Tim O Reilly's Web 2.0

I think Web 2.0 is a social revolution. It’s a new way of how people are engaging and will continue to engage with one another in the future. They are significant because they fulfill a very basic human need, and a very basic human urge; the urge to communicate and the urge to share. Due to their ability to create participation amongst people, Web 2.0 will have an immense impact particularly in the globalized age where work-culture is becoming increasing global and needs workers to spend a major chunk of the it time at work place. The definition of workplace, however, is no longer restricted to a physical space away from home. Globalized workplace is now increasing concentrated on internet and telephones devices such as blackberries and laptops, which provide radical work-mobility. Work, therefore, is no longer away from home and personal domain. It is right in the midst of it. An investment banker sitting in India with his family watching a comedy show with laptop connected to internet may be “at work” as he’s suggests the new investment portfolio to an investor in New York. I agree with Tim O'Reilly when he says that the phones would the dominant future devise and that personal computers would have a very restricted usage.

As a student, I use Web 2.0 applications on daily basis. Sharing photos through Facebook and Flickr with my family miles away from here is an integral of my daily communication. Without this, my day is incomplete. Besides, without Linked- In connectivity my daily professional networking and communication would never have been so vibrant and expanded.

I am sure that the future format of communication will be based on Web 2.0.However, as Tim O'Reilly suggests the exact nature of this communication format will not be easy to predict. This I think is due to the fact that this technology is being penetrated across the globe amongst people and organization with tremendous diversity and culture. This diversity in the users will produce the diversity in the nature and format of the usage. Without any doubt, it will vary from region to region. In traditional societies like Asia, for example internet is gaining popularity in establishing serious, long-term social relationships such as marriage through matrimonial portals with paid memberships. On the other hand, in the West, given its culture, the usage is producing different kind of social norms such dating and virtual friendships.

I also think that web 2.0 will produce several categories of people as its users such as personal users and casual users who would use it merely to connect with others, while others such professional users and institutional users, who would use it for professional enhancement and marketing products, services and/or ideas. This is already happening, but, as Tim O'Reilly, point out, people will get used to new formats, there will be more diversity not only in the ways people will use this technology but also in the demography of those who will use it.

I personally see an immense potential in these applications offered by Web2.0 in resolving social issues in the rural spaces of the developing nations where most of the social problems are concentrated. An inexpensive participatory technology provided though an easy- to-use device such a phone can truly empower the marginalized communities with the provision of timely and appropriate information, the lack of is presently is the primary reason of their marginalization.

Notwithstanding its reach and potential range to benefit people, the concern that the companies using Web 2.0 making implicit use of the data of the people for commercial purposes cannot be ruled out. The recent debate over Facebook intending to own the photos of the profile-owners and having explicit rights can be seen as one of the many potential threats. Tim O'Reilly’s clearly points out the explicit and implicit users in his talk, and it is clear that companies will have an access and freedom to use the Web 2.0 I in ways which are beyond the obvious use and visible purpose.

Yet there is no doubt that process of usage of Web 2.0 will evolve gradually and as it does, with its immense potential, it will not only entertain but will also enrich! And it some cases, it might even hurt!