May 23 2008
Live and Loving It: Are Web 2.0 Sites Useful?
Okay, so maybe defining Web 2.0 can be a challenge for non-techies and technology virgins. But it’s just too d ifficult to ignore something that is so ubiquitous that it a ctually reminds you of Calvin Klein underwear ads back in the day.
However, when there’s so much being said about something and it’s actually being hailed just for being
itself, wouldn’t it be dangerous on your part to ignore it? Web 2.0 has become such a buzzword that people have begun asking the inevitable: are Web 2.0 sites useful?
What are Web 2.0 sites?
Web 2.0 sites are easily recognizable. Let’s just take a look at how websites have evolved from way back when. If you’ve been using the Internet for some time, you probably remember the days when websites were merely for browsing. You click on the site, read some stuff, look at some pictures, click some more, probably copy a few useful items and then leave.
These days, though, people can do so much more than just look at a site and read entries. People actually go to a site and participate in something and do so actively. Gone are the days when all you could do with a web page was watch it. Here are a few more reasons why you will find Web 2.0 sites very useful indeed:
Knowledge-based sharing
Web 2.0 represents one of the best things that have happened to millions of websites. A website with technologies based on Web 2.0 allows people to share information easily. A great example here is Wikipedia, a site that has grown and expanded thanks to contributions from experts, professionals and enthusiasts around the world.
A site using Web 2.0 technologies is very useful for individuals who want to bring an issue or a problem to light, invite other individuals to take a look, make suggestions and contribute directly.
Interactivity
A great characteristic of Web 2.0 technology is that it allows people to log in and interact. No longer are people expected to remain as passive observers – they can actually participate actively with other users. This is very useful for several reasons. Interactivity allows a site to become a platform for sharing and information exchange.
People also are more likely to stay longer in websites that offer so much more than just plain text or images. A Web 2.0 site owner can also offer so much more, including interactive games, quizzes, videos and surveys, while at the same time taking advantage of lightning-fast connection.
Communication
It is in people’s nature to want to reach out and communicate with others. Websites utilizing Web 2.0 technologies are very useful when it comes to this need. MySpace, that repository of billions of personalities (some real, others fake) is one such example. Without Web 2.0, MySpace would just be a boring slumbook, something to read and go back to for updates. Well, MySpace is so much more than that – people can actually log on to it, create their profile, check out others’ profiles, leave messages, communicate actively,
exchange information and just plain hang out in cyberspace.
Web 2.0 technology in a site also allows a user to communicate with other users in real time, cutting back on
delays and virtually eliminating the problem of physical distance. This, after all, is how online networks are born and bred.
Entertainment
If you’re still doubtful about whether or not Web 2.0 sites are useful, think fun and excitement. Some of the most popular websites are not just informative – they are actually entertaining. People log on to these sites to watch, comment, laugh, be amused, get shocked or intrigued. Who ever thought that a website could provide a means to entertain and be entertained? As a means for self-expression, a Web 2.0 site remains an unbeatable contender.
Here is where this lesson ends for today. We really hope you enjoyed this lesson too.
You will receive the next lesson in 7 days. Next week’s lesson will have the following title:
“Why Not Everyone Loves Web 2.0″
Copyright(C) 2008 by John Delavera & Reimund Lube
I enjoyed reading the d Loving It: Are Web 2.0 Sites Useful? | FridayBlowout post, although I did not think it was entirely the best approach … there are alternatives which would provide more positive results ..
I enjoyed reading the d Loving It: Are Web 2.0 Sites Useful? | FridayBlowout post, although I did not think it was entirely the best approach … there are alternatives which would provide more positive results ..