The Promise of the Semantic Web 3.0

Predictions of a Branch in the Web

Ever since the early days of the Internet users had dreams of unfettered access to the information that they really wanted. The question itself is always being reinvented and rephrased in the context of new technologies. The technologies are then marketed to an appropriate group of influencers who will create the uptake of the new technology. From the marketing point of view it is not strictly necessary to have a new technology to have a new marketing campaign. In fact, given the angst that introducing a new technology can create, I'm sure that many marketing professionals would prefer to market a tried and proven technology.

A classic example of this has been the marketing of "Web 2.0" , which appears to have been successful. Indeed I saw a requirement for nice shiny "Web 2.0" buttons from an end user who was obviously no fool, and had seen through to the essentials. Many people are looking forward to "Web 3.0" with bright eyes and a level of gullibility beloved of salesmen the world over.

Web 3.0 could well be a branch in the road for the Web where the consumer web is recognized as a separate beast with all the hallmarks of media hype of the past, like the gramophone, radio and television. The other branch will be the semantic branch where 21st Century business will be evolved. The biggest issue is that the Web 3.0 will have to be understood by business in business terminology. This has been achieved to a degree with online store products, but much of this relies on a high level of human interaction. The marketing is out there with business to business, and its acronym 'B2B', the reality is that the check is still in the mail and the invoice is still in the inbox. For business the challenge of Web 3.0 will be to find providers who will offer a full integrated cost effective solution to B2B requirements. This will be the truly semantic web, where a business can administer a supply chain that communicates transparently with other businesses in a cost effective manner.