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Ok, I admit that if you get me started on technology and the world of web that I will through around terms like ‘web 2.0’ with the best of them. Recently I went off on a tech evangelical tangent claiming while web 2.1 is about mass user participation using web 2.0 tools, web 3.0 would be all about portability and device interactions, when I was confronted with a blank look and a blunt question about what had happened during web 1.0 and 2.0? So I gave my thoughts on the matter and thought I would share the bits of the answer that I remember.

Web 0.0 – 1.0 Connectivity

Oh who cares about AOL and their fucking CDs that plague my mailbox. Internet? What’s that? People pay to get access to email… ok I get that… they pay to go to websites? What’s a website and how do I get one? More over how do I get people to my website and sell them stuff? If you have a brick and mortar store you should have an e store. Sure people will buy your crap… no I can’t prove that… Your users don’t like your website? They should get broadband. Who has broadband?… the 16-30 demographic? Quick, everyone spend a lot of money to build a bunch of crap for this interweb thing, no your product doesn’t have to exist, just go public already.

Web 1.0 – 2.0 Google and the others

The bubble burst, no one is making money on that intranet hype anymore, no I don’t need another search engine, and Yahoo finds what I need. That page doesn’t even have any ads or hundreds of links jamming up the interface, they will never make any money. Economies of scale? Sure I’ve heard of it but what’s it got to do with internet/web companies? Whadaya mean you can start a small grassroots company, put up a webpage, sell a product, and prove your business strategy… that’s just crazy talk. AJAX? Isn’t that a cleaning product? Ruby’s on who? And why on earth would anyone spend any time on a site where some guy has built a “How To Dance Properly” widget? Did I just say “widget”? What, do I work for Apple or something? Who, by the by, got lucky with that whole iPod thing, they are still doomed. What’s a blog? Sounds bad… Google just went public? For HOW MUCH!?

Web 2.0 – 2.x Participation

Users just want to consume, the internet is a pipeline for email communication , the sale of goods and services, and the distribution of information… preferably all while we push ads into your inbox and target you with banners. If people want to share photos they should just email them… Bob I think you misspelled something when you wrote that memo about Flickr. Did you just call me a tube? My space?… I have an office, what the hell are you talking about? You did a podcast? Did it hurt? I keep hearing about this whole blog thing. Facewhat, book? Only for college kids? Oh, but now everyone can join? Beacon, does that taste like bacon? Wait… is the target demo supplying their demographic information willingly? Could they make our job easier? That Apple company made a phone? Didn’t they learn their lesson with Newton? LOLCATZ? Really? Don’t people have better things to do with their time? What am I talking about, I saw myspace, question answered. I’m sorry my hearing must be failing me, did you just say that you posted a tweet? COLORWARS!!!!!

Web 3.0 My Theory

So I can carry this little device around in my pocket and make phone calls, listen to music, SMS, IM, Tweet, watch video, record video, take pictures, look at my pictures, ship said video and pictures around, surf the web, and use everything that mobile versions of websites can supply? What do you mean that’s not all? Sure I plugged all of my contact and interest information into the opensource social app. You mean my portable device now has that on it too? And it can tell if there are other devices in the area with similar profile attributes? I just walked by a restaurant where a good friend of mine had lunch and loved it? Guess I should try it. There is a baseball game on in the bar I just passed by, my team is playing, and there are 15 other fans already cheering them on inside? What if I don’t want people to know all that about me? I can turn it off you say? I can limit the disclosure level based on defined social association? Someone just posted a photo live from the game that’s on. That’s awesome!

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