As promised, we'll discuss the concept of Web 2.0. My definition for Web 2.0, in short, is the next generation of Internet applications, business strategy and the underlying technologies that enable conversations and contribution to the online community.
It may be helpful to quickly sum up the first generation of websites.
They were typically produced and maintained by independent webmasters who updated the websites' content only when the information became dated or was no longer aligned with the business goals.
The vast majority of websites pre-2000 websites were "read only", meaning you could only look at the content without changing it. If you wanted to suggest a change, correct or add information you would have most likely been redirected to a contact form or email address of the webmaster who controlled the contents of the website.
So what happened next?
Plenty of things. Open-source software, particularly web server and web development software such as PHP and Perl, and database software such as MySQL enabled rapid development of online applications for a fraction of the cost. The barrier of entry has been lowered to the point where anyone with an idea can build a powerful web service and open its doors to the world.
Web 2.0 and its meaning has been debated at length. With much conflict, and lack of a definitive definition, I thought today we could explore how various key players interpret the meaning of Web 2.0
Technologists see Web 2.0 as the technologies, programming languages and the scalable infrastructure that powers a new breed of online applications known as web services.
Marketers use Web 2.0 services and see them primarily as platforms where they can reach out and connect with customers on a more intimate level. Yet, to call the group of people "customers" may not be the correct term. In the Web 2.0 era, the customers are the creators.
The creators build web pages, upload audio, video and images, and tag multimedia files providing other users with useful information about their creations. This material is known as "user-generated content".
What about corporate types?
Business people and financiers see Web 2.0 as an opportunity to problem-solve for their customers while engaging them in conversation about their products and services.
The Web has allowed businesses to dream up solutions to existing problems, build the technologies to solve those problems, and then allow consumers to turn into contributers by participating through blogs, podcasts, and online profiles.
It's an opportunity that has been in the works for the past decade. The world wide web as we know it took years to build up sufficient broadband capacity for many of the Web 2.0 applications in use today. Web services centered around audio and video distribution simply wouldn't and couldn't exist without high-speed Internet and inexpensive bandwidth costs.
With all of that said, why do I believe that we are a Web 2.0 company?
New additions to the site include RSS feeds that allow individuals to subscribe to the VOX Daily, The Biz, Casting Voices, Buzz and Press blogs, the IV Podcast (also available in the iTunes Music Store), manage voice-over projects, collaborate with colleagues online, use file delivery tools, and implement feedback for other Voices members regarding a relationship forged through business conducted at the website or endorsements based upon the quality of the talent's voice-over demo and qualifications.
From a technological point of view, principles that render Voices.com a Web 2.0 company include the continued focus on a rich user experience by working with technologies such as RSS, CSS and AJAX while using the Web as a software platform.
All the best,
David
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