What is Web 3.0?
It all started of with the idea of a machine that would add and subtract some numbers, and be efficient enough to produce reliable results. The drive to get to the point where human brain could be freed from the mundane job of handling the numbers. This idea of freedom had a strong flavor of improvement, and innovation was the only spice for this recipe.
The right use of this spice saw multiple accomplishments come from numerous minds. Whether it be the abacus or the Napier’s Bones, the Pascaline or the tabulating machine, they were all parts of the stairway to the modern world of computers and connectivity.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the computers are the by-product of the struggle of mathematicians. That something as common as calculators paved the way for computers that run half the world in the twenty first century.
From the bureaus of US Department of Defense, the idea of an interconnected network of computers, ARPANET was born. For faster communication between state entities as well as assets of the department, this network was a necessity of the modern time.
The last decade of the twentieth century saw the internet being available to general public, with people like Tim Berners-Lee working on the forefront of this new tech breakthrough.
The public was introduced to the first generation of internet, or more formally web 1.0, with the basic principle of delivering information from one computer to another. The aim was simple, the public demand negligible and the tools very limited. Web 1.0 set off with the idea of connectivity through telephone lines and dial-up modems. The developers and software engineers of the time only had html to make websites, thus the sites were predominantly text-oriented and graphics were not the main suite or even a key variable in many cases.
The twenty first century witnessed the birth of Web 2.0, when new methods and tools entered the arena of internet. From the improved database connectivity of AJAX to the combination of CSS with html, these proved to be huge leaps forward. Consequently, the internet was flooded with user-friendly websites and web apps, and for the first time, the online world was more colorful and interactive than ever.
Web 2.0 also brought in new levels of data connections, the bandwidths and speeds reached phenomenal levels. It was the second generation of internet that brought internet to every household and turned it into a necessity rather than a luxury. With Wi-fi and 3G connections on the scene, the world moved another inch closer to the ‘global village’.
The latter continues to power the world of internet today, but like a seasoned veteran, who’s started developing health issues. The arrival of web 2.0 undoubtedly induced people to move their work and socializing online. This very step brought the world closer and highlighted some points that needed serious thought.
If the internet is for everyone, shouldn’t everyone be safe from any potential threats? Do people need to protect their property online like in the offline world?
To answer this question, mankind requires a return to the old policy of looking at the needs of the hour and innovating accordingly. And the solution lies in change, a change to web 3.0.
By allowing the third generation of internet to flourish on grounds of user-data safety, and a paradigm shift from read-write to personal and portable online presence, we shall see The Semantic Web in action. If the world needs greater connectivity, it needs greater trust. A world of computers where every device, and person is always online, but never in harm’s way.
Web 3.0 shall put an end to the bloated databases of MNCs, to make data transfer a confidential process between the interacting parties.
Written By: Humza Noor
