AN INTRODUCTION TO WEB 3.0

# Early beginnings: The WEB 1.0 (1990-2000)

Web 1.0, or the static web, was the original version of the internet that offered access to limited information. In the early 1990s, websites were built with static HTML pages that only displayed information. The users were unable to change the data.

As a result, there was no user interaction. Thus, the first internet was more like a one-way highway where only a select few could create the content based on information that came from directories.

A few of its characteristics are-

• Static pages

• HTML 3.2 elements like frames and tables

• HTML forms sent via email

• GIF buttons and graphics.

# The Transition: WEB 2.0 (2000-2015)

The situation changed from the late 1990s onwards when Web 2.0 made the internet significantly more interactive due to advancements in web technologies such as HTML5 and Javascript.

The advancement of the new web was triggered by its three core layers: the mobile, social and cloud. Referred to as the social Web, Web 2.0 enabled the development of interactive platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

This allowed for user-generated content and made it possible to distribute and share data between numerous platforms and applications.

It is characterised by the following features-

• Free sorting of information

• Developed APIs

• Self-usage (Social Media,Blogging etc.)

• Dynamic content

# What is WEB 3.0? (2015 onwards)

The third generation internet is an open, smart and decentralized space. Web 3.0, known as the Decentralized Web, would serve as a platform where data would be interlinked in a decentralized manner. Here, internet applications and services will be powered by distributed ledger technology. Blockchain will serve as the backbone of this system.

AI and machine-learning algorithms are vital to the Web 3.0. The ultimate goal is to deliver all relevant data to the end-users speedily. That is why Web 3.0 is also called the Semantic Web.

Its few differentiators are –

• Semantic Web, where web tech is enhanced to create, share and connect content via search and analysis.

• 3-D graphics.

• Connecting multiple apps and devices through the internet of things.

• Interactivity without needing to go through a trusted intermediary.

Web 3.0 enables users to interact,exchange data, and securely complete financial transactions without the interference of a centralized authority or coordinator. Consequently, each user is a content owner instead of merely being a content user.

How would the Web 3.0 provide Greater Consumer Utility?

Currently, while planning a vacation, a consumer would spend a lot of his time to book flights, accommodation, etc., trawling through multiple websites to compare prices. In Web 3.0, intelligent search engines or bots would assemble all the information and generate customised recommendations based on your profile and preferences.

Conclusion:

To draw a parallel from the cinema, Web 1.0 stand for the black and white movies, while the Web 2.0 represents the colour films. The new era of Web 3.0 would be the age of immersive experiences in the metaverse, like 3D Movies.

Just like Web 2.0 became the strategic force of the global business and cultural landscape in the 2010s, Web 3.0 ushers in a new era of change in the 2020s. Facebook’s name change to Meta on Oct. 28, 2021, could turn out to be an early sign that the shift to Web 3.0 is picking up steam.

Credits:

Gungun Gupta - Post Head

Vasudha Narang- Post Head

Nikita Sharma- Content

Rashi Gautam- Content

Ashwini Modi- Infographic

Mehul Gupta- Infographic

Vivan Gosawmi- Infographic