What is Web 2.0?
To clearly understand this phase, let’s quickly catch a glimpse of Web 1.0. It was the first phase of the internet that included only static web pages. This phase of the internet allowed people to access data from any part of the world from the file system of servers. In order to jounce off the stumbling blocks of Web 1.0, the second generation of the internet was introduced.
Web 2.0 enables its users to communicate with one another and facilitates social networking, high-level interactivity, and user-specified dynamic content. We are more familiar with this iteration as the majority of today’s internet realm falls under this category. To be precise, this phase has not touched too much on the technical aspect, but it worked on altering the web page’s styles and different possibilities to keep users engaged. Examples of Web 2.0 models include Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Quora, WordPress, and other common social media sites that we use. This is the phase where the social aspects of the web evolved, in which the ways of sharing and delivering content took new approaches. It made people communicate, engage, share their views and voices, and most importantly, react to other users’ opinions (like, share, and comment).
Traits that gave Web 2.0 a New Look
Interoperability: Web 2.0 bestows excellent interoperability across a wide range of services to make users connect seamlessly. Responsive Websites: This generation has started using AJAX and JavaScript to create advanced and user-friendly websites. Data Sorting: It allows users to sort the data easily and helps them streamline the data/information to meet their requirements. Compatibility: The web contents are highly compatible across assorted devices, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices. User-Generative: It enables users to create their own content in a participative social web where other users can react and communicate.
Web 3.0 – An Abstract
In spite of having sophisticated features and functionalities, Web 2.0 has its own limitations. For instance, security is one of the first systems that raises questions in our minds. The institutions have complete control of the user’s data, and it highly relies on middlemen. It is true that without these intermediaries, the transactions could never be settled. This is where Web 3.0 comes into play!
Web 3.0 is a paradigm shift in the internet world as it brings in the concepts of decentralization, open-source systems, and greater user utility. It bids a big farewell to the centralized approaches and intermediaries by coming up with a phenomenal solution for decentralized models. It also utilizes encryption and DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) to overcome the trust issues that are currently faced in Web 2.0. However, the addition of versatile technology like virtual reality, artificial intelligence, etc., further strengthens interactions, thereby making them effective and impressive overall. Let’s clarify the concept of Web 3.0 with a better example. Steemit is one of the popular blockchain-based social media platforms that leverage this generation of the web. It outsmarts conventional platforms by making the data in the blockchain available for public access and not operating as a single organization. The platform is administered by 21 spectators elected by its users themselves. In addition to this, Apple’s Siri is also an example of how it uses voice recognition and AI to make users interact with the machines to offer the best possible results.
Highlights of the Web 3.0 Model
AI-Focused Framework: As discussed above, the amalgamation of artificial intelligence with Web 3.0 systems would give users an upper hand in segregating data and real-time insights. Semantic Web: This third generation of the internet maximizes the perks with a progressive metadata system, which assists in organizing data in a much more readable format. Potential of Blockchain: Web 3.0 incorporates the cutting-edge technology of blockchain to offer improved security, privacy, and open-source units to provide the utmost transparency. Three-Dimensional Visuals: It also has the capability to include 3D visuals and graphics to give users a whole new experience.
What’s the Difference between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0?
By now, you might have a clear understanding of what Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is all about. Let’s quickly see the differences to get to know them better!Parameters Web 2.0Web 3.0Primary AimTagging and user experience Empower users through trust, security, and privacySupporting TechnologiesAJAXJavaScriptHTML 5AI/MLSemantic WebDecentralized ProtocolsOwnershipOwned by the networkOwned by the entity and shared through the network3DNoYesTarget Audience CommunityIndividualApplication TypesWeb ApplicationsAI/ML-Based Smart ApplicationsAdvertisingInteractive AdvertisingBehavioral AdvertisingDifference between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0
Wrapping Up
As technology evolves, the use cases and applications expand. Likewise, Web 3.0 is the present phase of the internet in its nascent stage, where the potential is still being explored. This third generation is a huge leap forward as it conceives the framework that suits users and computers to communicate, create, explore, share information, and foresee precise decisions with high-level trust, security, and privacy.
