I was recently asked this by someone doing a research project.

Well, here’s my take…

“Web 2.0” focuses on more interactive, web-driven (cloud based) applications and functions. That doesn’t mean that user-centered design is not part of the equation, but “fancy web sites” have been around for quite some time.

I would say that W2.0 [I just copyrighted that abbreviation!] started around the time of Hotmail, Yahoo! mail and the like... where users started to transition some of their traditional desktop applications to the web (cloud). It started with email, now Google is offering complete office productivity suites online (Docs, Apps, etc), and the multitude of online photo galleries to name just a few.

Social networking is not "web 2.0", it's an evolution of it, becoming hugely popular because of what can be done with web-based technology now. I heard somewhere the other day (probably on Twitter) that people said Howard Stern was doing social networking since the 80's when he started getting his radio audience involved in his show. And thinking about it, wouldn't those old "party lines" on the telephone also be social networking? Regardless, "social networking" is not new.

Sure, with W2.0 the Internet has gotten more interactive, more attractive, more standards based. But it's more than that.

I haven't read Val's blog post while writing this because I didn't want to be influenced by her take... but based on the "wikinomics" image, I think that's another great pointer to "Web 2.0". When the Internet started to be a legitimate source of revenue. Not only for the big guys like Amazon and eBay, but for people like you and me. The technology behind W2.0 has made it easy for anyone to set up a store and make some money... most of the time in minutes!

I find it most interesting that W2.0 has been around for years now, and really no one can put a clear definition to it. That's what makes it all fascinating to me. The technology is out there for anyone and everyone to use AND improve. The next "big thing" could be tomorrow by someone you or I know! It's exciting!