All About the Internet

Introduction

Visit both:

• The Internet Timeline and 

• The World Wide Web Timeline 

Any surprises? Which was first? 

Consider this: 

The internet can exist without the World Wide Web, but the web cannot exist without the internet.

The Evolution of the WWW

Web 1.0 – “Read‑Only Web”

• Early version of the web with static pages and limited interaction.

• Users could read and navigate information, but not meaningfully interact or contribute content.

Web 2.0 – “Read‑Write Web”

• Evolved because users wanted to participate and contribute on the web.

• Introduced platforms where even non‑technical users could create or publish content (e.g., blogs, social networks).

• Marked by user interaction, social media, video sharing, and collaborative tools.

• Changed the web from passive consumption to an interactive, user‑generated experience. 

Web 3.0 – “Semantic / Executing Web”

• Extends the web to be read‑write‑execute, combining semantic markup with web services.

• Semantic markup aims to make data understandable to machines, reducing context gaps.

• Web services allow applications to communicate directly, enabling more intelligent information retrieval and context‑aware processing.

• Still evolving; not fully realized yet. Will it ever be?

Web 4.0 – “Mobile Web”

• Not described as a radical new version but as a mobile adaptation of existing web technologies.

• Connects all devices in real and virtual space in real‑time.

• Focuses on mobility and ubiquitous connectivity across platforms and devices. 

Web 5.0 – “Open, Linked and Intelligent / Emotional Web”

• Also referred to as a symbiotic web that goes beyond Web 4.0.

• Envisions a web that communicates with users like other humans, acting more like a personal assistant.

• The web can operate dynamically and intelligently.

• Emphasis on emotional interaction between humans and computers

• Example idea: systems that interact based on user emotions or facial recognition.