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Op-Ed: How will Web 3.0 turn out?

First came the World Wide Web, which provided the means for most people to “use the Internet” through web browsers. This phase, now dubbed Web 1.0, was the age of the search engine. Here the focus was primarily on building the Web, making it accessible, and commercializing it.

In 2004 people began to use the term “Web 2.0.” This referred to World Wide Web sites that emphasize user-generated content, usability, and interoperability (meaning the characteristic of a product or system to work with other products or systems.) The term “Web 2.0” was popularized by Tim O’Reilly and Dale Dougherty at the O’Reilly Media Web 2.0 Conference in late 2004. However, even today, there are competing definitions as to what “Web 2.0” actually represents.

Now Web 3.0 could be soon upon us. Web 3.0 is the next step in the evolution of the Internet and Web applications. What does this mean? As with Web 2.0 there is, as yet, no firm consensus. Tim O’Reilly, who came up with “Web 2.0” sees Web 3.0 it as simply an extension of Web 2.0. In contrast, Nova Spivack, according to Webopedia, defines “Web 3.0 as connective intelligence; connecting data, concepts, applications and ultimately people.”

Hmmm…what about a real world example? Heading to ‘How Stuff Works’, a definition is offered whereby Web 3.0 is said to make tasks like “your search for movies and food faster and easier. Instead of multiple searches, you might type a complex sentence or two in your Web 3.0 browser.” As an example, you could say “tonight I want to see Star Trek Beyond in London; I want to be able to park nearby to a cinema, and afterwards I want to go for a Chinese meal.” The idea is that you can type in your search parameters and the search engine, be that Google or Internet Explorer, throws back everything you need in one go.

Sounds good. But will we still be guided by the likes of Google, where big companies can pay to appear at the top of search results or bombard us with unwanted adverts? There’s a chance for something different, according to Hal Hodson writing in New Scientist. Hodson highlights the work of the World Wide Web (W3) Consortium, who are based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. W3 wish to “wrest back control over our digital lives by breaking the monopolies of the server farms and the people who own them.” In essence, abolish the server farms and run the Internet for ourselves.

It’s an interesting idea. Where we currently stand, Web 3.0 and its futures are tantalizingly in out hands. Enough people just need to come together to help shape it.

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Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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