Web 2.0, The Live Web

I remember watching the Hanna Barbara cartoon production “The Jetsons” when I was younger. In most of the shows the main character, George Jetson and his boss Mr. Cosmo Spacely frequently communicated via a futuristic television like monitor that they could speak to each other through and see each other while they spoke. I never thought, as a child, that I might actually see similar real life live technology as an adult. But its here and this technology and is one of the features that make Web 2.0 what it is. Here are some examples of instantaneous communications found in Web 2.0.

Real Time Communications

It used to be that we would communicate with friends and loved ones through the telephone, but computer technology has changed that. Soon after the development of the personal computer came email capabilities. Email allowed people to communicate with anyone in the world, both in the personal and business spheres, and for literally pennies when compared to phone service fees. As we all know, calling abroad can be astronomically expensive.

Email capabilities soon led to other computer communicating technologies. Two of which was voice and visual transmissions through the internet. Today, because technological advancements, people are able to communicate in real time, to each other, both verbally and visually and at a cost that is larger than the monthly DSL fees.

Instant messaging or IM is another form of real time communications that is very popular, even more popular than voice and visual transmissions. Not only do people use IM to communicate with family and friends, but it is widely used as a business tool. Today a consumer can land on a web page and within seconds an option box will appear that will connect them to a sales representative’s IM if they chose. Dell Computers uses this form of on-line customer service.

Another advantage of instant messaging services relates to company to company communications. For example, today business is becoming more of an international activity. One company can own and operate several satellite companies anywhere in the world. Through IM and other real time computer communications a headquarters can give instructions to its satellites and affect immediate results and output. Moreover, visual conference meetings can be conduct without anyone executive having to leave their office. And again, this real time communications is able to be performed at a fraction of the costs of conventional forms of business communications.

Our leisure activities are another place that real time communications has an influence on. Take for example on-line gaming. More and more people are becoming involved with person to person on-line games that are played in real time. Wherever you live you can play a game against someone that can be literally thousands of miles from where you live.

Although Web 2.0 is a concept that relates to how a business can be successful when it applies practices and principles to web business it is also more than a concept. Web 2.0 is real and live.