Web 2.0 and Beyond

Paul Anderson is a writer and technology forecaster for Intelligent Content Ltd. and was recently technical editor for JISC TechWatch, a horizon scanning service for UK universities. A graduate in computer science from the University of Leeds, he has worked for more than 25 years in industry and academia as a software developer, technology transfer officer, and technology futures specialist. He has also written extensively for a range of education, trade, and current affairs publications and was awarded the EPSRC’s Computer Science Writer of the Year prize in 2007.

• What Is Web 2.0? THE SIX BIG IDEAS: User-Generated Content. Architecture of Participation. Data on an Epic Scale. Harnessing the Power of the Crowd. Openness. The Network Effect and Web Topology: What Size and Shape Is the Web and Why Does It Matter? WEB 2.0 SERVICES: Blogs. Wikis. Online Social Networks. Media Sharing. Social Bookmarking Sites. Microblogging Services. FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE: Technology and Standards. Beyond Web 2.0. Epilogue. References. Index.

Besides discussing technology development and current services, parts of Anderson’s book address the needs of undergraduates and post-graduate research students. This book will help future researchers form a deeper understanding of what Web 2.0 is and how it could develop in the future. … Web 2.0 and Beyond explains Web 2.0 and its wider context in an accessible and engaging style, helping readers, especially beginners, understand every aspect of Web 2.0 without difficulty.—Yijun Gao, First Monday, Volume 17, September 2012"Some readers may not get past this book's title and spend too much time debating what Web 2.0 might mean. Without a doubt, the web has had a dramatic impact on society. Anderson (Intelligent Content, UK), an experienced computer/technology professional, steps back and takes a long look at the web relative to the technology in the past, where it is today, and trends for the future. Chapter 1 sets the stage for the three sections that follow. Although somewhat brief, this chapter establishes the author's perspective on the web. Section 1, "The Six Big Ideas," presents the elements that come together to create a technology that will continue to grow in importance worldwide. Section 2 presents the services that form the heart of what the author refers to as Web 2.0. The third section, "Framework for the Future," is a combination of a "look under the hood" to see how the web works and the author's thoughts on where it goes from here. Each chapter ends with "Exercises and Points to Ponder" and chapter references. Readers should spend some time exploring the exercises and key points, and pay close attention to some of the thought-provoking team exercises. … Recommended."—J. Beidler, University of Scranton for CHOICE Magazine