Web 3.0, the Semantic Web, the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence

Web 3.0 started being referenced in 2006, many consider Web 3.0 to be synonymous with the semantic web.  This is widely believed to be the current age of the internet.

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Web 3.0 can be defined by multi party collaboration and content generation, increasingly one or more of those parties may be a form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) i.e. a computer or software.  This more cognitive age of the web, or Internet of Thought could also be considered as the start of Web 4.0 with virtual assistants and AI making decisions on our behalf.

The Semantic Web envisions a web of linked data rather than simply a web of documents.  Enabling systems to interact, share use and generate more data.

The Internet of Things describes internet connected devices generating data, typically sensors or monitors with no human involvement.  Obvious examples are mobile devices, smartphones, smart watches, health and fitness monitors.  Smart meters have become commonly used by energy companies and utility providers, vehicle and traffic sensors, air and water quality monitors.  The volume and variety of data generated together with the connectedness of the web has enabled innovation, created new services and business opportunities from the analysis of the data.

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Whilst security and privacy are major concerns, the increased productivity and efficiency will drive adoption.  The Waze social GPS, community based traffic and navigation app offers a better user experience at the cost of sharing personal data with the community.  Amazon dash could simplify grocery shopping or it could make us stupid!  http://time.com/3770127/will-technology-like-amazons-dash-button-make-us-stupid/

Web 2.0 – 2005 (ish) to 2006, 2009 or 2012?

Web 2.0 can be distinguished by two way collaboration and the mass of new content being generated and published by those previously considered as consumers or users.

LinkedIn launched in 2003, reaching 1m members in 2004, 10m by 2007 and over 330m by 2014. https://ourstory.linkedin.com/

With Facebook and Flickr also launching before 2005 it could be argued Web 2.0 was already well established by 2005.

Web 1.0 – 1990 (ish) to 2003, 4 or 5?

Web 1.0 could be considered the unsocial web, largely a read only, virtual translation of traditional print media pushed to consumers.  A largely static world where providing comments, feedback or having a discussion were considered cutting edge for a website.  The big change at the start of this period was the introduction of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) enabling the publication of much more than simple text; images, sound, video etc.

Some would argue that web socialisation began much earlier than this with the first bulletin board systems (BBS) appearing early in the 70’s, evolving into chat rooms and eventually today’s social media.  There were 10’s of millions of BBS users by the mid 90’s.

evolution of the web, social media and the internet of things

If one thing is clear it’s that there are many differing ideas on when exactly the various web ages have begun and ended…

Two things stand out as defining the boundaries, firstly the level of connectedness achieved; one way, two way, multi-party etc. and secondly by the richness of the content, both combining to enhance the overall social experience achieved through the web.  It is also clear that innovation continues to accelerate, shortening each progressive age of the web.

Social media has at times paralleled, leveraged and even driven the development and evolution of the web.

and why mobile?

well to me they just go hand in hand [pun intended] but seriously, head over to The Economist and check out this weeks leader; http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21645180-smartphone-ubiquitous-addictive-and-transformative-planet-phones

Smartphones

Planet of the phones

The smartphone is ubiquitous, addictive and transformative

Feb 28th 2015

Smartphones matter partly because of their ubiquity. They have become the fastest-selling gadgets in history, outstripping the growth of the simple mobile phones that preceded them. They outsell personal computers four to one. Today about half the adult population owns a smartphone; by 2020, 80% will. Smartphones have also penetrated every aspect of daily life. The average American is buried in one for over two hours every day. Asked which media they would miss most, British teenagers pick mobile devices over TV sets, PCs and games consoles. Nearly 80% of smartphone-owners check messages, news or other services within 15 minutes of getting up.

Mobile technologies, led by the smartphone, are providing business today with an unprecedented wealth, and ever increasing volume of social data.  Analytic’s allows this to be transformed into tangible business value, expanding markets or creating new opportunities.

what is social media for business all about?

74% define a #socbiz = using social tech for collaboration among customers, employees, partners @ibmcai #IBMSocStudy http://ibm.biz/socstudy

I believe the use of social media can help organisations against the threat of competitive forces by enhancing differentiation, innovation and growth strategies.

It also enables new entrants establish themselves quicker than ever before!  docker.com did just this by rapidly creating a following and growing a dedicated social community of developers and end users.  In less than two years the company has come from nowhere to become a virtual standard for virtual application containers,  supported by a growing number of large tech companies and cloud service providers.  In Sept 2014, only 18 months after launching the company, docker.com was valued at US$400m.