How would you explain Web 2.0 to an Internet newbie?

There's much talk about Web 2.0 these days among savvy Internet people. But how would you explain what it is about to a non-techie Internet newbie? In other words, how would you explain Web 2.0 in pure lay man's term?

How would you explain Web 2.0 to an Internet newbie?
Web 2.0


An umbrella term for the second wave of the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 implies an information and computing platform rather than a content storehouse. Sometimes called the "New Internet," Web 2.0 promotes thin client computing, where everything is stored on servers (on the Web), and a user has access from any laptop or desktop computer via a Web browser. Client applications that do not require the browser can also be downloaded at any time from the Web.








The Social Phenomenon





Web 2.0 also implies a Web-centric source for all information and entertainment, including news, weather, stocks, reference, podcasts, videos and streaming media. Blogs, Wikis and online communities such as Friendster are also part of the second wave of the Web.








Web Evolution





In the mid-1990s, the Web began (Web 1.0) as a repository of information and static content. Within a couple years, a huge amount of content was dynamic, returning custom results to users. By the turn of the century, the Web became more interactive (Web 1.5), allowing users to play, stop, rewind and fast forward through audio and video content. In the discussion of Web 2.0, the 1.0 and 1.5 generation labels are sometimes used, but they are not rigidly defined.








What Enabled Web 2.0?





Bandwidth and power. Faster in many cases than the T1 lines in the enterprise, cable and DSL hookups have given high-speed connections to small businesses and home offices. In addition, the entry level computer has gotten powerful enough to execute JavaScript and Java code in an HTML page without noticeable delays. The combination of increased bandwidth and local processing power, as well as increased server power and refinements in server applications, make the Web an extension of the user's computer just as if it were connected to the local network (LAN).
Reply:Hi,





The following essay by Jesse James Garrett gave birth to the the AJAX terminology and subsequently Web 2.0. The language is lucid enough for a newbie to grasp the concept.





http://www.adaptivepath.com/publications...





Hope this helps.