What is 'The Web’?
The Web – more officially known as the World Wide Web (WWW) – is an interconnected system of documents accessible via the internet, and it’s what you’re using to read this blog.
Invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 and made publicly available in 1991, the World Wide Web has revolutionised information sharing, becoming an integral part of modern communication and underpinning everything we access online, from websites to social media. Before the World Wide Web, you had to head down to the library if you wanted to learn about the fall of the Roman Empire, or pick up a newspaper if you wanted to see what the politicians were up to this week. Now, you can just Google it.
The Journey Begins: Web 1.0
The term Web 1.0 is used to refer to the very first iteration of the internet – the one initially created by Tim Berners-Lee. Made up of static pages connected through the use of hyperlinks, Web 1.0 looked very different to the internet we all know today.
Media including images and basic animations were present on Web 1.0, though not nearly as much as now. The use of video or multimedia was even rarer. Websites often had very basic text-heavy designs, with none of the dynamic, responsive elements used in modern web design. Web 1.0 did see the emergence of the first search engines including Yahoo! but their abilities were limited due to their reliance on human-curated directories and more basic keyword matching.
The whole point of Web 1.0 was to help people across the world find information more quickly and easily. It consisted of a small number of individuals creating web pages and content for a large number of readers – and the users of Web 1.0 were just that: readers. At this point, the internet lacked the interactivity we’ve become accustomed to.
At the same time, Web 1.0 had already revolutionised the way we shared and gathered information – and it paved the way for the next few decades of WWW evolution.
The Early Noughties: Web 2.0
The early 2000s saw the rise of Web 2.0, which allowed more people to be involved in creating content. This iteration focused on interactivity and participation: people were encouraged to create and share their own content including texts, images and videos.
Web 2.0 is still the primary form of the World Wide Web even today. Social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn have become central to the Web 2.0 experience, facilitating sharing amongst users on a global scale. With Web 2.0 came web apps like Gmail which could be accessed directly within browsers, eliminating the need for traditional software installations. Web 2.0 also ushered in an era of personalisation, with websites providing tailored content and recommendations to users based on information about their preferences and behaviour gathered through the use of cookies.
Web 2.0 fundamentally transformed the internet from a static, one-way communication medium into a dynamic, interactive platform where users could actively participate, collaborate, and contribute to the content.
The Future is Now: Web 3.0
Web 3.0 is the latest iteration of the World Wide Web. With a focus on decentralisation, it aspires to make the web more intelligent and interconnected. It moves users away from centralised platforms such as Google or Facebook and towards decentralised, autonomous organisations where community members own the online communities themselves.
In Web3, data becomes more understandable to machines thanks to semantic technologies, while artificial intelligence enhances user experiences. Decentralisation, powered by blockchain tech, reduces dependence on centralised servers. Users gain more control over their data and privacy, and new internet protocols like IPFS offer more resilience. Web 3.0 also brings immersive virtual and augmented reality into the online experience.
What Comes Next: Web 4.0
The next evolutionary stage in the World Wide Web is Web 4.0. It may seem a little early to consider the next iteration when Web3 is yet to be fully implemented, but technological advances have never been made through being patient!
Powered by intelligent agents and advanced artificial intelligence technologies like natural language processing and machine learning, Web 4.0 tailors content and services to individual users, adapting to their preferences and behaviours.
It also leverages the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and big data analytics to provide real-time insights and seamless interactions. However, while Web 4.0 promises enhanced personalization and interactivity, it raises concerns about increased tech dependence, potential surveillance, technical complexity, inequality, and cybersecurity risks. In essence, Web 4.0 aims to create a more user-centric, intelligent, and responsive Internet landscape, but it comes with both promises and challenges for the future.
At ASPEKT, we’re fascinated by the latest developments in everything digital. For more insights into the ever-evolving digital landscape, visit our Instagram or click here to view the rest of our blogs.
Written by Bethany Piper
Copywriter | ASPEKT
June 2nd, 2023
