Here's my presentation 'What is Web 2.0' from the WITI Conference in Boston last week.

I've given an attempt at defining the controversial term:
"Web 2.0 refers to the second iteration of the web, powered by broadband and mass-access, that has led to the generation of web applications that emphasize user participation and interaction, user-generated content in multiple form, smart design, and online connection between people."

I described the effects of Web 2.0:

• Content Has Been Freed (Easily Syndicated)
• Communication Has Been Democratized


• Businesses Can Be Built With Less Money
• Customers Have Been Empowered
• Installed Enterprise Software is Being Challenged through On-Demand Software

Some key principles:

• In Web 2.0, content is freed from format – so you don’t need to know code


• Content can come in every form (video, audio, text, pictures)


• And it can be distributed (syndicated) through XML (extensible markup language) and RSS (Really Simple Syndication)
• Web 2.0 is about people


• People, with broadband, become the creators


• It’s about enabling community, participation and engagement


• It’s about freeing content through syndication


• It’s about Democratizing Communication


• It’s about transparency

The influence on design:

• Buttons are bigger


• More icons are used


• Plenty of whitespace


• Text is bigger


• Fonts are different (Trebuchet MS and Georgia are in, Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman are out)


• Layouts are centered

The core technologies:

• CSS/XHTML
• PHP
• AJAX
• Ruby on Rails
• Java
• MySQL
• OpenAPIs
• Linux

• Focus on Usability and Smart Design
• Allow Customer/User Participation With Your Company
• Build Passionate Customers Through Well Designed Communities That Allow Interaction