What Is Web 2.0 - A Primer for Small Business Owners

WHAT IS THIS WEB 2.0 THING?
John Sutton, Director of Interaction Design
Nikki Pampalone, Senior Information Architect

The Internet: a brief history in time
The first widely adopted web sites were called Bulletin Board Systems (BBS)> Local> Dial Up> News and Information > Message Boards and Chat> Files, Images and Software Downloads> System Operator (SysOp) Hobby

Web 1.0
> Flat Pages
> Sections
> No User Contribution
> Content Ownership

Sound like a book?

Actually less technologically savvy than a book
Printers inserted blank pages and flyleaves into books, so readers can contribute their own words> Scribbled in the margins> Added their own paragraphs and chapters> Writing in books was the norm
> Books are portable

But, Web 1.0 was cool!
> Message reached a world-wide audience
> Access for anyone with an internet connection
> Designers had a new canvas
> Retailers had a new outlet
> Non-profits had a new soapbox
> Governments could go green

But, Web 1.0 was limited
> Users could not contribute
> Content was exclusive
> Designers were limited to pages and sections
> Web was not portable

Web 2.0: Defined
"Web 2.0" refers to web development and web design that facilitates:
> Interactive information sharing
- User Generated Content
> Interoperability
- Portability
> User-centered design
- Designing for User Needs
> Collaboration on the World Wide Web
- Shared Ownership

More Flavors than just Chocolate and Vanilla

Lifestreams & Social Networks
2002
2004
2002
2005
> Your life in bits of data
> Personal and/or Professional
> Connect with others
> Open API, or Closed System
> Facebook? Think social, not biz

Crowdsourced/Aggregated Content
2005
2004
2007
2007
> Leverage the “Wisdom of Crowds”
> Working together to find what’s important
> News and Information or Task Based

Location
2004
2004
2008
2009
> Find things near you
> Find things that interest you
> Let others know where you’re at
> Leverage GPS and Interactive Map Tools

Multimedia Share
2002
2004
2003
2004
2005
> Shoot it, share it
> Steal it, share it
> View it, share it

Micromedia and Microblogging
2006
2007
2006
> What’s on your mind?
> Please limit that to 140 characters!
> Connect to customers
> Connect with whoever is listening

One Web 2.0 application can spawn hundreds

Open APIs
> Free use and flow of data
> Instructions for use
> Can use the data for almost anything
> Imagination is the only major limitation

Finally, true mobility
> OneWeb vs. Mobile Web
> One Web is winning
> Open API spawns thousands of new businesses
> Access anywhere – not perfection

Biggest Data Store?
> Federal, state and local governments
> Open Government/Sunshine Laws
> Gov 2.0
> Can use the data for almost anything
> Imagination is the only major limitation

What can we do with this data?
> Work with data type combinations
> Create something useful for your audience
> Safety, services, intelligence, procurement…

Gov 2.0
definition: not just social media, but government as an open platform that provides data, services, & systems that can be built upon. It is idea-sourcing, and enables action & innovation.

Air Force: GPS

Utah.gov

Recovery.gov

What’s Your Strategy?
Understand why you’re using social media•connect•conversations•collaborate•customer service •promote content…etc

Things to Remember
One size does not fit allIt’s not about technologySocial media is an attitudeMake sure content is shareable & portableBe interesting! Have a content planKeep it simple & well designed

Takeaways - Web 2.0 is about
> Making information more useful for users
> Opening data for public or private enterprise
> Building a soapbox and encouraging voice
> Connecting and socializing
> Access, delivery and mobility