Have you ever heard the word Web 3.0? As of April 2022, there are over 5 billion internet users in the world which is roughly around 63% of the total global population yet we are pretty sure, there are many of us who are still unaware of Web 3.0, the newest revolution in the world of the internet. Well, the best thing about technology is that it evolves over time. Likewise, there is a huge disruption on the internet in recent times and currently, the biggest buzz in the town is Web 3.0. In this post, we are going to cover the history of the evolution of the internet, a few details about Web 1.0, Web 2.0 and understanding of Web 3.0 in detail along with key features of this latest version of the internet.
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Web 1.0 – The Beginning of the Internet
Also known as the static web and Read-only network, Web 1.0 is the beginning of the internet era which existed primarily between 1991 to 2004. It is a Content Delivery Network (CDN) which allows viewing a piece of information available on a particular website and unlike today, there was no way that users could interact with it.
At that time, the internet users were called consumers as they used the internet to consume it. Also, there was no concept of algorithms in place, due to which, the users used to have a tough time finding any useful information. It was like a one-way highway where a small group created the content that was sourced through the directories.
There were big players in the market like Netscape and AltaVista which used to control the internet world. At that time, it was not possible to interact with posts, advertisements, or log in to web pages, among other things. All these limitations later helped in paving the way for Web 2.0.
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Web 2.0 – The Next Stage of Evolution
Web 2.0 is the next generation of the internet that underwent drastic transitions between 2004 and 2012. It was first enforced in 2004 and is still in use throughout the globe. The shortcomings in Web 1.0 were addressed in this version. Web 2.0 truly transformed the way people would use the internet. Its social connectivity and the available content have taken the web world by leaps and bounds.
Social media platforms, such as Friendster and MySpace were the first few startups where users can socialize with each other. On top of that, the rise in the popularity of mobile internet has become the reason for the origin of some of the biggest companies that we know today like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon, where people could share their thoughts, experiences, and business opportunities with the world.
This revolution also provides everyone with a chance to generate a source of income and bring their business online. Online real estate business, product sales, entertainment, and advertising become hit overnight. At the same time, there were tech giants who made users dependable to share their data that can be used for other purposes. Currently, identity theft and data storage without consent is one of the few challenges that has led to the need for Web 3.0.
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Web 3.0 – The Newest Revolution in the World of the Internet
Web 3.0 is the newest revolution in the world of the internet and is here to stay for long. It is also known as the read-write-execute web or simply semantic web. It thoroughly understands the data concept and its context to offer the most accurate search results. Web 3.0 is a mix of NFT, blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Until now, some of the biggest IT giants were consuming user data and were not even compensating them for sharing their particulars. However, with the advent of Web 3.0, the users can now claim the ownership of the data they share online, can sell this information online and earn income from it, all this without worrying about losing privacy due to the usage of blockchain’s cryptography feature.
Key Features of Web 3.0
Semantic Web
Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, the Semantic web is an advanced feature of the existing world wide web which assists computer systems to present relevant data through meaningful interpretations. This technology helps in improving the capability of online technologies to share, generate and connect content by using search and analysis by understanding the actual meaning of words instead of filtering them based on numbers and keywords.
Decentralization
One of the best features of Web 3.0 is the decentralization of data. In the previous version of the internet, there was no centralized host for data and it gets stored on one server and at one particular location. With decentralized data networks, it will be possible for data creators to trade their data without depending on intermediaries, losing ownership or worrying about privacy.
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Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a revolutionary technology and combining it with Web 3.0 is a powerful combination. With the semantic web in place, computers will be able to understand and process data just like we do as humans. Using ML with AI, the systems will provide many accurate results and will be capable enough to differentiate between bots and real people, factual reporting and fake news.
Blockchain
Another key feature of Web 3.0, is the implementation of blockchain. In fact, it is the bedrock of this Web 3.0 technology as it works in the backend to redefine the data structures of the semantic web. As we all know that blockchain can deploy intelligent contracts that can execute only when all the predefined conditions are fulfilled. So, unlike in Web 2.0, where hacks, ransomware attacks and exfiltration of data are easy to do, Web 3.0 will provide a safe and secure online environment for users.
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