An Explanation on Evolution of Web 1.0 To 3.0
Over the years the World Wide Web has significantly evolved. Let’s see how internet has continued to evolve from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0.
Web 1.0:
Web 1.0 was the 1st generation of World Wide Web (WWW). Here, the webpages were composed of hyperlinks where no user has the control over other visuals, interactivity, behavior and forms what we see today. It further means people communicate with the webpages without any interaction.
These are static webpages that offers people 1 way communication such as reading the contents of the webpages.
It is also known as “Read only Web”.
In addition to, this version was used by educational and government institutions where the end user has the authority to gather, search and read the information. Its users were mostly consumers.
It began as a knowledge center used by businesses to publish their information.
Web 2.0:
“Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as a platform, and any attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform. Chief among those rules is this: Build applications that harness network effects to get better the more people use them.”– Tim O’ Reilly.
At first conference in 2004, the term was described as “the web as a platform”.
It is the improved version of web 1.0. It mainly focuses on a shift from absence of user interaction to involvement of users.
Web 2.0 involves dynamic webpages. It offers people a 2 way communication. It is ”Read and write” only web.
It puts importance on user generated content. It provides a great deal of control over visuals, an abundance of interactivity, improved communication medium, content sharing and more information sharing.
Examples of Web 2.0 are social media sites, application include forums, blogging, podcasting, social networking, social bookmarking, social curation and wikis.
The increasing acceptance of Software-as-a-Service(SAAS), web apps, cloud computing, mobile computing, collaborating effects (It is based on the ability to reach greater audience).
It is era of targeted advertising and lack of privacy concern.
Web 3.0:
Web 3.0 is also known as Semantic Web. The aim of semantic web is to make Internet data machine readable.
It is the next evolution of internet probably based on decentralized ecosystem utilizing block-chain technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
It would mark as an exit from centralized ecosystems.
Here, data will be stored securely and distributed across many devices unlike web 2.0 where data is stored across multiple data centers.
The father of Web 3.0 Gavin Wood describes “platforms and apps built on Web 3.0 won’t be owned by central gatekeeper, but rather by users. Web 3.0 it is believed that user will be owner of the content or the user have full control of data.
It is largely built on open source software with unique features like permission less and trust less. Permission less means neither party needs to take permission from a third party such as government or service provider. Trust less means transactions can place between 2 parties without any involvement of trusted of 3rd party.
An example of trust less transaction is bit-coin. A bit coin can be sent from one person to another person not through an online exchange or wallet stored on a centralized server. The transaction is supported via block chain technology and encryption and it is nearly zero chance that anyone may interfere and disrupt it.
Examples of Web 3.0 application are:-
Diaspora — decentralized social network
Steemit — block chain based blogging and social network.
Augur — decentralized exchange and trading market.
Uniswap — decentralized crypto currency exchange
Final Thoughts:
This article provides a detailed description about different categories of web that has evolved with time.
