Fundamental Concepts of Internet and Web 2.0 Technologies

Network Fundamentals

The Internet: History and Evolution

The Internet was born in the U.S. in the early 1970s from a network created by the U.S. Army called ARPANET. (Sources: http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/; http://wiki.startup2.eu/index.php/Main_Page).

The Internet is not controlled or maintained by any single entity, which provides both its main advantages and disadvantages. Every person connecting is free to set the tone or ideology that will be used. While we previously focused on the Internet generally, the current discussion centers on Web 2.0 and the Social Web, driven by the continuous emergence of new services.

Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0

The characteristics of Web 1.0 involved a server sending information to clients, determining which clients could access services (a centralized model). Now, with Web 2.0, this trend is diminishing. Information emitters are increasingly becoming receptors (P2P or Peer-to-Peer). This shift demands larger bandwidths, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). If bandwidth is insufficient, network lines collapse.

Key Web 2.0 Services

• Wiki

  The term comes from the Hawaiian wiki-wiki, meaning "doing things quickly and easily." In computing, it refers to the collaborative editing of websites by multiple people. Example: Wikipedia.

• Blog (Web Log)

  Originally named "web-log," it is often translated as a virtual diary where users express opinions and make comments. User involvement often depends on the blog owner's settings. The difference between a blog and a web log is primarily linguistic. If it includes photographs, it is a photoblog; if it includes videos, it is a videoblog. Example: Blogger.

• Photo and Video Albums

  Websites that offer platforms for placing photos (e.g., Flickr) and videos (e.g., YouTube).

• RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

  Sites that allow users to download news feeds from sources like newspapers or radio stations. Example: RSS El País.

• Podcast

  Allows users to receive news or content in audio format, often used to listen to delayed radio programs. It is also a useful format in teaching, especially for languages. If the content includes video, it is called a videocast. Example: Cadena SER.

• LCEMS (Learning Content and Management Systems)

  Learning systems used by educational institutions, such as universities, to implement distance learning. Example: Moodle.

• Geolocation and Georeferencing

  1. Geolocation

     Websites that host maps. If additional information, known as metadata, can be added to these maps (e.g., GISS road programs), this is geolocation.

  2. Georeferencing

     The association or location tagging of a photo. Programs allow uploaded photos to contain additional information, such as where they were taken. Example: Google Maps.