By :
Charles McDuffie
To put it in a simple and straightforward manner, you're completely under-utilizing the Internet if you're not using one or the other services that constitute Web 2.0. The span of this new avatar of Internet is so large, that it has engulfed almost the entire community of Internet users. Not everybody is aware of this term, and some people are too skeptical to embrace it. You can read on to draw your own conclusion.
A Description of Web 2.0
Web 2.0 isn't a new software, though it may sound like that to those who hear about it for the first time. Nor is it a new version of the Internet, as some of you might infer from what has been said so far in this article. It's strictly not a technical advancement over the Internet. But it certainly is a new approach to using the Internet for personal, social, cultural and entrepreneurial purposes.
The basic idea is that people using a service available on Internet don't merely utilize it, but they also contribute towards improving it. They can make it bigger, more informative, more refined, more interesting and more presentable. In its earlier form, the Internet had websites that were hosted by a single person or a small group of people.
They (the creators) only made changes to the website content or effect improvements on their website. Others were allowed only to view it or at the most, download information from it; but not to propose or make any changes to it.
However, with the evolution of web 2.0, the users of Internet can play an active role in enhancing or improving a website. Take "Wikipedia" for instance. As most of you probably know, this is a free encyclopedia available on Internet. You can find information on almost anything and everything on a website. Along with providing information, this website invites pages on new topics from all its users.
If the work is found to be useful, they include it on their website. Also, the website is open to addition, deletion and rectification of the existing pages as well by the users. Owing to this feature, this digital encyclopedia has progressed by leaps and bounds. Today there are over 9 million articles on this website. This is what characterizes Web 2.0, and sets it apart from the earlier unidirectional usage of Internet.
What Constitutes Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is the name given to a set of websites that are based on the concept of sharing information in the form of text, pictures, audio files and videos. There are social network sites (MySpace, Facebook, Bizpreneur, Bizzyblogs etc.), forums and Bookmark platforms (Del.ici.ous, Webmarks, etc.). Then there are numerous forms of blogs. Each of these services may be aimed at pure fun, information (free or commercial) or business enhancement. All users are allowed to add or edit content, include photographs and videos on these websites.
The phenomenal success of blogs and other websites almost certifies the ingenuity of this concept. One may or may not choose to call this new trend in usage of web-based services so, but nobody can deny its utility and potential.
Author Resource:-
Charles McDuffie is an author and entrepreneur for ASB Enterprises, a continuing education and business development company showing people how to build business success in mail order, network marketing and affiliate programs. Click here to learn about Web 2.0.
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