What is happening in Web 2.0 and even more in the new Web 3.0 is a technology shift that brings the user/costumer into the possession of having control over the interaction among users. As we move from web content to web application and further on to the Semantic web (Web 3.0), the bulk of user data and applications will reside in the network cloud. This shift of working with data happens to come due to a more inexpensive way of providing storage, software and hardware in the cloud. Another thing, which is important for the application-user is unlimited access to use applications – this happens to appear using Cloud 24/7/365. A third thing which supports the Web 2.0, Social Media and Cloud computing is the decreasing price of broadband. As the wireless connections grew, the Cloud Computing allows users and companies to pay for and use software and storage as needed. This type of software deployment is Software as a Service (SaaS). An important criteria, for both Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing and the growth of these is open standards and open source. The components for a Cloud solution, and the components used for supporting Web 2.0 clients and users are on many positions mutual or comparable. In the below chart you can see a range of what is mend to be important components for a service can be called Cloud and Web 2.0 services.
| Cloud Components | Web 2.0 and 3.0 Components |
| · Virtualized | · User controlled |
| · Automated | · Availability |
| · Standardized | · Scalability |
| · Location independent | · Device independence |
| · Scalability | · Open source |
| · Self serviced | |
In a Cloud environment, applications, data and software no longer exist on the client platforms, instead they are treaded as services and reside in the cloud. This will give companies living of licences a new challenge of how to keep the same revenue in the future. Innovation will be a code word for these companies and a much closer collaboration with their costumers, which will increase the use of Web 2.0 and 3.0 applications. Many of these applications will demand increased capacity of computer power and this will eventually expand the cloud to new dimensions. The advantage of cloud computing will be supported by the increased use of Web 2.0 and 3.0 applications. The cloud success will be very much depending of how;
| · Price | Licence pay will disappear and payments will be based on pay for services on usage. |
| · Simplicity | It is simple to use and set up, no resource management is needed. |
| · Reliability | Network and data are guaranteed to be reliably maintained, as experts are in play. |
| · Flexibility | Services can be partly outsourced and proprietary data can stay at costumers own site. |
| · Focus | Companies and consumers can focus on running their business rather than worrying about infrastructure set up. |
| · Collaboration | Since all the applications are on the cloud it becomes natural for consumers to collaborate on a common project or application |
There is tremendous potential for consumers to exploit the cloud computing technology. This potential will be even more interesting for consumers. The potential will expand when self contained, pre-packaged cloud solutions for the providing cloud companies are available. The “Cloud Burst” from IBM provides hardware, software, applications and middleware for these faster application development and deployment turn around time solutions. This is important to further expand the cloud vision and make it sustainable for consumers and companies.
A very interesting article concerning the interaction between Cloud and Social Media. But do a company need to take cloud into consideration only doing social media.
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