Web 2.0 Expo: Keynote address by Tim O’Reilly

2Apr09

Tim O’Reilly, co-founder of the Web 2.0 Expo and the person who coined the term Web 2.0, entered the stage to a rock star-like welcome for the first Keynote presentation of the event.

Tim wanted to talk about Web 2.0 five years on. He said that the term Web 2.0 was meant to explain what happened after the original dotcom crash; the second life of the Internet. It was never meant to signify new stages, like Web 3.0 and so on.

So what’s next for the web?

Tim O'Reilly

O’Reilly is totally fascinated by the way the web is beginning to incorporate sensor technology, in the way the iPhone now allows you to have a more sensory, interactive experience. He feels this will spread rapidly throughout the Web and can be used for good.

O’Reilly explained that the Web is now growing up. It has moved beyond a curiosity, and a play thing to a serious aspect of work and life. It is now being used for greater good of the world and humanity.

Exmples:
Google Flu Trends mapping application can help the medical fraternity better model and predict the spread of flu.

IBM – A smarter planet project.

Look at how Obama harnessed audience and technology to get elected.

O’Reilly then introduced a new formula for how he feels the web and world are interacting for greater effect:

Web 2.0 + World = Web Squared

Web squared illustrates the viral and exponential effect of the world using the Web.

Finally, O’Reilly implored the Web community to apply Web thinking, technology and dynamics to address the World’s great problems.

•    Could we create a smart energy grid using web techniques?
•    Can we start licensing code rather than reinventing / rebuilding constantly in order to reduce Government Spending. Use technology to make a difference within the Governmental process.

He gave an example of www.patientslikeme.com which allows reporting on medical practices by the patients around the world in real time in order to save on unnecessary and expensive research, and to accelerate research results from drug trials etc

O’Reilly advises all Web technology and computing should endeavour to build a simple system and let it evolve. IBM, Web and Twitter started simple and evolved rapidly and successfully by letting others have access and build off their original platforms.

He summed up the collective web experience: We need to create more value than we capture.

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