Thoughts on Web 3.0

January 7, 2008

Warren Frey, Technology Blogger, techvibes.com

The Expert: Warren Frey, Technology Blogger, techvibes.com

Definition of Web 3.0: Web 1.0 consisted of simple static pages. Web 2.0 brought dynamic applications, rich media and subscription to RSS feeds to the browser. Web 3.0 is so new that no-one has really nailed down a clear definition, but every indication is that it will transform the World Wide Web into a smarter, faster, and more intuitive platform for information and interaction.

Elaborate: For some, Web 3.0 is the “semantic web,” where ordinary language can be used for complex searches. Other versions of Web 3.0 link “real world” geography to the web, or try to integrate the 2D web with 3D graphics. Web 3.0 probably will consist of parts of all these innovations, but far more likely is a turn in a direction we never could have predicted. But every one of these changes will present new challenges and opportunities for web users and businesses.

How it will affect business: Web 3.0 is presently a buzzword that hasn’t yet gained traction in the business world, because no-one can actually agree on what it means. But just as Web 2.0 defined this generation of tech start-ups and influenced the decisions of goliaths like Yahoo and Google, the coming of Web 3.0 will also mean new features for business to wrap its head around and eventually monetize, or they’ll be left behind in the next tech boom.