Web 2.0 refers to a new era of web services that emphasizes user collaboration and sharing. It is characterized by applications that are used entirely through a web browser without downloads, user ownership and control over their own data, and enabling social networking between people. Key aspects of Web 2.0 include rich internet applications, Ajax techniques, clean URLs, use of wikis and weblogs, and RESTful APIs.

1. Web 2.0 By Roarke Lahene

2. What is Web 2.0 This is phrase given to a new era of web services. It is originally accredited to O’Rielly Media. It basically refers to services which require the user/users to be very collaborative and sharing amongst themselves. Its exact meaning remains open to debate, and some technology experts, have questioned whether the term has any meaning. "Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an 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 Berners Lee

3. Web 2.0 VS Web 1 To understand what Web 2.0 is, you must first know what Web 1 is. Below is a brainstorming exercise conducted by O’Rielly Media. It allows you to understand in a clear way what Web 2.0 is and how it has evolved and changed from Web 1.

4. Characteristics of Web 2.0 The delivery and use of applications entirely on the browser without downloading or installing anything. Owning data on the site and exercising control over it. Allows social-networking between people. E.g. MySpace. A Web 2.0 website may typically feature a number of the following techniques: Rich Internet application techniques, optionally Ajax-based CSS Semantically valid XHTML mark-up and the use of Micro formats Syndication and aggregation of data in RSS/Atom Clean and meaningful URLs Use of wiki software either completely or partially (where partial use may grow to become the complete platform for the site) Weblog publishing REST or XML Webservice APIs

5. Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2#Characteristics_of_.22Web_2.0.22 http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html http://opengardensblog.futuretext.com/archives/2006/04/the_three_chara.html http://office-max.blogcarnival.com/archives/2006/02/web_20_characte.html