What is Web 2.0 ???

What is Web 2.0? Simply put Web 2.0 is a set of principles and practices that sites demonstrate. The web is the platform and the user controls their own data, web sites (applications) are interactive rather than the flat click the link type web page format that is common for many web sites.

Interaction within sites and also contribution, editing, publishing, etc are some of the features of web 2.0 applications. Also most are free to users, receiving money from online advertising is how most organizations host the applications without charging the user.

There are many examples of web 2.0 applications that are currently extremely popular on the web, some of these are:

~ Blogs- Online journals and articles written by the general user population, allowing interactive discussions through commenting on one an others blogs, blogs also have a feature called RSS feeds (which is the ability to subscribe to blogs of interest and have continuous automatic updates sent to you when the blog is added to). Blogs are archived regularly and new posts are added to the top of the page to allow ease of navigation and usability.

~Google- Google search, google maps, google earth, google images- Google applications have become so popular that the term I'll just google it has become a part of our vocabulary.

~Wikipedia- this is an online encyclopedia, the content of which is published and edited by users for users.

~ also eBay (online selling/buying, auction or instant).
~ Amazon (online shopping) and others.

Blogs & Blogging

I am new to this phenomena we call blogging, and I think if I had more spare time I would actually enjoy posting, commenting and reading blogs. Especially if I were to follow blogs that are relevant to my work as an artist and musician, or my interest in horses,etc. Blogging seems to be a good way to share ideas, photos and videos with others who have an interest in the same subject/hobby as yourself. Other bloggers may have useful information, tips, techniques and such to share/ discuss or amuse us.


Blogs are not just used for this purpose (as a type of public journal), Blogs are now attached to many main stream media programs allowing viewers to input comment or share their opinions on an international level, something that was possible in the past but alot slower to actually be received and commented upon. The issue would be old news, where as it is now live an instant while the issue is still new and relevant.

The general population is able to express their freedom of speech right instantly and internationally through not only blogs but other online applications such as forums and social networks, etc. I think that in general this is a good thing but as usual there will always be the odd killjoy who will misuse the applications for some self satisfying delusional objective or to fulfill some personal inadequacy.

Anyway, back to the topic 'blogs'.

They are easy to set up, publish on, comment upon and follow. They are a great way for individuals to publish their ideas, thoughts and literary work and best of all it's free.