What is Web 3.0 and is it here yet?

What is Web 3.0? Now that we have become used to Web 2.0, Web engineers are slowing moving in the direction of a Web 3.0. Web 2.0 refers to user-generated content and an Internet platform where information and resources can be shared and collaborated among users. Some of the Web 2.0 applications include social networking sites, social bookmarking sites and wikis. Web 2.0 applications have made the Web more social.

The Internet is not static and ever changing, especially the technology that could be used. So a move in the direction of a Web 3.0 is almost inevitable. Web 3.0 basically refers to how web information will be better organized for users and will be known as the semantic web. There are many versions of what Web 3.0 will entail, but the semantic web is the most common one. The introduction of a Web 2.0 turned out to not be a rumor only, and has become a very powerful Internet platform. New Web 2.0 applications are still emerging almost on a weekly basis. It remains to be seen when the Web 3.0 will be adopted and used by the masses but my guess is that it will be sooner than we realize.

The table below depicts the evolvement of the Web:

So what does it mean if web content is organized better for easy access? It means that search engines will not only list search results for you but also analyze and search the Internet for the best results. Your computer will be able to read Web pages the same way as a human and the Internet will thus become a huge database. It will be like having a personal assistant who will be sorting and organizing all possible information that you will need by just typing in one query. Your Web 3.0 browser will also get to know the information that you will need so that you eventually will only have to type in a search query such as “What are my options to get a special on sports gear?” So before Web 3.0 could be introduced we might need faster computer technology but at the pace that new technology is being developed it could be soon enough. Google is already sorting search results based on users' preferences.

To me it means that deep web content will also be accessed thereby providing access to hidden information on the Web. This could be a very good development for better access to all information on the Web. However, if we are concerned about our privacy on the Web now, the introduction of Web 3.0 might even take less privacy a step further.