Web 2.0 - What is it all about?

There has been a new term thrown around the internet describing the next phase in website development and design. Web 2.0. But what exactly defines a Web 2.0 website? In this article, I will attempt to cover what aspects of design and development would be considered as this second generation of websites.

" The term Web 2.0 refers to a second generation of services available on the World Wide Web that lets people collaborate and share information online. In contrast to the first generation, Web 2.0 gives users an experience closer to desktop applications than the traditional static Web pages. Web 2.0 applications often use a combination of techniques devised in the late 1990s, including public web service APIs (dating from 1998), Ajax (1998), and web syndication (1997). They often allow for mass publishing (web-based social software). "
- Source: Wikipedia

Basically, Web 2.0 websites are simplistic and concise in design and more concentrated on functionality and user experience. Emily Chang, award-winning web and interaction designer, has built a fantastic portal for websites built on Web 2.0 ideals.