http://www.robmillard.com/web20map.pngWell, we all know what the Internet is but what is Web 2.0? What's so special about it? Here are five characteristics that define Web 2.0
1) Dynamic content & viewable on multiple platforms
2) User contribution
3) Social Media
4) Online Applications
5) Harnessing Collective Intelligence
1) Dynamic content & viewable on multiple platforms
Over the course of the last few weeks we have been learning about the characteristics of Web 2.0 which was coined by Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Media Inc.
No more shall the internet just be what it is. It's always changing. Dynamic content is information that is always changing. For example, you can now get interactive pages that let you personalize your own space the way you want it to be shown to you. For example, this very blog I am currently using can be displayed the way I want it to be displayed.
An example of a dynamic characteristic is a Playstation 3 console. Dynamic content is a characteristic that refers to content that is viewable on multiple platforms. A Playstation 3 is an example of dynamic because the content and design live separately. The content lives in a database that is placed on a webpage only when needed or asked. The benefit of this is that it allows for quicker page loading and it allows just about anyone, with limited or no web design experience, to update their own website via an administrative back-end. The Playstation 3 sole purpose is to play video games however, does so much more as you can download content, play videos, surf the internet etc.
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http://gamer.blorge.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/playstation3swindle4.jpg2) User contribution
The second characteristic is user-generated content. User-generated simply refers to content that individuals help produce and create. Present day, the internet is no longer strictly used for professionals. It's used by anyone who knows how to use a computer and has internet. The interchangeability of information allows content from almost anything and anyone to be put on the internet. A great example of a user generated website is the "Internet Movie Database." Commonly referred to as IMDB.com, the site allows people to chat and discuss in regards to their favourite celebrity’s. This site allows people to create new topics and discuss anything relating to their favourite celebs. People are also given the advantage of posting images and videos of their favourite celebrities. IMDB allows viewers to vote on celebrities with regards to their popularity. This is considered user-generated value, while discussing celebs is considered user-generated content.
http://www.robertroose.com/img/posts/imdb-dvd-iron-man-01.jpg
3) Social Media
The third characteristic is social media. Social media refers to online media that provides opportunities for socializing, connecting and sharing. Over the years socializing has expanded allowing people to share content such as photos and information with others. There are many examples of socializing networks which include Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. Another example includes Flixster. Flixster is a social movie site allowing users to share movie ratings, discover new movies and meet others with similar movie taste. In addition to the site Flixster has applications available on Facebook, MySpace as well as on the iPhone.
http://mike.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/flixster.jpg
4) Online Applications
The fourth characteristic to Web 2.0 is online applications. Traditionally applications were thought of something that we would buy and install on the computer. However, there is a new trend towards software that runs software online. Instead of purchasing software, the applications open from your browser without actually installing or downloading anything. How cool is that? There are many examples of online applications that one can use for free. My personal favourite is MapQuest. MapQuest is a map publisher and a free online Web mapping service. MapQuest allows you to find a route in a matter of minutes, quickly and efficiently. MapQuest lets users automatically find their location, access maps and directions and locate nearby points of interest including airports, hotels, restaurants, banks and ATMs all at the click of a button. 
http://ancestortracks.com/Westmoreland,%201857/Daniel_Koch_tract,aerealMapquest-view.jpg
5) Harnessing Collective Intelligence
The fifth characteristic is Harnessing Collective Intelligence. This characteristic uses tagging which essentially means assigning keywords to content such as videos, photos, songs, etc. Why tagging you ask? Well tagging makes it easier to organize and describe information in a manner that is personally meaningful. Tags also enhance productivity and save us time. Along with this, it is now easier for anyone to create content which would usually be left for professionals. This is called "crowdsourcing." In the early stages of internet, websites were created using HTML programming. However, now days there are web builders that allow you to create your own website. An example would be Tripod. Tripod is web hosting service that formed part of the first wave of user-generated content. Tripod offers a variety of free web hosting services offering a blogging tool, a photo album manager, and WYSIWYG page editing. Websites like Tripod allow easy access to creating your own website without using HTML programming which to many is difficult.
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