Both represent significant iterations of the original web 1.0 that represented the commencement of the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1989 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
Web 1.0 was made of static “read-only” web pages by a few participants.
By the year 2000, Web 2.0 was operating. And while, for the most part, it involved a single flow of information from website publishers to internet users. This new version did (and does) allow for a larger amount of user interaction and participation. Web 2.0 is what we interact with today through online shopping; online services; blogs; vlogs; social media and the development of further web technologies like HTML 5. All pivotal moments of building interactive web platforms.
Did you know that as of November 2019, it was found that 73.7% of the US population accessed social networks? While 92.3% utilised text messaging or instant messaging.
But for Web 3.0, there will be a long stretched out transition from Web 2.0 due to its heavy ties to current hardware availability and adoption of Web 3.0 by the mainstream – all left to be solved by intuitive software. At Smart City Operating System (scOS), we are considered a deep-tech company that is directly involved with Web 3.0’s advancements and building intuitive software and systems.
Web 2 & 3: A Side-by-side Comparison
The third generation of the web is an iteration on the second. That is Web 3.0 better utilises Web 2.0’s existing feature sets.
Web 2.0
- Harnessed collective intelligence – that is shared information.
- Turned web into a platform.
- Data categorised and stored in Databases.
- Internet era software is delivered as a service. Therefore marking the end of a finite software release cycle.
- Lightweight programming models that allow for loosely coupled systems.
- Programs and software are no longer limited to a single device like a PC; they are accessed by any internet-enabled device.
- Rich user experiences.
Web 3.0
- Ensures data ownership is in the hands of the user.
- Embeds AI into existing Web 2.0 information systems to allow for greater user interaction.
- Immutable data can be stored in blockchains for increased security.
- Enables immersive experiences in the Metaverse.
- No intermediaries.
- Openness: anyone can participate in a multitude of online applications as their profile and data are handled by blockchains.
- Due to no intermediaries, there is better distribution of content via decentralisation.
