We’ve been talking about Web 2.0 for years now, as if we actually know what it means. Generally speaking, it refers to websites and applications which allow for users to interact with database-driven websites via Ajax and robust Javascript libraries. Facebook is Web 2.0. Instagram is Web 2.0. Many would even regard cloud computing as Web 2.0.
It seems to me that we’ve been fixated on the idea of Web 2.0 for far too long. In several notable ways, we’re moving beyond the concept of websites as rich, interactive experiences and more toward an online experience where a user interacts with data from multiple databases simultaneously. For example, you can:
- Publish blog posts from your email…
- Login to as user account via your social networking profile…
- Manage an online shop via your business accounting software…
It’s not just about integration: the tech savvy out there know that these examples are all instances where third party APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) can be used to verify login information with the click of a button. As websites get more and more sophisticated, user experience will be a seamless interaction with multiple databases and APIs without realizing it. I’m thinking of a social network platform where, as soon as you sign in, you receive a chat invite from a friend via a different social network platform. Then, you receive a coupon from Amazon based on a recent Twitter post you made.
Granted, we’re not likely to see these sort of innovations within the next year or so. There’s also the reality of patent issues, copyright and intellectual property rights. However, it is interesting to think about a time when we move beyond Web 2.0.
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