Many people have tried to define Web 3.0, however even Wikipedia the Almighty does not have a clear explanation as to what Web 2.0 is yet.

What we know so far is that the stages of the development of the Internet may be divided like this:

Web 1.0: Publishing and Information Sharing (The time of CMS, informative “read-only” websites, static personal pages, slow/dial up connection)
Web 2.0: User contribution and Interaction (open source software, dynamic user generated content, blogs and blogging communities, social networks, broadband)

We are still in transition from static pages to interactive dynamic websites, where users have a chance to participate and contribute their ideas and opinions. Such technologies as Ajax, JavaScript, and Flash have added a lot of value to the new online user experience, however many techniques which are now considered the features of Web 2.0 have been used several years prior to the emergence of the term. I believe that Web 2.0 is not yet fully developed. For most people it stands for blogs, wikis, WordPress, social shopping and networking, however if that’s all it is, the concept is just the extension of Web 1.0.

Web 3.0: The Matrix

There are many different rumors and opinions on what Web 3.0 will be like and whether there will be such a concept at all. But many experts agree that the new kind of Internet will be very different from what we are used to today. The new Internet is often referred to as Semantic Web, a technology that integrates data from various applications into one standard unified format. Chances are an intelligent application will be developed overtime and will make the search more efficient. It will understand various formats of data, will analyze user preferences based on previous interactions with the web, and provide its own recommendations as to what the user might like to find on the web.

Abundant information will be available 24/7 at the arm’s reach. Whether it is a TV program, a movie, or a book a user will be ale to access it via iPhone, Google Android, a portable computer or organizer at very little cost from almost any part of the planet (or at least where the mobile Internet is available). You hear about a new version of Google Android and within seconds you know what it looks like, you read fellow reviews, you know where to buy it at the best price on the market etc. Web 3.0 will become your life’s your interactive and friendly GPS navigator. And you won’t be able to hide from it (a Semantic 3D version of Big Brother).

Although the majority of people are not willing to innovate, no matter how useful the available tools are, the innovation will be inevitable in 6-10 years, as all the data will be stored online (even now it is easier to bookmark a webpage you like rather than pen it down).

Internet will become faster and cheaper than it is now, so Internet calls will replace the standard GSM network (or most likely the GSM will adapt to the new market conditions). Plus all the TV channels will go online. And then some Sergey Brin kind of guy will wake up one morning and say, “Hey, the Web 3.0 era is already here!”

I’ve found this great video featuring the founding executive editor of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly (he is considered to be quite an expert in digital culture) where he explains his opinion of what the future of the WWW holds for us. I really advice to watch it if you are interested in the subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J132shgIiuY

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