What is web 3.0?
Web 3.0 is predicted to become the new paradigm of the internet, an extension of Web 2.0. Until this day there is still a huge debate around the existence of Web 3.0. Many argue that we have already entered this era, while others disagree and claim that it is still a long road ahead until we reach it. In order to understand what this hassle is all about, let’s take a look at the history of the web. How did it start, where are we now and what’s next?
The history of the web
Around the 1990s there was Web 1.0 which displayed content to the user but did not make it possible for them to interact with the websites. This way the web pages were more like digital documents displayed on the screen. The main programming language at that time was HTML.
Fast forward to the 2000s, new technologies like RSS and AJAX arrived and enabled users to interact with websites. This was the time when forums came to life and social networks started to appear on the web. The world became more connected. Web 2.0 was able to present content based on the queries of the users.
The actual challenges of Web 3.0
The next challenge for the web is to understand the data it presents, and here comes the idea of the Semantic Web. It is a technology to share, reuse, find and combine information by tagging and categorizing content. This extension of the actual web makes it possible to exchange data in a common format and uses a specific language to record how some of the data relates to real-life objects. All this data relating to real-life objects will be then linking to databases.
These databases will be then connected to other databases, that are containing data about the same real-life object. For example, the word “apple” can be related to the fruit itself or the tech corporation that created an iPhone. This is the way how we can create linked data:
This Semantic technology can be combined with Artificial Intelligence, more precisely, with Natural Language Processing (NLP), to make computers able to understand humans. Semantic technology is using Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to analyze text and associate meaning to the words. In the process, the algorithm identifies specific elements of the text and connects them with the grammatical and the logical role.
This process will help search engines to understand humans better, and provide users with much more relevant and faster results when it comes to searches. As semantic web technologies and Artificial Intelligence will be integrated with search engines, users will get more relevant search results. Even if they use long-tail search queries.
How will it work in real life?
Let’s take holiday planning as an example. You normally spend a lot of time searching for accommodation, restaurants, and activities, when planning your next vacay. Can be quite exhausting, right?
With Web 3.0, you will be able to use a complex search query like “I want to go for a holiday to Barcelona for a week, stay at a luxury hotel and visit some famous museums”. The search engine will analyze your query and provide you with organized results based on your query, like Google does today, just more detailed.
Seems perfect, but where is the catch?
Artificial Intelligence will help search engines to show personalized search results based on the user’s preferences. This personalized approach will feel like having a personal assistant when it comes to search.
There are quite many definitions of Web 3.0 but one thing gathers them all – it will be very intelligent. It will be a large network where people, applications, concepts, and data will all be connected. As everything will be linked, it raises the concern about security and privacy. The web search can work most efficiently if it knows the user’s preferences and all the things what he or she is interested in. But what could be the technology that can help us stay secure in the Web 3.0 era?
Blockchain to make Web 3.0 possible
By using semantic blockchain technology we can make it possible to interconnect and store smart-data it in a secure way with smart contracts. By using a decentralized ledger in the form of decentralized apps (dApps), many different applications would be able to run on their own without a central server. With the use of dApps, it would be possible to track specific information and connect it to other dApps responsible for other information.
For example, somebody is owning a car with the name “Gary Rodgers” (random person). He can register his name to an application, which communicates with another application responsible for car owners. These two applications would be able to communicate the data with a third application which is responsible for insurances. All this data could also be connected to Web 3.0, to show the best possible insurance options for the car owner in the area where he lives and for the car that he owns. It would be a great way to make use of semantic technologies and make use of data in a smart and convenient way.
Now I know how it should work, but what will it look like?
As we dive deeper into the Web 3.0 era, being online will be an even more indispensable part of our everyday life. If you want to stay competitive with your website you should take some important factors into consideration.
First of all, people will be able to reach any information on the Internet from everywhere. Then you should probably consider the optimization on all devices (mobile, tablet or desktop). There are many options to do it but the two most useful methods are adaptive and responsive design. For this purpose, the cross-platform development tools will provide a great opportunity to serve users’ needs.
Developers will also create more 3D graphics with WebGL. This way websites will provide a more immersive and interactive experience to users. This innovation will lead to further development in UX and UI on the websites. It will contribute to creating a modern look for the websites, but at the same time, readability and clear design will be the most important. The main focus will be on simplicity and content, not necessarily on the design elements of the website.
Conclusion
It is still not clear how long will it take to reach a fully functioning Web 3.0. We don’t know when will all the websites contain semantic data to help the Web 3.0 search engine. But one thing is certain – Web 3.0 will change our online lives, and it will make it more simple and convenient to search for anything online while keeping our sensitive data secure. Fun times!
