subject: Web 3.0- A Semantic Web Experience [print this page] Web 1.0 refers to that state of the World Wide Web which has been used between the time periods of 1991-2003. During this period, people used static HTML pages since their prime aim was to display web contents only.
Webmasters created a website and then submitted it to web directories like Dmoz and Yahoo. Users searched links in directories to find relevant content or website. During this time users were dependent on web directories for trusted web content. This was mainly because there were no interactions between web surfers looking out for similar products/services over the net. And thats how Web 2.0 comes in picture.
Web 1.0 design elements
Some typical design elements of Web 1.0 are:
Static pages.
The use of framesets.
Proprietary HTML extensions such as the blink and marquee tags introduced during the first browser war.
Websites used Guestbook for user interactions.
GIF buttons, typically of 88x31 pixel size to promote web browsers and other products.
For inquiry or questioning HTML forms were used. These were sent via emails to clients who after filling these forms with required information and then emailed them back.
we are here!! Web 2.0
Moving on, web 2.0 was coined for a technological shift to enable better communication, information gathering and increase of knowledge sharing amongst users. It includes broadband, improved browsers, seo and social media, social networking and Ajax encouraging the rise of Flash based applications and widgets such as Flickr and YouTube.
This age was an age of information sharing via blog, dynamic websites, forums and communities. A Web 2.0 website allows its users to interact with other users and change website contents. Basically Web 2.0 websites permits users to do more than just retrieving information from the Internet. It brings some other good features like client- and server-side software usage, content syndication and the use of network protocols. Standard web browsers may use plug-ins and software extensions to handle the content and the user interactions.
Web 2.0 was typically based on the following features:
Search - Used to find information using keywords.
Tag- Used to categorizing content by using a small description.
Links- Links are used to connect useful contents from other websites thus building a social network of information.
Extension- These are softwares that act as browser and document server.
Authoring- Web content could now be added, modified or deleted by moderators sitting anywhere in the world without the help of webmasters.
Signals- These were used for syndication of technology for example an RSS feed was used to notify users of changes in content.
Introduction to Web 3.0
In Web 2.0, if you search in Google for the keyword Pizza, it will yield you a plethora of unrelated hits. Web 3.0 solves this problem by providing context based searching. It presents relevant result for the word Pizza according to your preferred taste and location of availability.
All these will be possible with the Semantic Web feature of Web 3.0. Hence, this semantic web capability is expected to act as a vital aspect of web 3.0 in future, which is yet not completely practiced in Web 2.0.
Intelligent Web: - Web 3.0 is based on intelligent web applications. Its important features are:
It can understand spoken language.
Self Learning programs/browser or Machine-based learning and reasoning.
Intelligent applications to understand user search habits.
Openness: - Web 3.0 is about openness. This is achieved by using APIs, protocols, data formats, open-source software platforms and open data for creating new tools. To save user Identity from thief Web 3.0 uses:
Open Identity.
OpenID.
Open Reputation Management.
The possibility to roam with portable device and personal data.
Individual Focus: - Web 3.0 focuses on individual surfers information needs. . Information is linked to user rather than user being linked to information. Moreover, user can roam around from one program to another program, one database to another database for more relevant information. They can also participate in global social networking and also stay linked to niche information.
3D Web & Beyond: - Web 3.0 use three dimensional websites by using 3D model and then transforms them into a series of 3D spaces. It provides services like Avatars to personalize your Internet experience. This makes up for an integrated experience for the Internet users as you can not only use it on computers but also on your mobile devices, cars, music players, microwaves, household security systems and much more. Web 3.0 takes you beyond the box you use for information gathering, entertainment or work. It makes your experience so realistic that you can feel everything on your finger tips.
Conclusion:-
I remember watching a video by Mr. Pranav Mistry (TED Engineer Sixth Sence device). In the video Mr. Mistry emphasized that Web 3.0 will enable a device to understand human actions and perform intelligent tasks like gathering relevant, measurable and specific information useful for the users.
All this is expected from Web 3.0 by the year 2015. Nova Spivacks Twine is one of the first online services to use Web 3.0 technologies. Its primary goal is to organize, share and discover information within like minded Internet users. However, many still believe that Web 3.0 is not an intelligent system.
