Web 2.0 is everywhere it seems. Then again, it’s not. [I’ll explain what I mean by that later.] In case you’re still wondering what the term really means (and you wouldn’t be alone, by the way), just type “define Web.2.0” in your Google search box, and you can scroll through results till your heart’s content — 650 of ’em! The Web 2.0 page on Wikipedia alone is — get this — *2400 words long*. And one key point it makes early on is this: “a consensus on its exact meaning has not yet been reached.” So, you’re excused if you’re confused…
For another look at what it all means, here’s how Tim O’Reilly, the guy most credited with coining the term, defines it on a web page he calls “What Is Web 2.0? Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software”.
How’s this for a look at just a smattering of the companies that have sprouted up already in this nascent category. There’s only one thing I can say: Web 2-point-OHHHH!!! Most people date the beginning of the phenomenon as October 2004, when O’Reilly’s firm held its first event on the topic. (But, of course, the technology movement it represents really began before the term itself was coined and the conferences started.) 
Now back to the “where” part of Web 2.0. Just where would you guess most of these companies are located? Silicon Valley, or maybe the broader Bay Area in general? Yes, many are, but as you can see on this very interesting Web 2.0 Innovation Map from Fourio, the concentration of companies actually seems heavier in the Eastern U.S. And areas like the Pacific Northwest and Texas are well represented, too. [Thanks to my colleague Randy Geise, the boffo web designer/developer, for sharing the logo and map links with me.]
But Web 2.0 is definitely not everywhere — yet — as that same map shows. For example, when it comes to “innovators” in the Web 2.0 space, my home state of Minnesota, at least according to this map, is downright AWOL! As I said on my last post, I guess if the VC money ain’t there for IT and web technology, the startups won’t be either. [sigh…and Minnesota has been such a hotbed of high technology in the past]
But the energy in this space is undeniably strong. And I’ll be hearing about yet more new Web 2.0 companies and new offerings at the Demo conference, which is firing up in just two days in Phoenix. Here’s a news release from one of them (in this case, an existing firm introducing something new): Newsgator — in which they proudly proclaim “2006 will be the year of RSS”. And here’s a post from one of Newsgator’s blogs. Admittedly, they can’t say much yet, since Demo asks presenters to keep their news quiet till the actual event. But we’ll soon know what Newsgator, and several other Web 2.0 type companies, have coming. I’m looking forward to it, and will of course blog my brains out there for you, o valued readers.
[Written at San Clemente, CA. Hey, when the waves are lousy, you “tech” and you “blog”… 🙂 ]
Just found where I saw that logo graphic…
http://qwerky.stellify.net/
Thanks, dude…it’s one hell of a graphic!
Interesting.
http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html
yes, Matt…that is one great essay from Paul Graham
he explains the history of the term quite well…what
he doesn’t mention is it came about right on the heels
of a great new book that was getting buzz around the
Valley (and beyond) about this time: “Life 2.0” by
Rich Karlgaard….the “2.0” term had crept into a lot
of industry-insider vernacular about then, as the industry
was pulling out of its dark, post-bubble days — to the
point where it kind of naturally popped up in a major
new book title
but the way Paul describes the piece-parts comprising
the whole Web 2.0 concept really makes sense…he
really positions everything well
thanks for sending it along
here’s a great upcoming event on “Why Web 2.0 Matters”:
http://undertheradarblog.com/under-the-radar/web-20-beyond-the-bubble/
wish I could get out there for it — I’d blog like mad on it 🙂
The chart is actually by stabilo-boss, posted on flickr. 🙂
http://flickr.com/photos/stabilo-boss/93136022/in/pool-web20/
(GT: Sorry – I always like to correctly attribute. Killer graphic, tons of work. And the comments underneath are too good…)
Here’s another great resource on Web 2.0….
http://wink.com/User:Michael/Web%202.0%20Companies?tm=1&ot=1
update: want an alphbetical listing of Web 2.0 sites and apps? here it is, and it’s gigantic…almost 1000 of them!
another development: Business 2.0 magazine wants to dispense with the term “Web 2.0” and use “The Next Net” instead….here’s the article they just published on their “Next Net 25”