After reading “What is Web 2.0?” by Tim (not Bill) O’Reilly, “Web 2.0 Storytelling” by Bryan Alexander, and the “Seven Things You Should Know About Creative Commons,” I decided sharing was their overarching theme.

Although I had never heard of Web 2.0 before this week, after learning about it I do actually remember using some Web 1.0 sites and programs. For example, my parents thought it was really modern and hip of them to buy me the Encyclopedia Britannica CD-ROM when I was in 3^rd grade. They believed that if it was on the computer I would want to spend hours reading an encyclopedia. They were wrong; even on a computer screen, reading an encyclopedia is still boring.

The Web 2.0 version of the encyclopedia is Wikipedia, which exemplifies the 2.0 mindset. Users create the pages of the online encyclopedia to share with other users. Usually pages contain links to other sites as well, allowing users to find the most pertinent information and use the internet more effectively.

In Web 1.0 there were a bunch of other sites that were informative and useful, but rather rigid and only made to serve one specific function. Web 2.0 allows for more interaction between its users. Users help create the sites and, through networking, build off each other’s ideas and knowledge. Web 2.0’s flexibility allows sites to serve multiple functions, unlike what was possible with Web 1.0.

Creative Commons is an example of Web 2.0’s sharing spirit and focus on the creativity of its users. People are able to specify that they wish their work to be shared with others, creating a network of people helping each other to disseminate knowledge and creativity. Sounds pretty nice to me!!