Web 2.0

Web 2.0 refers to a second generation of Internet-based services – such as social media networks, mashups, blogging tools and folksonomies. (O'Reilly Media, 2004)

Web 2.0 emphasises the move from isolated web resources to online collaboration platforms sharing web applications amongst users. It embraces innovative web-applications and services proposing an approach to generating and distributing open, free to share and re-useable web content.

Web 2.0 websites may expose the following characteristics:

• Users own the data on the website

• An architecture that encourages users to add value to the application

• A rich, interactive, user-friendly interface

• Some social-networking aspects

Weboversity is a good example of innovative Web 2.0 resource. It simply allows users to create and share educational content in the form of online presentations, lectures and tests. It allows web software vendors to build their own Weboversity platforms to attract users wishing to learn a specific task. It hides a complex data transformation under a user friendly interface that allows users to both learn and teach online.