Mashup -web application hybrids the idea-factories of Web 2.0

Posted on June 4, 2006
Filed Under I'm lovin it |

Outsourcing the company’s idea-factories and basic development to bright minded individuals – phase 2 of Web 2.0?

So phase one of Web 2.0 was all about user-generated content. People all over the world were and are still invited to share their thoughts and their knowledge to enhance all sorts of applications on the web. Sure this hasn’t been sort of a “brand new idea” if you think about Amazon and its user reviews, that their platform is carrying since almost a decade. But on the one hand the users got less afraid of moving form just consumption to active participation in its various forms on the other hand the applications are way easier to use.

The companies engaging the users by providing open platforms in the right context did and do profit a lot of these “matured” users.

Since some time now Web 2.0 seems to have entered a new phase. Everywhere so called mashups pop out of the nothing into the websphere.

Content-syndication and easy to access APIs are the cornerstones of this evolution. Just like when people started blogging some years ago you can almost smell that this is going to be a game-changer in terms of how the web will evolve.

fascinating mashup based on amazon data / liveplasma.com

It’s just foolhardy to think that only the major players do know how to combine and display content. Sure their environment gives them a head-start, as they do have all sorts of expertise already in the house.
But this proposition is also the weak point of these giants – they are just way to slow.

“Too many cooks spoil the broth/mash.”

Opening up the doors to invite users to create applications based on already existent technical environment – and even more important – providing easy to use and handle able interfaces will be the key to success in this new phase of the web.

Why? Because as a company you will always have to think at least about the following:

Will a broad range of users like it and use it?
How do we monetize this new application?
Does this application fulfil at least the basic requirements we have to meet as a professional company?
Will this application/hack hurt our brand?

And so on and so forth …

The one big player out of the GYM (Google/Yahoo/Microsoft) who will adopt these tendencies in the best way will lead the crowd to the next step in web evolution.

So who is it going to be?

Perhaps Google – cause of providing the best technical interfaces today.
Perhaps Yahoo! – cause of the almost unlimited source of structured content and singed up users
Perhaps Microsoft – cause of their immense knowledge about desktop applications and the ability to integrate mashup-interfaces to their products.

Its hard to even guess who will win the race - but for sure the race has already started - and it will be exiting to watch and participate.

At least one winner already stands - the user.

Some starting points - if you got your own ideas:

Technorati Tags: mashup, web 2.0, google, microsoft, yahoo, maps, amazon, map24, api, evolution