SPA Conference session: The Whys and Wherefores of Web 2.0

One-line description:What's behind the Web 2.0 hype? Is it simply marketing jargon or are we really seeing a shift in the way the web is created and used?
 
Session format: Goldfish bowl (75 mins) [read about the different session types]
 
Abstract:Tim O'Reilly has tried to clarify Web 2.0 [1]. It incorporates several small but significant changes from the original web. Some changes are technical, some social, and others business focused. Technology change is seen in the widespread adoption of broadband, the introduction of richer user experiences via AJAX, software as service, constant "beta" releases, mash-ups and a re-focusing on data. Social change is seen as Web 2.0 sees more participation through sites like, MySpace and Bebo, Ebay and Amazon’s trust models becoming commonplace, and folksonomies overwhelming the use of formalized taxonomic models. Business changes stem from the observation that the old 80-20 rule may no longer hold for web businesses. Niche markets may be much easier to sustain economically.

Is Web 2.0 just an umbrella term for anything that seems to be different to the current web? Is it the label for a new shiny object - "newer, brighter, faster web. Now with added tags?" Or is there something real here? If the latter, what kind of changes will we see in corporate development? In user experience? In customer demand?

In this goldfish bowl we will encourage participants to delve into the various aspects of Web 2.0 to try to discover what is really there. We look forward to a discussion that addresses topics such as

* the long tail—can Web 2.0 support niche markets?
* web as platform—or the internet operating system. Does the ubiquity of HTTP and port 80 mean that the operating system truly is irrelevant?
* blogging—mass participation or vanity publishing?
* the network effect—as more and more people and businesses inhabit the web, what new services will emerge?
* rich interactive applications on the Web—is AJAX the answer?

[1] http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
 
Audience background:an interest in the subject, or (better) some experience of using version 2.0 of the Web.
 
Benefits of participating:Learn about Web 2.0, gain insights into current views of its worth, applicability and relevance.
 
Materials provided:Position statements from initial participants. Media reports into 'Web 2.0'. Additional web resources.
 
Process:Goldfish bowl process. We will start with a brief introduction to web 2.0 and 5 ringers.
 
Detailed timetable:
 
Outputs:Scribe will document the cool ideas and points that come out and make a poster. Document will be posted online, audio recording also to be made available.
 
History:None
 
Presenters
1. Bernard Horan
Sun Microsystems
2. Laura Hill
Sun Microsystems
3.