It's kind of ironic to see what has emerged after ISWC 2006 and the Web 2.0 Summit. From my vantage point, it appears as though the Web 2.0 event inadvertently (albeit beneficially) left its attendees looking for the next big thing re. the Web Innovation Continuum as exemplified by the "Web 3.0" meme from the New York Times (NYT) which triggered the current "Web 2.0 vs Web 3.0 Brouhaha".

Amongst the numerous comments about this subject, I felt most compelled to respond to the commentary from Tim O'Reilly (based on his proximity to Web 2.0 etc..) in relation to his view that the NYT's Web 3.0 = Collective Intelligence Harnessing aspect of his Web 2.0 meme.

My response is dumped semi-verbatim below:

Tim,

A few things:

  1. We are in an innovation continuum
  2. The Web as a medium of innovation will evolve forever
  3. Different commentators have different views about monikers associated with these innovations
  4. To say Web 3.0 (aka the Data Web or Semantic Web - Layer 1) is what Web 2.0's collective intelligence is all about is a little inaccurate (IMHO); Web 2.0 doesn't provide "Open Data Access"
  5. Web 2.0 is a "Web of Services" primarily, a dimension of "Web Interaction" defined by interaction with Services
  6. Web 3.0 ("Data Web" or "Web of Databases" or "Semantic Web - Layer 1") is a Web dimension that provides "Open Data Access" that will be exemplified by the transition from "Mash-ups" (brute force data joining) to "Mesh-ups" (natural data joining)

The original "Web of Hypertext" or "Interactive Web", the current "Web of Services", and the emerging "Data Web" or "Web of Databases" collectively provide dimensions of interaction in the innovation continuum called the Web.

There are many more dimensions to come. Monikers come and go, but the retrospective "Long Shadow" of Innovation is ultimately timeless.

"Mutual Inclusivity" is a critical requirement for truly perceiving these "Web Interaction Dimensions" ("Participation" if I recall). "Mutual Exclusivity" on the other hand, simpy leads to obscuring reality with Versionitis as exemplified by the ongoing: Web 1.0 vs 2.0 vs 3.0 debates.

BTW - I enjoyed reading Nick Carr's take on the Web 3.0 meme, especially his "tongue in cheek" power-grab for the rights to all "Web 3.0" Conferences etc. :-)