From Dial-Up to NFT: The internet is changing
Whilst most of us born before 95’ will probably remember the word dial-up and regularly shouting “Get off the phone, mum” when attempting to send a two-line email, we’re probably not aware of what that stage of the World Wide Web was called. Prepared to be enamoured, because that was Web 1.0. Web 1.0 was like the dawning of the earth, rudimentary but a triumph in history, we thank you, AOL Lady, for making this new world a possible one.
With all technological advances, we are now lightyears from the basic, read-only model that Web 1.0 brought us. Today we are well within the clutch of Web 2, which most of us who subscribe to everyday connectivity know the ins and outs of - with the exception of some. But something else is happening now, something revolutionary and a little bit frightening. First appearing in 2006, Web 3.0 is the next step for the internet.
What is Web 3.0?
Dissimilar to Web 1.0 and 2, Web 3.0 has the ability to be read by robots - which is where AI and machine learning are pioneering the move over. Another important factor of this new typeface is the use of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and NFTs. The Metaverse is also playing a vital part in the application of Web 3.0, a new online space for collaborators, creatives and tech enthusiasts.
What are Web 1.0 and 2?
The World Wide Webs' debut. Web 1.0 largely composed of static HTML pages hosted on ISP-provided web servers or free web hosting providers. This phase also started the email revolution - where we were able to send and receive short lines of communication over a server.
Web 2.0 is the current phase of the internet we are accustomed to, consumers had been given the green light to connect, share and spend in new transformative ways. Web 2.0 is evolving every day - with more device compatibility than ever before, as well as user-generated content, such as comments and likes - we are increasingly reliant on Web 2.0.
“All these forms of the internet were and are useful for different reasons. But what made them so distinguished from one another, and what makes Web 3.0 separate from the rest?”
Web 1.0 gave us connectivity, opportunity, and hope for the future. Known as the read-only phase, the options with Web 1.0 were limited, however, it gave us access to resources that kickstarted the change in the way we collate information and contact people, it also gave techies a new playing field for what could be.
The advantages of Web 2.0 were unrivalled - opening up a wealth of opportunities for everyday internet users. Designed for user-generated purposes, Web 2.0 gave us the chance to engage, and share on a level unlike anything else. As the growth of Web 2.0 continued, we saw the likes of Facebook, and YouTube gaining popularity - creating a consumption for content culture.
Web 3.0 is an intelligent beast. The 'semantic web,' analyses and examines user data and behaviour, to provide a more personalised experience. It emerged as a result of harnessing the power of big data, AI and machine learning. It will be built using blockchain technology, which is the same technology that is used by cryptocurrency.
How did the evolution of the web change us?
As we engage more and more online through our mobiles, (aka tiny intelligent computers in our hands) there is a suggested evolution to how we have changed through the influence of online presence. Nowadays, we are driven by motives that were once non-existent. With access to communication being so much more tangible, we have the ability to transfer information back and forth all the time. Long gone are the need for telephone boxes and penpals - instant messages are the new normal.
It is common for people to spend hours on end using an array of social media platforms. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, for example, use our attention and engagement to sell ads or seek funding - not by accident, but by design. Much like how casinos are designed bearing no clocks or windows, social media feeds have become a bottomless pit of content - sucking us in.
“Much like how casinos are designed bearing no clocks or windows, social media feeds have become a bottomless pit of content - sucking us in.”
Research shows that getting texts, likes or messages is intrinsically rewarding, releasing dopamine. Our brain releases this chemical when good things happen, such as when we eat delicious food, when we have sex, and after we exercise.
Because of the virtual social life that social media platforms imitate, they elicit sentiments of contentment and satisfaction. Whilst these sentiments are fleeting, as the first high wears off, people seek out more. What’s more, with it as readily available to us as the touch of a button, it’s no wonder we’re addicted to this new phenomenon of communicating. And it doesn’t end there, phone use and social media popularity has given rise to a new wave of terminology used in the scientific field today. These include:
Nomophobia: The fear of going without your phone.
Textaphrenia: The fear you can’t receive or send texts.
Phantom vibrations: The feeling your phone is alerting you when it is not.
What does the future hold for Web 3.0?
Whilst we are still in the early stages of Web 3.0, investors poured $30 billion into cryptocurrencies in 2021 alone, and that number is set to rise. Tech businesses are finding increasing ways to use Web 3.0 as a safe space. Lego Group teamed up with Epic Games forming a long-term relationship to define the future of the metaverse in order to make it safe and enjoyable for children and families. They intend to design a space from the outset with the well-being of kids in mind.
Other interesting movements in Web 3.0 see JPMorgan Chase, one of the world’s oldest, and largest financial institutions, setting up a bank in the Metaverse. The bank is located in the Metajuku Mall in Decentraland - just one of the virtual lands where users can interact, play games, buy property, look at art, and shop. JPMorgan claims that the new space in Metajuku Mall will start to see services like credit, mortgages, and rental agreements. It doesn’t end there either, popular fashion brands are tapping into the Metaverse - so don’t worry, even when you’re working from home in your pyjamas, you can dress well virtually.
Is this insanity? Or are we are slowly accepting this to be the new normal?