Exploration 1 - Intro to Web 2.0

Will Require: Reading websites and viewing one video.
Time: @ 20 minutes of reading; 5 minute video (sound optional)

Welcome to AACPL’s Exploration of Web 2.0. This is your chance to have fun and explore some of the emerging technologies and trends that are populating the internet today. There will NOT be a test, or a quiz; we are just here to have fun!

So, what is Web 2.0? The topic is still up for debate when it comes to a solid definition, but everyone can agree on one thing: Web 2.0 is about participation. The end-user is not just an observer, but an active participant in the sites.

For example, in “Web 1.0”, users that understood HTML could access free web space through sites like Yahoo.com and create their own websites. These web pages were hand coded with HTML then put on display for people to view.

With a “Web 2.0” website, users create pages that have areas for other users to leave comments on. The sites are updated on daily, sometimes multiple times in the same day! These sites can be created by anyone since most are in a template format – no HTML knowledge is required. Interaction is not just encouraged, it is necessary to make the site successful; the more people that use the site, the better it will be.

Chances are you are already familiar with a few aspects of Web 2.0. Most websites have updated to include more and more aspects of the phenomena. Have you read an article on WashingtonPost.com? Notice how you can leave a comment about the article? Take a glance at CNN.com and you’ll see RSS Feeds, Blogs, Podcasts, and more! They even have a section devoted to reader submitted articles.

Why should we, as librarians, care about this online culture? Because these new technologies are changing the way people communicate, which means they are changing the way they ask questions and find the information to answer these questions. Because the user does not need to know any kind of coding to create a functional, personalized page, it is changing their perception of how to interact with others online.

But enough talk, let’s get out on the web! We’ll start with a video: The Machine Is Us/ing Us. This was created by University of Kansas Professor Michael Wesch. Prof. Wesch is “a cultural anthropologist and media ecologist exploring the impacts of new media on human interaction.” Don’t be worried if it moves a bit fast for you. Many of the things you see in this video we will discuss in more depth in other sections of this exploration. At the last step of the exploration, we’ll return to this video and you’ll be amazed by how much more sense it all makes!

Next, check out OCLC’s site “Next Space” on Web 2.0 and libraries and Michael Stephen’s article on Librarian 2.0. Feel free to explore the rest of the articles but you do not need to read them all right now! We will return to them through-out the exploration!