Characteristics of Web 2.0

This week in class we discussed five different characteristsics of Web 2.0.

Characteristic #1
http://www.gowindowslive.com/Mobile/Landing/Home/Default.aspx?locale=en-CA
Dynamic content is the first characteristic of Web 2.0. Dynamic content is the ability to access the web on more than one platform. An example of dynamic content is Windows Live for Mobile. The ability to access Windows Live from your cell phone, computer, blackberry or other device qualifies it as characteristic one of Web 2.0.

Characteristic #2
http://www.country953.com/
The second characteristic is user contribution. User contribution is considered a website in which the user can apply their own input or content onto a site. An example of a website that allows for user contribution is the website for the radio station 95.3 Country FM. This radio stations website allows users to enter contests and add input to DJ’s blogs.

Characteristic #3
http://www.eharmony.ca/singles/servlet/registration?cid=55206&aid=1001&kid=GOG0033974536
Social media is the third characteristic of Web 2.0. Social media is considered as a website that allows users to network and communicate. Social media sites allow users to sign on identities and personas. An example of a social media site would be Eharmony.ca. This website allows users to sign up as singles and network for relationships.

Characteristic #4
http://www.addictinggames.com/index.html
Characteristic four is online applications. Online applications are qualified as websites that are run through the web instead of downloaded to a personal computers hard drive. An example of this is addictinggames.com. This website allows users to play video games online instead of having to download the game or program it onto the computer.

Characteristic #5
http://www.flickr.com/
The final characteristic of Web 2.0 is harnessing collective intelligence. Harnessing collective intelligence is the idea that users apply input like crowd-sourcing and tagging. An example of harnessing collective intelligence is Flickr.com. This website allows for photos to be tagged with more than one name.