Two Dot Oh
I remember over a year ago starting to look at things representative of the now-overused catch phrase, Web 2.0. From the incorporation of user generated content, coding with AJAX and/or Ruby on Rails, and a variety of other aspects of online development and standards that, in general, were aimed at improving the user experience. Along the way, the term was somehow bastardized and has become some glorious catch phrase. With a biochemistry background, I relate the way people use the term ‘Web 2.0′ to the way a mechanic used the term ‘molecules’ in a conversation with one of my Organic Chemistry professors; when the catalytic converter was released, offering a cleaner exhaust system for cars, my professor was really curious how the whole thing worked. He asked the mechanic what was in the catalytic converter that helped clean the emissions - ‘Molecules,’ the mechanic replied, somewhat excited and matter-of-factly (for those of you unable to appreciate the humour, almost everything on the planet is made from molecules, and to a chemist, the notion of something containing molecules is hardly exciting or a useful piece of information). It’s almost like a cook asking what was in that pasta dish and you telling him ‘noodles.’ Anyway, the term has become a bit diluted, and this is a great article to chuckle over. From the article:
-Putting up a Web site for your company is not Web 2.0.
-adding a “feedback” page or e-mail address to contact someone in the firm is not the same as user-generated content, nor is it Web 2.0.
-offering an intranet or a portal your customers can use to track information is not Web 2.0.
-hosting a blog written by a staff member is not Web 2.0, even if they continually refer to Web 2.0.
-offering a way for people to buy things online is not Web 2.0.
-using one of the Google search products as your own site’s search engine is not Web 2.0.
-running Linux or other open source software in your network is not Web 2.0.
-it’s not Web 2.0 just because your marketing person calls it Web 2.0.
-an e-mail newsletter sent to a subscriber list, even if they use Web 2.0, is not Web 2.0.