Web 2.0 Conference – The Naming Of A New Era

Though the seeds of a new participative form of Internet usage were sown much earlier, but it was only in the first Web 2.0 conference that the development of a new form of Internet usage was officially acknowledged. The conference was held in October 2004, chiefly by initiative of Tim OReilly and his team. This new trend based on participative usage was termed Web 2.0. There have been mixed reactions, as far as the new phrase coined by OReilly is concerned. Though some view it as a befitting nomenclature for a revolutionary phase in the history of Internet, there are a good many people who find the term hollow and unnecessary. Before we proceed on to a formal discourse on the issue, let us take a look at the chronology of Web 2.0 conference events.

Web 2.0 Conference - The Chronological Sequence

The first web 2.0 conference was organized in October 2004 at the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco. The official announcement of the beginning of a new era in Internet applications was announced in this gathering. The next one in the series was held in October 2005 and was not particularly eventful. It was the web 2.0 conference held in November 2006 that registered a greater participation of personalities from the media and the business world. The concept of Web 2.0 got a significant fillip at this conference. It became widely recognizable. However, the Web 2.0 Expo held in April 2007 proved to be an even bigger success. There was a sizeable participation from all fields media, business, software & hardware professionals and so on.

Web 2.0 Conference A Discussion

Though at the web 2.0 conferences, Web 2.0 has been mostly emphasized as a new platform for entrepreneurs, but its contribution towards social, cultural and global issues is worth mentioning. In the past, only a few intellectuals had forums or opportunities to voice their opinions on various matters. But now, everybody who sufficiently feels for any issue can express his views and find readers/listeners. A big change has definitely come about in the way Internet service was earlier used. There has been a mass decentralization of creativity. It is no longer limited to a select few who have access to or control over media tools. Anyone can create a blog and use other blogs, social networking sites to attract audience.

Also, Web 2.0 has radically changed the way products and services are marketed. Direct selling tactics have taken a back seat. Most of the companies today stress on developing a loyal customer base by achieving high standards of customer satisfaction. It is not possible to satisfy customers thoroughly without giving them a forum for feedback. Business Blogs enable companies to interact with their customers and obtain direct feedback in an economical manner. This provides a scope for continual improvement as per the exact requirements of consumer. No more resorting to surveys that require a lot of time and money.

Summing up, the graph has been on the rise as far as the scale and the response to Web 2.0 conferences is concerned. Also, the huge change in the way people use the Internet is not easy to be ignored. In these circumstances, it seems unjustified to object to using a new term. And judging by the overall reaction of people so far, it seems that this idea is here to stay. In any case, the next conference is scheduled for November 2008. The fate of this term and concept is likely to become clear in this conference.

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