9
January
2007

Next Generation and Emergent Technologies: Web 2.0 and Social Software - What do we mean?0

The Users and Innovation (U&I) programme’s remit is to explore what has been referred to as ‘next generation or emergent technologies’. The terms ‘web 2.0′ and ’social software’ fall witin this programme context and will also be explored durng the programme.

This posting is here to outline how the U&I Team defines these terms within our programme context. We are using the approach that many web 2.0 commentators have taken, which is to set down the following characteristics as articulating what we mean by the terms, rather than one definitive statement.

  • The web as a platform, allowing an application to be delivered and used through a web browser, for example tools such as online word processors or spreadsheets;
  • Things that think, for example embedding computers into the education or research environment through the use of commonplace mobile and/or entertainment devices, thereby enabling people to interact with the technology naturally and casually wherever they are;
  • An architecture of participation, in other words the system has been designed to encourage and support users in contributing to it; an example is the application of wiki software being used for the generation of collaborative documents;
  • Data consumption and remixing from other sources, particularly user-generated data; often these are referred to as mash-ups, where content is often sourced from third parties via an API (Application Programming Interface). There are currently a plethora of mash-ups to be found on the web, utilising anything from local directory listings and web-based mapping software to photographic libraries to generate reviews of events or places;
  • A rich, interactive, user-friendly interface, where the needs and perspective of the individual user are a priority;
  • Elements of social networking. Whilst not necessarily a requisite, the social elements of these technologies are important in generating the engagement and user data.

We also hope, as the programme progresses, that we’ll be able to refine and add to these in order to create a much richer understanding of the terms and the applications of the technologies.

Posted: New Technology