web2

toc =Web 2.0= //the world wide web, refreshed//



Introduction
Web 2.0 is fairly new term used to describe a new generation of websites and applications. It is the evolution from plain static content to interactive content that promotes collaboration and sharing. It is all about the user experience and is there to improve life and increase efficiency. The term “Web 2.0” was created by Tim O’Reilly and is frequently used today to describe this new generation of websites and web based applications. Web 2.0 can be broken down into 2 separate categories. The first one dealing with internet based applications, and the other with websites.

Internet Based Applications
When talking about internet based applications it refers to services such as Writely, Google Maps, Flickr etc… They see the web as a platform and utilize it that way. As for the user they enable them to control their own data.

Some of the core competencies for internet based applications are:
 * Services, not packaged software: Google, [|Flickr]
 * Architecture of participation: Wikispaces, Blogs
 * Harnessing collective intelligence: Wikipedia
 * Software above the level of a single device: Multi platform and browser

In greater detail here is an example of a Web 2.0 internet based application.


 * Writely:** [|Writely] is an internet application which serves as a free word processor. It offers features almost identical to MS Word and is very good at what it does. It provides a service free of charge and it can run on any platform and virtually any browser. It is open source and people are welcome to make suggestions or fix bugs. It encourages participation of programmers to harness collective intelligence to better a free program. [|Writely] is a Web 2.0 internet application and covers all of the competencies.

Websites
When talking about Web 2.0 websites it refers to websites which incorporate new standards of coding. With these new standards they enhance the user experience and add a level of interactivity. The coding behind Web 2.0 is known as AJAX, short form for asynchronous java and xml. This new coding standard is really a combination of several technologies incorporated into one.

Ajax incorporates:
 * CSS and XHTML as the standard for presenting content
 * Document Object Model; for dynamic display and interaction
 * XML and XSLT; for data interchange and manipulation
 * XMLHttpRequest; for asynchronous data retrieval
 * JavaScript; to combine all elements together

In greater detail here is an example of a Web 2.0 website:


 * Yahoo:** [|Yahoo] made the jump to Web 2.0 fairly recently. It is now classified as a Web 2.0 website due to these facts:
 * It uses valid CSS and XHTML programming to lay out the website and make it compatible in all browsers
 * It uses Document Object Model; for its dynamic navigation display and interaction
 * It uses XML to access news upon request and data interchange
 * It utilizes XMLHttpRequest in the headline section allowing the user to select what news they want it to retreive
 * It uses JavaScript to tie everything together and as the foundation of the website

Related Links
>
 * World Wide Web
 * [|Ajaxian] - Website for ajax resoursces and news
 * [|script.aculo.us] - ajax effects engine based on prototype
 * [|moo.fx] - 3kb ajax effects library
 * [|Prototype] - Ajax library used for most Web 2.0 websites

Principles of Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is the new thing surfacing on the web. Web 1.0 is what the Internet that had websites that where static and hierarchical while web 2.0 is based on dynamic and interactive websites. The core principles of web 2.0 are:

1. The Web as Platform – basically the applications are not platform dependent. It doesn't matter what operating system the user has but based solely on the Internet.

2. Harnessing Collective Intelligence – basically the contributions of the users is what makes it successful such as wikispaces.

3. Data that is the hot commodity - basically owning a unique databases is the most useful. For example, GoogleMaps has the database of maps which is relatively successful.

4. Software is not released in the normal cycle - generally, websites are continually being upgraded and new features are always being added and they rate the success by the number of users that the feature attracts.

5. Lightweight Applications and design for remixing of the information - basically people should be able to use information available to them and remix it to use it in novel and imaginative ways. Also applications should be quick to load.

6. Software above the level of a single device - basically the software should be able to integrate multiple technologies. For example, the software that allows mp3 players to communicate with the computer to upload songs onto the mp3 player.

7. Rich user experiences - basically this involves environments that get richer the more users there are. For example, BitTorrent, which is a website that allows people to download files in bits from multiple people for a faster download. The more users, the most sources of the information which will allow for quicker downloading.

(O'Rilley 2005)

Web 2.0 Examples

 * [|Yahoo]
 * [|Google Docs - formerly writely]
 * [|Google Maps]
 * [|Flickr]
 * [|Del.icio.us]
 * [|Digg]
 * [|Zogo Writer]
 * [|ThinkFree Office]
 * [|gOffice]

Resources
Web 2.0 article by Tim O'Rilley - http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html Wikipedia Article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2 Yahoo - http://www.yahoo.com Writely - http://www.writely.com Image - https://blackboard.uic.edu/bbcswebdav/users/garay/talks/itl.update.reach06_files/images/image2.png