Web 1.0: also called the Read-Only era represented the static websites where the user got limited to reading information presented to him. It represented a one-way information flow just like a school library. It missed the interchange of information between consumers and the producers of information. The examples are the many static websites during the DotCom boom which presented the internet before 1999 (Mike, 2006). Many experts call it the hot-mail and fully static website era. The webmaster got concerned with updating the website and providing information to the users. Today’s users get concerned with more than just information. This leads to the birth of web 2.0.
Web 2.0: also known as write-read-publish when the webmasters realized that the consumers of information needed more than just information. This got attributed to the lack of interactivity in web 1.0. Now users can read, write, publish, and edit information and share it with the rest of the world without fear of punishment. It has brought about active interaction of users with the webmasters. It got born in the year 1999 with the contributors being LiveJournal and Blogger. With the birth of this technology, even non-technical users can easily interact and contribute to blog platforms. In Web 2.0, it took users a few seconds to publish information compared to Web 1.0. It required effort and co-ordination among users, webmasters, and developers to do a minor change in Web 1.0. Some of the examples of Web 2.0 are YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter, Wikipedia, Flickr, etc (Neil, 2008). The webmaster shares the responsibility with the internet audience to make sure the internet becomes more informative and educative.
Web 3.0: also known as Semantic web has been able to provide analytical abilities and intelligence searching. It has brought about a gradual transformation of the web from an overloaded and dumb medium to an intelligent medium. It gets built-in cloud computing and the information can be shared in any computer architecture i.e. desktops, laptops, mobile devices, I-pads, etc. The search engines get built incorporating intelligence contextual searching avoiding keyword searching (Eduard, 2008). One of the examples of Web 3.0 is the Google search engine.
The following will be the benefit for businesses migrating from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 (Mike, 2006):
- Contextual Searching: the queries get interpreted just like a human brain. The info agents fill the gap in the tailor-made search thus deducing the best possible answer for your query. This saves the business time and they get the right information.
- Tailor-made Searching: Web 3.0 will provide the business with easier searching for information. Direct answers get provided for any queries. It will save the business from wasting time on million of meaningless results.
- Personalized Searching: Web 3.0 can read and understand personal preferences. The business has its unique web profile based on its browsing history. The business can get results based on web profile and preference.
- Evolution of 3D Web: the businesses will reap the benefits of 3D technology, hence reaping the benefits of the virtual world. The businesses will also get the advantage of cloud computing or service-oriented architecture, where the business will be able to share applications without having to develop their own.
- Interoperability: businesses will benefit from easier customization and device-independent provided by Web 3.0. Applications can run in all technology architecture i.e. computers, TVs, hand-held devices, microwaves, etc.
References
Eduard, H. (2008),Web 3.0. Web.
Mike, E. (2006), The Evolution of the Web-From Web 1.0 to Web 4.0. Web.
Neil, S. (2008) Education 2.0. Designing the web for teaching and learning, Web.