The number system we have become familiar with for the different versions of the web is interesting.  We’ve all heard of, and probably use, Web 2.0 sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Now the term Web 3.0 has been popping up in the news.  There is even a Web 3.0 conference coming up in May (3).  What exactly is Web 3.0, or the Semantic web, as it is commonly called?

First, a quick overview of Web 2.0; social media sites, with many pages of content created by each individual user; again Facebook and Twitter are great examples.  These sites are primarily user interaction with other people across the globe with little interference/interaction from the site.  Some other examples include Flickr and StumbleUpon.  These sites offer enormous amounts of information but are fairly limited when interacting with other sites.

First and foremost, Web 3.0 is open.  The semantic web is all about cross-platform collaboration.  This allows users to move from site to site, interacting with a site’s content (owner and user-generated) while retaining the same profile information for other sites.  Currently, in Web 2.0, each application keeps its data to itself.  I have to login into different websites or applications to pull up different information.  Web 3.0 integrates this information; imagine Facebook with integrated feeds and interaction from all your other social networking sites, your calendar, email, etc.  All this information was in separate applications or Web sites; now can be accessed in a more streamlined way.  The vision of Web 3.0 is unrestricted navigation. 

Web 3.0 is all about fast applications that work across all computer and mobile platforms.  The 3D aspect of Web 3.0 comes into play with our lives.  It will spread from our computers and cell phones to our cars and refrigerators!

Finding information will be easier in Web 3.0.  In the article “What is Web 3.0?” Allan Cho says “Where Web 3.0 is about control of information Web 2.0 is about information overload”.  Web 3.0 expands on the fundamentals that have been laid down by Web 2.0.  Searches in Web 3.0 will bring more accurate and relevant results using intelligent technology.  This intelligent technology is not artificial intelligence but natural language processing, machine-based learning and reasoning, and intelligent applications.  Searches will reflect the preferences and tendencies of individual users in order to restrict the information overload.

The 3-dimensional web connects information not by wires, but by similarities in the data or interests of the user (4).  The concepts of Web 3.0 and the semantic web are still developing.  We are just grazing the beginning of the possibilities that will be brought about by this next level in the evolution of the internet.

Two months into 2009, nine years after everyone thought our rapidly advancing, technologically dependent society would come crashing down and we would be back to horses and buggies and using words like, “Maw” and “Paw”, no one is surprised that the technology realm continues to advance.  There is no doubt that we are becoming more and more dependent on technologies, especially mobile ones – worldwide Smartphone sales topped 32 million units in the first quarter of 2008 alone according to Gartner Research! 

The Web has also been changing rapidly and unless you’re 108 and live under a rock, you know we use the Web completely differently than even five years ago.  Gartner Research has compiled a list of their top 10 strategic (that means they actually have business value…not just fancy fun stuff) technologies for 2009.  Here are my top 5, paraphrased  so people like me can understand it:

1. Cloud Computing.  No this doesn’t mean that you can work on your computer in the clouds…unless of course you’re on a 747 headed for Orlando, in which case please take me with you!  Cloud computing is often times known as Software as a Service (SaaS).  Instead of buying software that you have to download and install onto your computer, cloud computing allows the provider of the service to host the software on their own servers and you can access the software via the Internet.  There are many benefits to “computing in the cloud”, mostly financial, but also in increased flexibility to companies.

2. Web-Oriented Architectures.  Similarly to cloud computing, businesses are utilizing Web development and Web applications more and more for everything from marketing and sales to back-end business applications.  Growth in this trend is expected to continue in 2009 and beyond.  The days of “that’s just one of those new fangled things that will fade away,” are no more; the Internet and custom Web based business applications are here to stay.

3. Unified Communications.  Many businesses will be looking to consolidate the number of communications vendors they work with.  This convergence, however, will require detailed strategic planning and execution, but will lend significant rewards through efficiencies and simplified processes.

4. Social Software and Social Networking.  For most of us, this is not news.  “Social networking” seems to be the favorite buzz word of the past year but this buzz word is proving to have significant value in the marketplace.  Those who fail to adopt a social media strategy will undoubtedly be left in the dust of their competition.

5. Business Intelligence.  According to Gartner’s 2008 CIO survey, Business Intelligence is the top technology priority.  Being knowledgeable in the marketplace is essential to making smart decisions.  Applications and technologies that help decision makers make faster, better, and more-informed decisions will be paramount in 2009.

Sources:

Gartner Research:  

June 6, 2008 http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=688116

October 14, 2008 http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=688116