Datasheet

Schwartz c01.tex V3 - 12/26/2008 11:38am Page 14
Chapter 1: Social Computing
Figure 1-7
A few items will need to be added over time to this, such as the user who uploaded it and information like
ratings, comments, keywords, and many other social computing concepts. This small sample illustrates
how quickly a site can be set up for these possibilities in a very short time.
Web 2.0
Recently, people have been grouping some common industry buzzwords together as a single term. Terms
such as Web 2.0 are often referenced when talking about rich social and interactive web sites. This does
not mean that Web 2.0 is the same as social computing applications. There is actually a reason why there
are two different terms. The most common usage of the term Web 2.0 refers to slick-looking web sites that
use new web technologies in order to provide a better user experience. These sites will use technologies
such as AJAX, JavaScript, Flash, and Silverlight to enhance their look and interaction. In addition to the
technologies the sites use, the sites frequently have a distinct visual look that includes rounded corners.
Web 2.0 will usually refer to the common implementations seen on the web. These implementations
might include blogs, wikis, mashups, social networking site, and more. While most people think the site
must have round borders and a shiny interface like Figure 1-8 to make a site a Web 2.0 site, but this is
becoming less and less true. There are still certain design elements such as larger text and cute buttons,
butnoneofthemisrequiredtohaveaWeb2.0site.
Blogs
One of the most popular concepts in the Web 2.0 space is a blog, a space that allows the user to write
content about a topic. The user could create a personal blog, a blog about technology, or, in the case of
this book, a blog about business or a facet of the business such as a specific product line. Blogs provide a
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