Web 2.0 is a popular term that has proved difficult to define. According to Tim O’Reilly, a noted blogger, Web 2.0 is a loose collection of information technologies and applications, plus the Web sites that use them.

These Web sites enrich the user experience by encouraging user participation, social interaction, and collaboration. Unlike Web 1.0 sites, Web 2.0 sites are not so much online places to visit as Web locations that facilitate information sharing, usercentered design, and collaboration.

Web 2.0 sites often harness collective intelligence (e.g., wikis); deliver functionality as services, rather than packaged software (e.g., Web services); and feature remixable applications and data (e.g., mashups).

There are six Web 2.0 information technology tools, which include AJAX, tagging, Really Simple Syndication, blogs, micro blogs, and wikis.

Ajax

Most Web 2.0 applications have rich, user-friendly interfaces based on AJAX. AJAX is a Web development technique that enables users to reload portions of Web pages with fresh data instead of having to reload the entire Web page. This process speeds up response time and increases user satisfaction.

Tagging

A tag is a keyword or term that describes a piece of information-for example, a blog, a picture, an article, or a video clip. Users typically choose tags that are meaningful to them.

Tagging allows users to place information in multiple, overlapping associations rather than in rigid categories.

One specific form of tagging, known as geotagging, refers to tagging information on maps.

Really Simple Syndication

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a Web 2.0 feature that allows you to receive the information you want (customized information), when you want it, without having to surf thousands of Web sites.

RSS allows anyone to syndicate (publish) his or her blog, or any other content, to anyone who has an interest in subscribing to it.

When changes to the content are made, subscribers receive a notification of the changes and an idea of what the new content contains. Subscribers can then click on a link that will take them to the full text of the new content.

Blogs

A weblog (blog for short) is a personal Web site, open to the public, in which the site creator expresses his or her feelings or opinions via a series of chronological entries.

Bloggers-people who create and maintain blogs-write stories, convey news, and provide links to other articles and Web sites that are of interest to them.

The simplest method of creating a blog is to sign up with a blogging service provider, such as www.blogger.com (now owned by Google), and www.sixapart.com.

The blogosphere is the term for the millions of blogs on the Web. Many companies listen to consumers in the blogosphere who express their views on the companies’ products. Marketers refer to these views as consumer-generated media.

Although blogs can be very useful, they also have shortcomings. Perhaps the primary value of blogs is their ability to bring current, breaking news to the public in the fastest time possible. Unfortunately, in doing so, bloggers sometimes cut corners, and their blogs can be inaccurate.

Regardless of their various problems, however, blogs have transformed the ways in which people gather and consume information.

Microblogging

Microblogging is a form of blogging that allows users to write short messages (or capture an image or embedded video) and publish them.

These messages can be submitted via text messaging from mobile phones, instant messaging, e-mail, or simply over the Web.

The content of a microblog differs from that of a blog because of the limited space per message . The most popular microblogging service is Twitter.

Twitter is a free microblogging service that allows its users to send messages and read other users’ messages and updates, known as tweets. Tweets are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.

Twitter is becoming a very useful business tool. It allows companies to quickly share information with people interested in their products, thereby creating deeper relationships with their customers. Businesses also use Twitter to gather real-time market intelligence and customer feedback. As an individual user, you can use Twitter to inform companies about your experiences with their business, offer product ideas, and learn about great offers.

Wikis

A wiki is a Web site made up entirely of content posted by users. Wikis have an “edit” link on each page that allows any user to add, change, or delete material, thus fostering easy collaboration.

Wikis take advantage of the combined input of many individuals. Consider Wikipedia (www .wikipedia.org), an online encyclopedia that is the largest existing wiki.

Wikipedia contains more than 3.4 million articles in English, which get a combined total of nearly 500 million views every day.

Wikipedia relies on volunteer administrators who enforce a neutral point of view, and it encourages users to delete copy that displays a clear bias.

Nevertheless, there are still major debates over the reliability and accuracy of Wikipedia articles. Many educators will not allow students to cite references from Wikipedia because Wikipedia content is of uncertain origin.

Moreover, Wikipedia does not provide any quality assessment or fact checking by experts. Therefore, academics and others still have major concerns about the accuracy of user-provided content.

Organizations use wikis in several ways. In project management, for example, wikis provide a central repository for capturing constantly updated product features and specifi cations, tracking issues, resolving problems, and maintaining project histories.

In addition, wikis enable companies to collaborate with customers, suppliers, and other business partners on projects.

Wikis are also valuable in knowledge management. For example, companies use wikis to keep enterprisewide documents, such as guidelines and frequently asked questions, accurate and current.