The web as we
knew it in 1995 has already largely died. Out of the ashes has arisen a second
incarnation and we are currently on the verge of a new reality, Web 2.0. While
there is no one definition, Web 2.0 is perhaps best described as the migration
to the web as a platform spanning all connected devices, coupled with a
specific set of patterns. Web 2.0 has many components, but it is generally
associated with a class of web applications that harness the intelligence,
data, and actions of their users to create value (iconic Web 2.0 applications
include Flickr, YouTube, and Amazon). While many are looking to Web 2.0 to
solve the problems of yesteryear, the mass migration is creating a new set of
problems that must be addressed.
This article
is divided into three parts: an analysis of the web today, an analysis of what
has already died or is dying, and a look forward at aspects of Web 2.0 that are
creating problems and will likely die in the next five years.