There was an expo in San Fransisco about “Web 2.0.” I couldn’t tell you what that means, but this article presented a certain part of it. It was talking about how google has created a documents and spreadsheets application you can use through GMail, and how it is obviously a slap in the face for Microsoft, even thought google denies this. The article got to the heart of the issue quickly, obviously using inverted triangle methods of writing. The one huge lacking part of it was how it didn’t define Web 2.0. There was an article about what was on exhibit at the expo, but no where in either article was a definition of Web 2.0.
The only place I found a definition was on Wikipedia. According to Tim O’Reilly “Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform.”
Makes sense. It would be so much easier if they woul’ve told me that though.
I’d like to offer an explanation to Web 2.0, if I might. The term originally was used loosely to describe kind of a revisit, or second surge of business or business applications on the internet. The phrase circulated mostly among us geeks at internet conferences. A good example of Web 2.0 is the discussion of business on the web advancing in leaps and bounds at the WEC (World Economic Conference) recently which, was simulcast on the internet in Second Life. For a quick synopsis visit http://dailyrocket.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!196A0A1C5DEC633B!791.entry?_c=BlogPart
For a much more in-depth explanation of Web 2.0 see http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html
~Rocket
correction to first link http://dailyrocket.spaces.live.com/?_c11_blogpart_blogpart=blogview&_c=blogpart&partqs=amonth%3d1%26ayear%3d2007
P.S. I have also been a google user for quite some years, not just as a search engine, but also all of their applications and gadgets that you can find on the >>more link at the main google website. I also use Gmail and the Dos and Spreadsheets. Basically what Google has been doing is creating (through the public domain) a large suite of applications that anyone can use for free. This is translating into what I would call an excellent package of applications that I think Google will be using to create their very first OS, which by the time that happens, will be a full set of apps that work both on your computer and the internet seemlessly, TRUE seemless. An example would be the Google Desktop app, that will search your computer and the web at the same time for the file or information you are looking for. Another was the one you mentioned, Doc and Spreadsheets, that are exactly what they are called with the exception that they are stored on the net(cached on your computer) with the added “Collaboration” feature meaning you can allow your friends or co-workers to work on the same document or spreadsheet in real time together. People may not realize that Google is far more than just a search engine these days. Check out their site:)
~Rocket