Internet experts aren’t really sure what the differences between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 are going to be. There is a lot of debate about what defines the next step in the advancement of Internet technology. Web 2.0 has been pretty well-defined as the integration of a strong social element into the Internet, but many people have different ideas about what Web 3.0 will ultimately be. Some of these ideas include the possibility of an improvement in content filtering, the potential for more integration with mobile technology, or even more futuristic ideas like an Internet based primarily around the use of virtual reality. The only thing that most experts seem to agree on is that whatever change occurs, it will have to fundamentally alter the way people interact with the Internet in order to be considered a real generational shift.
Web 1.0 was the original form of Internet interaction. Companies and individuals made websites to sell products and pass on information. The user purchased and consumed information, but didn’t actually have much input.
Web 2.0 was a big change, because it generally brought the user into the equation. Website technology was developed that allowed people to create their own content and share it with others. The Internet generally became an interactive experience where people could rate products, post blogs, and share videos. There was also an increase in the availability of online applications that sometimes replaced a lot of computer software that would normally be kept on the person’s home system. A couple of examples of this would be online email applications and online word processors.
When some people talk about the transition between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, they mention mobile integration. Over time, cell phones and other mobile devices have become more capable of doing things on the Internet. People who see this as a possible aspect of Web 3.0 think this integration is going to become much more advanced and crucial to the way people live.
Another possible version of the change between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is the way content is filtered. One way to think about this is to look at web search methods. Although the search engines have become much better at filtering content, many experts believe there is still a lot of room for improvement. They see the potential for each person’s web experience to be personalized using artificial intelligence technology that brings people exactly the content they want while excluding things they wouldn’t like.
Some people think the change between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 will need to be something more revolutionary. For example, some of them imagine a futuristic Internet where people walk around in virtual worlds. Such ideas have already been explored to some extent in online gaming. Some people also think that the technology that eventually leads to a Web 3.0 hasn’t been invented and, therefore, it may be very difficult to predict it accurately.