Over at Doug Jacquier’s blog, Doug is “doodling and sctratching his head” trying to answer some questions posed to him from Jody Mahoney at Compumentor about Web2.0. This is what I think – he asked for it!
I see two main things happening that what is termed Web2.0 is shaping and in turn, is shaping Web2.0 (culture drives technology, technology enables what the culture desires – see my post here and here for my thoughts on, and links to, Supernova address by Linda Stone as to the interconnectedness that exists there)
First, as an extrapolation to a bit of Vince Holt’s comment on Doug’s post, I think it is not so much about “migrating from” a publishing platform as it is about making the platform more accessible to individuals and that thereby makes it more equitable. It is that change that makes the development of ‘community’ more possible.
Second, it’s about ways of distributing that published content that fit the culture and the age the people exist in – context.
There’s lots of issues and benefits and technology and ideas around those, but I see them as the core.
In generalist terms, things such as blogs, wikis, podcasts, vidcasts fit into the first. RSS, OPML, issues of Attention/Time-shifting fit in the second.
To get to Doug’s specific questions:
1. What’s *really* new on the Web, as opposed to buzzwords and sound bites?
Free, uncomplicated, no-knowledge-required personal publishing and cross-platform distribution.
2. Which tools best embody the new opportunities from your point of view and why?
Blogs, RSS agregators, Podcatchers, Tagging tools (delicious, technorati, feedster etc) on user level.
AJAX, XML/RSS, OPML, Folksonomies, podcasting on tech/behind scenes/user interface level.
3. Who’s doing the best work with the new tools (technically or in terms of social benefit or both)?
Technically- Too big, too many to list.
Social- Too early to call. Lots have huge potential.
4. What’s the bad news? What are the greatest barriers preventing web-based technology from producing social change?
- Same one that existed with Web1.0 and prior – equitable access to the technology.
- Education as to its use and benefits. (Uplifters required)
- Fear of technology and change.
- Fear of real or conceived privacy problems. (Identity issues)
- ‘Walled garden’ thinking and attitudes. (cultivation of ‘openness’ and ‘trust’ required .. will come as stronger connections come in response to desire for focused attention)
- Old habits and past traditions (ref Cluetrain, subversion).
[tags] cu06, web2.0, community[/tags]