There are two definitions: 1. An interactive, as opposed to a static, website. Examples: Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube 1a. A site where the builder can't tell the difference between a web SITE and a web application, so they use AJAX for everything, instead of properly using HTML. See meebo.com with scripts off for an example-- you'll see the ugliest website in existence. It's even uglier than Jakob Nielsen's. Looks like these people never heard of "CSS". 2. A goofy, trendy, popular type of web/image design, characterised by shineyness, rounded corners, gradients, pink shiny BETA stars, drop-shadows, bold letters and all that jazz. Examples: Newtech.aurum3.com, Protolize.org, heck I can't think of many because I don't generally visit those sites... read about the design stuff here: http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/web-2.0-design-style-guide.php No. It's not even a technology. It's an industry buzzword used to describe functions that existed on your bank's website 10 years ago and to describe a design style that recycles a lot of techniques from the 1960's, just put together in a newer way (design does that, goes back a few decades and picks out what it likes and makes something new). It's safe to say most/all social sites like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, etc are all "Web 2.0" because they have lots of scripts and servers running around so people can interact to the page (post comments, upoad videos, make their own little pages, whatever). It's not a bandwagon to jump on blindly. It is something to simply be aware of, if your customers are asking you if you "do Web 2.0". Sometimes they mean the AJAXy junk, and sometimes they mean the graphic design. Both have been overused and used badly. Learn more about it before jumping in, and keep in mind that good code and good web design has not changed.
There is only one defintion for web 2.0 and it's the definition by its creator, Tim O'Reilly: That's the "compact definition". For more details, see the link. Notice there is no mention of shiny buttons or graphics of any type but I guarantee that one of the very next posters in this thread is going to say it is. Just watch.
Hi there, Web 2.0" refers to a perceived second generation of web development and design, that facilitates communication, secure information sharing, interoperability, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services, and applications; such as social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies. Regards, WS
LOL, good one. It seems to have taken that definition it lots of people's minds, i.e. web 2 = shiny buttons and round corners so you can talk (or they) can talk about Web 2.0 design as if a design will make a Web 2.0 site. The key element is inter-networking. Hang on, isn't that what a forum does? So why isn't a forum is considered Web 2.0
Because buzzwords and bullshit jargon are supposed to describe NEW TRENDY things. If that "new" and "trendy" thing has already existed for over 10 freaking years, it can't have teh buzzword for a name. Slap a shiny pink beta star on it and it's suddenly "web 2.0". This is why I don't use the term, refer to it, or work with clients or companies who request "a web 2.0 site" because I don't do it. I've even already heard of Web 3.0. Gosh, it's still the Internet doing what it's done since it was released to us non-military non-university plebs! Except with MOAR gradients. My bank's been doing this shit for freaking ever. It's not new. And talking to people using technology? Internet technology? Gosh, weren't there bulliten boards in the early 1990's? I'm sure there was even at least one in the 1980's-- before some of these "We build Web 2.0 sites" kids were even born. Sorry Doc but I beat you to it by a good 2 hours lawlz : )
Oh I had to add this: I checked out that ORLY link the Doc posted-- I swear, how did Dilbert's creator hit this language so correctly?? Meme maps! Our collective success rests with our commitment to service excellence and ongoing process improvement. As such, there will be an increased focus in two pivotal areas, namely: Systems Infrastructure & Communications and Controls & Compliance. This new structure will positively impact the delivery of day-to-day functions for our customers thanks to the continuous improvement cycle that will be generated by the new structure. This cycle will inherently deliver an incessant flow of process and systems assessment, improvement, and communication with the related development, distribution, and implementation of necessary tools, education, and support. This will in turn maximize user comprehension and increase overall efficiency. Uh, did that say anything? Oh, New Paradigm Technological Success Model! Ok I lost the fancy indentation, but part of their ideas of this "new" web is that one company simply replaced another, or that people gave new names to stuff they were already doing, or that people started actually scripting their back-ends. Oooooh. If they want to give a buzzword to nothing more than a general change of human behaviour (that people decide to call writing on their personal websites "blogging" all of a sudden, and add in a back-end script so their readers can say ME TOO! CLICK HERE AT CH33PVIAGRA.COM! and needs a new name is absolutely straight out of a Dilbert comic) then I guess they can. But I ain't taking part. "Folksonomy"? How many made-up words do we need in our language? I mean I'm all for neologism cause they're great but sometimes you just have to ask yourself-- "WHA???" This is why our managers talk gibberish to us. This is why we have bosses and clients like this: http://www.bradcolbow.com/archive.php/?p=20 Because regular Engrish wasn't good enough to describe people using back-end scripts more? Oh noes, teh Interwebs is letting you COMMENT on what you sat back and saw! People are stealing music from (not Napster) instead of from (some site with fewer scripts and no login)! That needs a new name! Even ORLY says it himself: Oh, you mean hyperlinks? Gosh golly, that's Web 4.0!!! </rant>