Web 2.0 developed in a time when the web was becoming more important, there was more traffic and new sites were popping up every day, this prompted a shift in the type of websites being created.
Web 2.0 does not refer to a change in technology, but rather a change in the usage of pre-existing technologies, web 2.0 refers to a shift from websites that were information based- users would use them to simply view information- to websites that are primarily user based – involves and encourages user participation- for example forum websites such as 4chan are designed so that users can communicate with each other about subjects of common interest, these subjects are categorised in threads so that users can easily connect with others who share their interests, these forum websites are a part of web 2.0, whereas Web 1.0 (the predecessor to web 2.0) hosted websites such as Britannica Online, which simply displayed information uploaded by the creators, users could access and view this information but could not interact with it in any way, meaning they were unable to change, comment on or discuss the information presented on the website. Although websites from web 1.0 still exist they are not as common or as popular as web 2.0 sites.
References
O’Reilly, Tim. “What Is Web 2.0.” O’Reilly Media. 30 Sept. 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2011. http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html
Battelle, John, and Tim O’Reilly. “Web 2.0 Summit Is a Wrap.” Web 2.0 Summit 2010. Web. 11 Mar. 2011
“http://www.web2summit.com/web2010”
N/A. “What Is Web 2.0?” Whatis?com. 25 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Mar. 2011.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci1169528,00.html
interactivedesigning 