Comments on: What is Web 2.0?

By: Russell Page

Russell Page — Tue, 30 May 2006 21:01:08 +0000

Google drives me batty, and I feel like I have learned tricks about how to really find what I am looking for. I don’t think we should have to use tricks.

By: Joshua Steimle

Joshua Steimle — Tue, 30 May 2006 20:33:45 +0000

In response to Clifton, yes, the issue of search will be an interesting one for Google to grapple with as the amount of content continues to grow exponentially. If you look at Google’s success as a ratio of their users who find what they’re looking for within the first 10 search results, you have to admit they have a challenge figuring out what ten links to display when the number of potential links keeps doubling and for many terms is already in the tens or hundreds of millions.

And yet it’s amazing to me that with all the content out there, I had trouble finding what I was looking for this very morning on Google, even though what I was looking for was a standard email error message and you would assume there would be 100 pages describing how to fix it. Is that due to a lack of content or Google still refining their algorithms, or maybe me just searching for the wrong stuff?

By: Ryan Money

Ryan Money — Tue, 30 May 2006 19:41:47 +0000

I dont think that you can use that term! Tim Orielly has the copywrite on it.

By: Clifton

Clifton — Tue, 30 May 2006 19:09:59 +0000

Good explanation, Josh.

I think that the most overdue Web 2.0 application in the universe is Web-based iTunes. I think it’d be fantastic to be able to download music wherever I go, regardless of the computer I’m using.

One of the downsides to Web 2.0 is that everyone can publish web content now. The web was crowded before, now it’s ridiculous how many people are blogging and posting garbage on MySpace. Search engine optimization will likely get more complex and before long, everyone will be no one because the web will be supersaturated.

By: jordy

jordy — Tue, 30 May 2006 16:42:12 +0000

I think it won’t be long before “Web 2.0″ goes the way of “Information Superhighway” and “Cyberspace”. It’ll be good riddance too –at least “Information Superhighway ” was somewhat descriptive.

By: Brian Sweeting

Brian Sweeting — Sat, 27 May 2006 01:40:42 +0000

I agree with your explanation. I would also add that Web 2.0 is also about giving up control. When companies let others take advantage of their information and processes, it allows people to do things that the company either never imagined or doesn't have the resources to do themselves. For example, Amazon.com has an API that allows developers to use their product information People have built totally customized stores based on this. This is healthy to Amazon.com's bottom line, because it drives more people to buy their product through alternative channels in ways that Amazon.com itself does not have the resources to do. Google Maps allows people to incorporate sophisticated mapping into their applications. It allows people to do things with mapping data, that Google could never imagine on their own. By giving up control, they get a ton of exposure. Companies that try to control their information too much are just shooting themselves in the foot, because they are neglecting the long tail of people who might take advantage of their offerings and by doing so, end up promoting them. For more info on this subject, see Jeff Veen's post on Giving Up Control