Web 2.0

What is Web 2.0?

The most referenced definition of Web 2.0 is as by Tim O’Riley. In 2005, during a brainstorming session between MediaLive International and O’Riley, the term ‘Web 2.0’ was coined, in which, O’Riley described Web 2.0 network as a platform with a certain rule that the users add value to a web 2.0 application or service; in that, the more people that uses them, the better it becomes. An examples of a Web 2.0 application is a blog or a wiki (Wikipedia), social networking tools such as Facebook and LinkedIn.


Web 1.0 differs from Web 2.0

While Web 1.0 imparts knowledge to a passive audience by populating a web page or site with static information (e.g. online dictionary or encyclopaedia), Web 2.0 seeks to impart knowledge via a dynamic means, in that the audience is invited to comment on the existing content or indeed add their view to the page(s) (Oberhelman, 2007). As O’Riley (2005) suggests, Web 2.0 uses the web as a platform and the users add value to it.

However, another simple but interesting viewpoint from Oberhelman (2007) is the librarians perspective, where one cannot readily verify the authority of the writer in the Web 2.0 world. Whereas originality and authority can be proven by assessing the work of an author in comparison to other authors of similar articles and or books, the new wave of technology has made it such that any author can be an authority by pressing the edit button to add their information to a blog or wiki, by way or an article or a comment.

Web 2.0 in an Organization

Enterprise 2.0 is the use of Web 2.0 technology in an organization. Moira Levy (2009) likens this to the intranet being the ‘internet adopted within an organization’. Levy (2009) argues that two dimensions of Web 2.0 needs to be satisfied in order to achieve its implementation in an organization; (a) Technology adoption to include implementing a service oriented architecture (SOA) adopting Web 2.0 applications such as wikis and (b) the user orientation to include user adoption of the technology by the organization.

An example of a Web 2.0 application within an organization utilized for knowledge management is given by Oberhelman (2007), in what he calls “wikipediazation of the internet”. Here, peered reviewed articles are the collaborative efforts of a number of contributors. He cited the example of Public Library of Science (PLoS) One International Journal for Scientists. Scientists from various disciplines contribute to peer review and publish their work.

However, to address the growing concerns of librarians as described by Oberhelman (2007) regarding the authority on publications, PLoS One operate their knowledge management supported by Web 2.0, subjecting articles to rigorous peer reviews by experts and practising researchers. They also operate open access, where authors or original work have copyrights but anyone is allowed to reuse, modify or distribute the work as long as the author and source is cited. This facilitates the fast publications of journals, easy access to knowledge of scientist on pioneering issues worldwide and community based dialogue on articles among other benefits. (PLoS One, Unknown).

A further example is where the Department of Defence (DoD) utilises a customised Web 2.0 concept of a Wiki for their acquisition encyclopaedia called ‘Aquipedia’. Aquipedia is said to expand communication through mass collaboration within the organisation via their Community of Practice (CoP). It also provides a common area of knowledge for acquisition information. This encourages knowledge sharing, using Web 2.0 technology.

References:

Defense Acquisition University: [accessed on 02/04/2009] https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=170879&lang=en-US

Levy M., (2009). WEB 2.0 Implications on Knowledge Management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(1), pp120-134

Oberhelman D., (2007). Coming to Terms with Web 2.0. Reference Reviews, 21 (7) pp. 5-6

O’Riley T., (2005). Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software accessed online at:http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
PLoS One (unknown) accessed online at: http://www.plosone.org/static/information.action