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 this era, the web was primarily used as a platform for information display. The content was provided solely by websites, and users could only passively receive information. The transmission of content was one-way, from the medium to the user, and there was no interaction or data transfer.
- Single functionality: In the Web 1.0 era, users could only input and browse, without any output or creation.
- 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" were merely platforms for information display.
Real-life examples:
Web 2.0
Web 2.0, coined by Tim O'Reilly, the CEO of O'Reilly Media Inc., in 2014, is known as the "interactive internet." It is the most familiar and frequently used form of the internet today, emphasizing the interaction 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 regulations 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 within 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 user's creative rights do not represent 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 content creation and data. Internet applications are owned by centralized platforms, which utilize the data and content produced by users for commercial purposes.
Real-life examples:
2. What is Web 3.0?#
Before delving into the details of Web 3.0, let's share a sentence from an article that first mentioned the concept of Web 3.0. The article, titled "A 'more revolutionary' web," was published in the International Herald Tribune in 2006. The original quote from Tim Berners-Lee is as follows: "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: A core feature 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 transmit 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. They are used for automated transactions and protocols, eliminating intermediaries and reducing transaction costs.
- User Sovereignty: Web 3.0 values users' digital sovereignty, allowing users to 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, enabling greater user participation, protecting user privacy and digital rights, and reducing reliance on centralized institutions and intermediaries.