Un-technical difference between Web1, Web2, and Web3
Understanding the Generations of the Web
Since its creation, the World Wide Web has gone a long way, developing tremendously throughout time. The evolution of the internet has resulted in three generations of the web, generally referred to as Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0. Each generation marks a new stage in the history of the web, bringing new technology, user experiences, and possibilities with it.
I won’t dive into the tedious technical back-end of the internet and DNS, but I will give you a basic overview of these three generations.
Web 1.0
Web 1.0, often known as the Static Web, refers to the early days of the Internet when most websites were static and read-only. During this time, the web was mostly used for information retrieval, with little user interaction and engagement.
Web 1.0’s key qualities include:
Static material
Websites were mostly built in HTML, and the material was static, with little updating and interactivity.
Lack of user-generated content
Users were passive information consumers with little possibility to contribute or develop material on the web.
Poor Internet Speeds
Internet speeds were poor, and connectivity was confined to desktop PCs and dial-up connections.
A common Web 1.0 example is an online encyclopedia such as Encarta, where users could only read information but could not add or interact with the material.
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 demonstrates the evolution of the web from a static to a dynamic and interactive environment. It significantly altered how consumers consumed and contributed to internet information.
Web 2.0 features include:
User-generated Content
Web 2.0 provided platforms and technologies that allowed users to create and share content, encouraging a collaborative atmosphere. Social media sites, blogs, and wikis are some examples.
Social Networking
With the emergence of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, users were able to connect, share, and communicate on a huge scale.
Rich User Experience
To improve the overall user experience, Web 2.0 emphasized intuitive user interfaces, rich media content, and responsive designs.
Web 3.0
Web 3.0, also known as the Semantic Web or the Intelligent Web, is the next stage of online evolution. It aspires to build a linked and intelligent web capable of better understanding and organizing information.
Web 3.0 emphasizes the use of structured data, ontologies, and linked data principles to create a web of interconnected and meaningful information.
Key features of Web 3.0
- Decentralized applications (DApps) built on blockchain technology.
- Enhanced privacy and security through encryption and user control over data.
- Tokenization of assets, enabling new economic models and ownership structures.
AI and IoT in Web 3.0
Web 3.0 makes use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing to comprehend user preferences, and context, and create personalized experiences. Web 3.0 also envisions the seamless integration of IoT devices to interact and share data.
Study References:
Berners-Lee, T., Hendler, J., & Lassila, O. (2001). The Semantic Web. Scientific American, 284(5), 34–43.
Shadbolt, N., Hall, W., & Berners-Lee, T. (2006). The Semantic Web Revisited. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 21(3), 96–101.
Summary
The Internet’s progression from Web 1.0 through Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 has transformed how we engage with information, collaborate, and communicate online.
While Web 1.0 offered a fundamental framework for information retrieval, Web 2.0 emphasized user-generated content and interactivity. Web 3.0, the present and future phase, is concerned with establishing an intelligent and linked web.
Understanding the differences between different web generations helps us to understand the constant evolution and innovation that define our digital experiences.
