Beyond Web 2.0

Web 3.0 is a term that seems futuristic, derived from a science fiction novel. However, it is not far from our grasp and at the rate at which technology and the internet are advancing it could become a reality within the next few years. The articl "How Web 3.0 Will Work" by Jonathan Strickland provides a comprehensive look into what the future web might offer and how it will affect our lives. This article considers many opinions about the direction the Web is going varying from slight changes to the Web as we know it today, to drastic changes that one could imagine came straight out of a Sci-Fi Movie. I think some aspects of the article are accurate in describing the future of the internet. After reading this article and gaining more knowledge about Web 3.0, I think in a matter of years we are going to be faced with a Web that is more intelligent, omni-present, and has a much closer and more connected relationship with our lives. I think the Web is moving in a direction where it can personalize and familiarize itself with the user in order to provide more detailed and accurate searches that are relevant to the interests, needs, and wants of the user. It is not an entirely new concept of the Internet learning about the likes and dislikes, lifestyles, and habits of the user. Some sites like Facebook, Pandora. and Amazon already use information in order to personalize their sites to target the user. However these sites are limited in capacity and the Web is moving in a direction where its knowledge will not be limited and it will be able to provide us with more comprehensive and relevant results because it will not be limited to tags and keywords. In this respect we will be provided with greater access to information the we are looking for at quicker speeds making surfing the web less of a hassle. Also, with internet capabilities currently available on cell phones, televisions, and other household devices we are moving in a direction where we can have instant web access from any device making the web an omni-present force. This will greatly increase the role of the Internet in our lives and our dependency on it for information as well. Referring back the the Douglas Rushkoff "Digital Nation" video, if this documentary is to portray our dependency on technology and the dramatic effects it has had on society, imagine what life will be like when access to the web is virtually limitless. People will not be constricted by time or space, as they can have access anytime or anywhere. As we enter into this new Web 3.0 generation it is hard to imagine when the evolution of technology will reach its peak and how far into our lives the Web can creep. In my opinion we are entering into a "virtually" transparent society and the access of our information on the web will be almost limitless. If the web is to truly familiarize itself with many facets of our lives it becomes a serious question of how to protect ourselves from being overexposed and overshared on the web.

Web 2.0 Winners and Losers

http://www.wired.com/software/softwarereviews/news/2006/09/71810

I found this article via the Wired News website and it discusses the best and worst Web 2.0 sites out there. It discusses the five best and five worst websites in the Web 2.0 category and what makes them fall where they do. The highest rated Web 2.0 website is Flickr which was chosen because this photo sharing site has the best organization and categorization on the web. The site was also noted for being easy to navigate through and for enhancing the community. This is followed by Odeo, Writely, del.icio.us, and net vibes. The worst of the worst were myspace, squidoo, browzar, and Fo.rtuito.us. The web 2.0 website that was declared the ultimate worst was Friendster. Friendster was one of the first social networking sites to hit the web it has become outdated and obsolete with the emergence of new and improved social networking sites like myspace and facebook.

Web 2.0 encompasses all emerging technologies that involve social interactivity, information sharing, user generated content, and so on. These new technologies provide people with new ways of interaction and with an entirely new internet experience. With new social networking sites emerging on a regular basis the competition becomes very serious and those lacking in some aspects of the Web 2.0 technology or to not able to consistently come out with new and innovative ways for users to interact fall behind. The sites described in this article were most likely judged on this type of criteria and the decisions were based on how well they fit the web 2.0 definition and how original they were in their application of it to their sites.

Get A Mac Ads Are Over

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/08/goodbye-norma-jean-apples-get-a-mac-ads-are-over/

I found this article via the site crunchgear.com, which I have found to be a very helpful blog because it reveals new information about up-and-coming technologies and important information in the technology industry. I thought this article was relevant because when discussing advertising techniques we talked about the Mac commercials and how they appeal to the audience and persuade them to get this popular computer. Also, in my Advertising Principles class this topic has been a matter of discussion too. We have spent a lot of time looking at how different brands target potential customers and try to add them to their list of brand loyalists. However, despite the success of these simple but persuasive advertisements, Apple has chosen to discontinue this campaign. I think that this also relates to both the documentaries we watched, "The Persuaders" and "Digital Nation". As a nation dependent on technology I feel that we are constantly hungry for something new or improvements on the existing technologies that we have. Both of these documentaries addressed these issues and i think they are a large reason for the ceasing of the Mac ads. Advertisers are constantly faced with the challenge of finding innovative and new ways to reach their target audience and instill interest in them and I think this is part of the issue with the Mac commercial because it has been so long running and they most likely feel that they can best reach their target by creating something never been seen before. It also shows the pressure that these brands are faced with when trying to reach an audience that is so bombarded with media messages everyday and need to find a way to make theirs stand out more so than the rest

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