Web 2.0 for designers

In days of Web 1.0 authors enough limited quantity{amount} created webs - pages for the big number of readers. In result people received the information, directly visiting{attending} a source. However in due course all is more and more people have started not only to read, but also to write to Networks. The effect has turned out rather interesting - was suddenly formed too much information for acquaintance. Began simply physically impossible to visit numerous sites even if they and are noteworthy. Then also it became clear, that paradigm Web 1.0 should change.

Welcome in Web 2.0 - vision of the Network in which the information is divided on mikro-chastichki which can be distributed{allocated} on tens domains. The network of documents was transformed to the Network of the data. We any more do not search for old sources of the information: now we try to find tools for a grouping mikro-chastichek information in a convenient kind.

These tools - interfaces Web 2.0 become the first boundary of design innovations.

Acknowledgement{Confirmation} to that already exists as RSS-aggregatorov, search engines, portals, every possible API and webs - services (XML-RPC, SOAP, etc.). Web 2.0 as « the Network as a platform » often is described, and we think of her as about a platform for interaction with the information, we start to see as she influences design. Imagine, that the information is given by various participants of process - the companies, individuals, the government - and which can be united one interface under one roof. For example, Amazon gives access to the database to everyone who will wish. For him{it} it is possible to make the own interface which in the greater measure satisfies your needs{requirements}. Important that submission of the information can be arranged for various needs.

It is possible to count 6 tendencies which characterize Web 2.0 for designers. We shall try prosummirovat` all these tendencies with brief examples.

Transition to a semantic marking and XML

One of the mainest features in understanding Web 2.0 is transition to a semantic marking which accurately describes the information to which she concerns. The most popular languages of marking HTML and XHTML basically are used for display of the information. For this purpose tags to which it is possible to apply styles CSS are intended. However for the description of the various information of the given tags does not suffice: we have only the elementary paragraphs, headings, lists and, roughly speaking, all. And in Web 2.0 such descriptions not only are possible{probable}, but also crucial!

As an example it is possible to result format RSS/XML for association of the information in the convenient form. It is a simple way to inform up to readers of a message about new materials on a site. It is necessary to subscribe only on RSS in the program for job with the similar data.

Granting a web of services

At an early stage of development of a network when still very few people thought of a semantic marking, sites represented assemblies of pages. Pages were either completely static, or interactivities somehow animated for giving. The general{common} method for advertising sites was their positioning as special "places" - the Network as the virtual world with the shops and portals.

At the end of 90, and approach of XML-technologies and webs - services is especial in the beginning of 21-st century began to change gradually design and the device of sites. XML-technologies have allowed the information to become the general{common} and accessible to various systems, and webs - services have provided interfaces to "interiors" of sites. Thus, the visual interface for a data access has turned in program (API).

Quite good examples of webs - services - sites eBay and Amazon. Their database is accessible to each programmer who in forces to write the interface for job with API.

Transformation of the information: from « as when » in « who and what for »

Web-design of times Web 1.0 represented creation of a site as "transcendental object". But the information cannot remain in the unique place any more - if not to go against the nature of a social Network and to not close her{it} on the deputy. Web-design Web 2.0 should create any more sites, and the certain environment controlled by events. And it is not casual, that RSS began one of key kirpichikov. He allows to receive the information in aggregatore at any time without external design. Search engines also can give results of search in this format.

As the information now flows a free stream in RSS-channels, designers should think of how correctly to give the information, instead of sites.

The updated navigation and the importance of the information

As a result of transformation of the information she can be read far from the source. Thus, the most part of navigation which is used for access to the certain information, can be inaccessible, for example in aggregatorakh.

One of by-effects of it will be, that sources and ways of reception of the helpful information will constantly vary, and users will not know, where her{it} to find. Fortunately, aggregatory have the answer to this question: they can watch{keep up} that, that the user does{makes}. Writing down those mikro-chastichki information which the user looks through more often, aggregator can predict, what information can be necessary in the future. As an example it is possible to result services Del. icio. us, Blogdex.

The circuit of calculation of the importance of the information incorporated in their basis helps users to find something new on other, unknown sites, at all not visiting{attending} them. The most popular ways of navigation will grow from behaviour of users, and to not be created by someone specially for this purpose.

The metadata and the communities creating social bases of knowledge

One of features Web 1.0 which, appear, will change everything, was an opportunity to change the publication at any time. In the Network there are no such typographical concepts, as "edition" or "seal". There is only a site and his{its} current status. We have already got used to such state of affairs, and the optimist can hope, that the information in the Network to become only it will be better in due course: will be added metagiven (the data on the data), descriptions become deeper, names more precise and links exhaustive.

That we see in Web 2.0, left much further it and users can add the own metadata. For example, the same keywords which can be added to publications on different sites - communities. It is interesting to observe of the tendencies shown by comparison of keywords of a plenty of users also. It is possible to find much about what we even did not suspect.

Displacement to programming: division of structure and style

In days of Web 1.0 existed two stages of web-design. Earlier designers used animated a picture, the enclosed tables in the most different combinations. Has become fashionable CSS which has enabled to separate style from structure later. But even after that the emphasis was still on visual design: it was the basic way of attraction of attention.

World Web 2.0, however, is not defined{determined} any more as "place", and is not based on one only visual style. Unique currency Web 2.0 - XML, therefore a word and sense is more important than appearance. The information became mobile and accessible program methods. It is possible to say, that now we create design for machines, instead of for people.

What does it mean for webs - designers? It means, that designers should to start think of how it is better to submit the information. Designers should be friends of webs - services, API and RSS. Eventually, designers need to become a little bit programmers.

Total

Consequences Web 2.0 far-reaching. As well as all changes of paradigms, she influences how people will use the Network in the social, cultural or personal purposes. One of the most subject to this influence group are designers and developers of sites. And not only because they should raise the qualification but also and consequently, that they will need to realize the information as a part incorporated the whole, ehkosistemy if want, instead of separate island.