The 2.0 Knee Jerk

[Andrew Gouty]

In everyday life (that is conversation not preceded by a discussion of Internet this, or web design that, brand this, domain that) I have recently noticed a tendency for business types to designate a number scheme when indicating the evolution of an idea or concept. That number does not range higher or lower from:

2.0

I feel thus obliged to answer the question:

“What is Web 2.0?”

The pervasive nature of said web is such that all types have answered it with varying degrees of accuracy and success, as there is not a reliable, authoritative source to which the masses subscribe for their education in internet buzzwords. I suppose addressing the term simply adds another ounce of credibility to the camel’s back, not that I could hope hard enough that it would break.

The software industry made popular this method of assigning numbers to the evolution of some vague, largely invisible thing. Unknowingly, they empowered us to name some vague movement with a number, and another web design company an attempt at categorizing what it is and isn’t. Much as I might like to give you that list, I won’t.

The problem with that list, and labeling what is revolutionary on the Internet and what isn’t is this: I am not the Internet. Lots of Millenials come at the Web 2.0 label from the stance of “Where have you been for the last five years?” I caught myself writing that article a few moments ago and stopped short.

Skype has been around for years, and before that there was Dialpad.com and a host of other Internet Telephony services accomplishing similar things. This is true across a dozen uses of Internet technology now gone mainstream. That’s all and good, but I challenge you to find people who used Dialpad.com (we’re rare). It was great, but who did I share it with? And while we cyber geeks argue about what the Internet is and was, we’ve missed out on inviting hundreds more to join and make the experience that much more interesting, creative, and revolutionary.

In short, I’ve been helped to realize: The Internet of a decade ago was how I found the world, and this web of today is how I’ll connect to it, live in it, and reinvent it. I could go into a chorus from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, but I'll refrain.