Class 3 Reading Responses

What Is Web 2.0
Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software
by Tim O'Reilly
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html?page=1

I would recommend this article to anyone who wants to understand exactly what Web 2.0 is. O’Reilly does an excellent job of not only defining terms but also explaining them in easy-to-understand language. The comparison of Web 1.0 tools (the Internet I understand) and the equivalent Web 2.0 resources were very useful in clearing most of the misunderstandings that I have about the current environment. The analogy of Google to the network used in a phone call enabled me to envision more clearly how truly different a web application is from a software application.

Publishing vs. participation – the web 2.0 environment is a living, breathing entity as opposed to a static display. It succeeds precisely because it is not controlled by one but by many. The interactivity of consumers and the ability to “harness (the) collective intelligence” is the strength behind the current web.

The organic, evolving nature of the Web 2.0 environment means that users/consumers must also continue to evolve. To be a competent user, I now feel that I can’t go to a class, learn to use the software, ignore it for a few months, and then expect to pick up where I left off. The speed at which this environment is developing means that I must stay on top of it if I want to be able to utilize it.


The New Wisdom of the Web
Why is everyone so happy in Silicon Valley again? A new wave of start-ups are cashing in on the next stage of the Internet. And this time, it's all about ... you.
NEWSWEEK
Updated: 6:39 PM ET Oct 15, 2007
http://www.newsweek.com/id/45976/output/print

This article clearly shows how common users have usurped control of the Internet. The author discusses how everyone has become the expert. Sites that cater to that need have been the successful ventures. I don’t believe that is an accident. Human nature is such that everyone wants to be heard and everyone wants his/her voice to count.

One of the other main characteristics of this current web environment is the sense of community. This also ties in to human nature. People want to have that feeling of belonging. Any feature that provides for that necessity is bound to be successful.

Social Bookmarking
http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/social-bookmarking

This was a very timely article for me. As a sixth-grade writing teacher, I spend much time with my students researching for assignments. We find ourselves frequently falling back on Google to begin our searches and trying to revisit sites. The ability to collect and share useful sites among all the students adds the value of collective research. We can screen the bad from the good and save them for future. It also will allow my students to begin research at school, save those bookmarks, and access them from home to continue their research. This is definitely one Web 2.0 resource that I can’t wait to use.