Generations of the web: A Small introduction to web 1, web 2, and web 3

The first web service was designed and tested by Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web. In 1989, while working at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), Berners-Lee wrote a proposal for a system of interlinked hypertext documents that could be accessed via the Internet.

This system, which was later referred to as the World Wide Web, allowed users to view web pages containing text, images, videos, and other multimedia, and navigate between them using hyperlinks. Berners-Lee developed the first web server and web browser, and the first website was launched at CERN in 1991. The first web page went live on August 6, 1991.

Web 1.0 - the 1st generation of web

Web 1.0, also known as the "static web" or the "first generation of the web," was the first implementation of the World Wide Web. It lasted from 1989, when Tim Berners-Lee developed the first web server and web browser, to around 2005.

Pros

• Technologies include core web protocols such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and URI (Uniform Resource Identifier).
• Is characterized by read-only content, meaning that users can view the information on a website but cannot interact with it or modify it.
• Websites are focused on establishing an online presence and making their information available to anyone at any time.
• Websites are primarily composed of static web pages, which means that the content only changes if it is manually updated by the website owner.
• Websites use basic HTML to structure and format the content on their pages.
• Was the first generation of the World Wide Web, and it laid the foundation for the more interactive and dynamic web that we know today.

Cons

• The Web 1.0 pages can only be understood by humans (web readers) they do not have machine-compatible content.
• The webmaster is solely responsible for updating users and managing the content of the website.
• Lack of Dynamic representation i.e., to acquire only static information, no web console was available to perform dynamic events

Web 2.0 - the second generation of web

Web 2.0, also known as the "interactive web" or the "second generation of the web," is a term coined by Dale Dougherty in 2004 to describe the evolution of the World Wide Web from a "read-only" platform to a "read-write" platform.

Pros

• Web 2.0 technologies enable users to interact and collaborate with each other and the content on a website.
• This includes features such as blogs, wikis, social networking, and online forums, which allow users to share and exchange information and ideas.
• Web 2.0 also introduced technologies such as JavaScript and Flash, which allowed for the creation of more interactive and dynamic websites.
• These technologies allowed for the development of new types of online applications, such as online games, video-sharing platforms, and virtual worlds.
• It has enabled users to create and share content, as well as participate in online communities and social networks.

Web 2.0 has also paved the way for the development of the third generation of the web, or the "semantic web," which is focused on the integration of data and the development of more intelligent systems.

Cons

• Constant iteration cycle of Change and Updates to services
• Ethical issues concerning the build and usage of Web 2.0.
• Interconnectivity and knowledge sharing between platforms across community boundaries are still limited
• It relies on the availability of the internet, which means that users may not be able to access certain features or services if they are offline.
• Often involve the sharing of personal information, which can raise concerns about security and privacy.
• Often rely on user-generated content, which means that the quality of the content may vary.
• It can be difficult to ensure that the information being shared is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable.

Web 3.0 - the third generation of web

The term Web3 was coined by Gavin Wood—one of the co-founders of the Ethereum cryptocurrency—as Web 3.0 in 2014. It is also known as the "semantic web," the third generation of the World Wide Web, which is focused on the integration of data and the development of more intelligent systems. It is characterized by the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which allow websites to better understand and interpret user behavior.

Web 3.0 makes use of standards such as the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the Web Ontology Language (OWL), which allow for the creation of structured data that can be easily understood by machines.

Web 3.0 is still in the early stages of development, and it is difficult to predict exactly what it will look like or what its impact will be.

Conclusion

Since its inception, the World Wide Web has become a crucial part of modern life, with billions of people around the world accessing it on a daily basis. It has revolutionized the way we communicate, share information, and do business, and continues to evolve and expand as new technologies and developments emerge.