dig a little deeper. And plenty of privacy and ownership fears to work out.
I think this up-and-coming search engine (or rather “computational knowledge engine”) is a taste of Web 3.0. Try it out:
WolframAlpha
For more about Web 3.0, see:
- How Web 3.0 Will Work (How Stuff Works)
- The Semantic Web: A Treasure Trove for Marketers (ReadWriteEnterprise)
Past, Present, Future, or Overlapping?
We tend to think of Web 1.0 as the past, Web 2.0 as the present, and Web 3.0 as the future. But there is a lot of overlap in time so those are somewhat false distinctions. Some sites on the web are still “Web 1.0.” And some old sites have been incorporating 2.0 methods since the “olden days” of the 1990s.
The terms are more accurately referring to trends, and maybe each style has its place in multiple decades. Similarly, you’ll still see bell bottom jeans worn even if we’re no longer in the 1970s.
