From the humble beginnings of Web 1.0, to today’s sophisticated Web 2.0, and to the future Web 3.0, the internet has experienced massive growth in its capabilities and what it has to offer us. Web 1.0 is where it all started. Let’s check it out first today.
Web 1.0 was very basic, in that pages on websites were static. The same information would always be there, because it never changed. Pages were not interactive for visitors, so they could only visit the website and not alter or contribute anything. Web applications were proprietary. There was software that users were able to download, but couldn’t see how it worked. They also couldn’t modify it in any way.
Web 2.0 came along next. This is where we currently are – in the age of interactive, non-static websites. Users are able to frequently update their Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog, etc. Web apps are open source programs, which means that unlike Web 1.0, people are able to see how the app works and make any changes they want to it. Web 2.0 has a very user-centered design that makes it simple to share information with others. If I could describe 2.0 in one word, it would be interaction.
There is much talk about what the future Web 3.0 will bring to the table. It is also being called Semantic Web, but the two names are pretty much synonymous. Some say search engines will act as your personal assistant, learning what you like, and recommend very specific places for you to visit, dine, shop, and so forth. Others say that it will involve artificial intelligence, or retrieve information based on your specific geographic location. There are even some who believe it will heavily involve web apps.
We have experienced the internet as it has developed into how we know it today. Who knows what the future of the internet holds?