1. From Web 1.0 to Web 2.0#
Web 1.0
Web 1.0, also known as the "static internet," was approximately from 1991 to 2004. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the World Wide Web, proposed the concept of the web. During this period, the internet primarily served as a platform for information display, where the content was provided solely by websites. Users could only passively receive information, and the transmission of content was one-way, from the medium to the user. Users were unable to interact with websites or transfer data.
- Single functionality: In the Web 1.0 era, users could only input information without outputting, and they could only browse without creating.
- Passivity: Users were merely recipients of information and could only passively browse and receive information.
- Lack of interactivity: The passivity of Web 1.0 prevented users from participating in content creation and sharing. "Static web pages" merely served as platforms for information display.
Real-life examples:
Web 2.0
In 2014, Tim O'Reilly, the CEO of O'Reilly Media Tnc., introduced the term Web 2.0 at a conference, and it quickly became a mainstream concept.
Web 2.0 is known as the "interactive internet," which is the most familiar and frequently used internet today. It emphasizes the interactivity between users and the medium. Users can share and comment on content on social media, forums, and blogs. However, most data and rights are still controlled by centralized platforms. For example, if you unintentionally post content that violates the rules on a website or social media platform, the platform can forcibly suspend your account, and you may never be able to recover it. This means that all data and records in that account belong to the platform, even though the personal information associated with the account belongs to you. The platform has complete control over the account.
The biggest difference from Web 1.0 is that Web 2.0 introduced social interaction and dynamic content publishing. Users can be creators on platforms and engage in social interactions. However, the right to create does not imply control, as control is still held by centralized platforms.
- Readable + Writable: Users are both consumers and producers of content.
- Mobility: Users can be online anytime, anywhere, and the internet is closely related to people's work and life.
- Monetization: In the Web 2.0 era, the internet provides users with a platform for creation. Users can publish various forms of content, such as images, text, and videos, on various internet applications. Users create value for internet applications through their own content creation and data. The centralized platforms then monetize the data and content produced by users.
Real-life examples:
2. What is Web 3.0?#
Before diving into the details of Web 3.0, let's share a sentence from an article that first mentioned the concept of Web 3.0. This article, titled "A 'more revolutionary' web," was published in the International Herald Tribune in 2006. The original quote from Tim Berners-Lee is: "People keep asking what Web 3.0 is. I think maybe when you've got an overlay of scalable vector graphics-everything rippling and folding and looking misty-and access to a semantic Web integrated across a huge space of data, you'll have access to an unbelievable data resource."
Web 3.0 <Readable + Writable + Ownable>
Web 3.0 refers to a new generation of the internet built on decentralization, blockchain technology, and cryptocurrencies. It aims to provide a more open, decentralized, and user-controlled online experience. In other words, users are consumers, creators, and controllers.
- Decentralization: One of the core features of Web 3.0 is the abandonment of the centralized architecture of the traditional internet. Power is decentralized to users and communities. Decentralization means that there is no longer a need to rely on central servers or large technology companies to manage data and provide services. Instead, decentralization is achieved through distributed networks and blockchain technology.
- Blockchain Technology: Blockchain is the technological foundation of Web 3.0. It is an immutable distributed ledger that records the history of all transactions and data. Blockchain technology provides security, transparency, and traceability, allowing users to transact and interact without intermediaries.
- Cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies are an economic aspect of Web 3.0. They are used for value transfer and exchange on decentralized networks. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most well-known cryptocurrencies, enabling users to securely store and transfer value without the need for banks or financial intermediaries.
- Smart Contracts: Smart contracts are self-executing computer programs that run on the blockchain. They automatically execute contract terms based on predefined rules. Smart contracts are used for automated transactions and protocols, eliminating intermediaries and reducing transaction costs.
- User Sovereignty: Web 3.0 values users' digital sovereignty, where users own and control their own data and digital identities. This is different from the centralized storage of data and third-party data centers on the traditional internet.
- Decentralized Applications (DApps): Web 3.0 encourages the development and use of decentralized applications that run on the blockchain and are not controlled by a single entity. DApps cover various domains, from financial services to social media and identity verification.
The goal of Web 3.0 is to reshape the internet, allowing users to participate more, protect their privacy and digital rights, and reduce reliance on centralized institutions and intermediaries.