Does anyone really know what Web 2.0 is? Honestly and down to earth has a good idea of exactly how all of “this” fits together? Sure, there are a lot of ideas, but they all seem to deviate from a deeper core.
“It’s about allowing the people greater control…”
“Web 2.0 is the freedom of information…”
“It’s flashy graphics and pretty interfaces…”
The French Revolution was about giving control to the people. The constitution was built on freedom of information, specifically, freedom of the press - to be able to spread information. And I’m pretty sure I saw enough flashy graphics in the 1990s and early 2000s where we had poorly designed websites and myspace “glitterz”.
None of these things are Web 2.0 and I describe us, the people of Web 2.0 itself, as an awkwardly-pubescent girl because that’s exactly how we’re thinking. We (Web 2.0) want to be so much with so little that we fracture ourselves and split off in too many directions.
I had a few friends in highschool that fit this bill exactly. They wanted so much out of those four years, that they sought to join practically every club and publication, as well as taking as many advanced courses as possible. They were part of Literary Magazine, Newspaper, Yearbook, Theatre, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), Honor Society. The list goes on…
But they didn’t really know what they wanted to do, because they tried to be too many different things.
I propose one thing that Web 2.0 is:
Quality over quantity!
Take social networks for example (Facebook, Bebo, etc.) They’ve succeeded for the most part, in deriving quality from your networks over quantity. No longer do we have to live with the likes of Hot or Not, Match.com, or True.com. We can network freely knowing that if we want a good, quality hookup, all we have to do is turn to our network and announce our available and seeking status.
Gmail has brought forth the same concept in email. Although you may be mistaken, it’s not about Gmail’s 6GB of email storage that you can get. They’re all about providing you with the best, user friendly features to increase your productive use of email. Better spam filters, threaded email conversations and more should only be the beginning.
What to do about this Web 2.0?
Don’t get me wrong, the web is amazing. But it’s not all about the web! More likely, I would say it’s a playground for experimentation in business on a larger scale.
Recently I’ve seen a large transformation in the food industry. America as a whole, has become very unhealthy. We’ve sought quantity over quality for ourselves for the past century as a result of the industrial revolution.
These last few years though when I go into Safeway, I’m seeing more organic foods on the shelves. Foods made with quality ingredients that are good for your body. I’m not suggesting that Web 2.0 caused this change, but rather it’s the same change that we see so vividly on the internet.
People want better food. They want quality food. They’re now willing to give up their Big Macs and 64oz Cokes for a good-for-you meal that also tastes good.
The automobile industry is making similar changes. People want a better driving experience. They want to be able to control their ipod using voice recognition. It’s much safer to drive and alot easier for the driver. Enter Microsoft SYNC.
SYNC is a good product, but not good enough. I call that when I’m in my car and I roll down the windows, SYNC should automatically turn up the volume to balance out the ambient noise of the wind rushing past my head. If an ambulance is in the area, SYNC should be able to hear and recognize where it is and tell me to pay attention for where it’s coming from.
It’s about quality people. Stop touting the amazing features your business has and start catering to the consumer’s needs. They want to be pampered, not overwhelmed.