Evolution of the Internet

Early Internet (Pre-2000s)

User Interaction: Passive
- Users mostly viewed content created by others.
- Examples: GeoCities pages, message boards, online guest books.
Content and Design
- Simple web pages with minimal interactivity.
- Limited support for CSS, Dynamic HTML, etc.
- Reliance on spinning GIFs and topical directories.
Term: Often referred to as the Web 1.0 era (although not known as such at the time).

User Interaction: Active
- Users contribute more to content creation.
- Rise of social media platforms: Myspace, Facebook.
- Online shopping sites like Amazon engage users dynamically.
Technological Advances
- JavaScript and AJAX enable asynchronous page updates.
- Move from using proprietary plugins (e.g., ActiveX) to more standardized technologies.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Shift from static software licenses to dynamic, continuously updated services.
- Monetization of services by companies like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Adobe.

Web 3.0 (Blockchain)
- Concept: Decentralized services using blockchain.
- Aim: Reduce dependency on large corporations.
- Status: Still more of a vision than a widespread reality.
Semantic Web
- Content designed to be more machine-readable through tagging.
- AI’s Role: Extracts information efficiently, reducing the need for manual tagging.
AI-Dominated Web
- Concept: Internet driven by centralized AI services.
- Philosophically opposite to blockchain, focusing less on decentralization and privacy.
Unclear Future
- No clear successor to Web 2.0 yet.
- Competing definitions and visions for what comes next.