Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) More than 3,500 domestic and foreign participants shared their experiences at an international conference on developing second-generation Internet services Tuesday in Taipei.
The conference on "Web 2.0," one of the hottest topics in the IT world in recent years, invited founders and managers from well-known companies such as flicker, TechCrunch, Saleforce.com and Bubbleshare to share their expertise in future Internet trends and development.
"Web 2.0," a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2004, refers to second-generation of innovative Internet-based services -- such as social networking sites and communication tools -- that provide new ways for people to collaborate and share information online.
"The revolutionary Internet application of Web 2.0 has drastically changed the current business competition format and is expected to have a great impact on the development of Taiwan's industries and people's way of life. It's why the Ministry of
Economic Affairs (MOEA) has organized the event," said MOEA vice minister Shih Yen-shiang.
The Internet was a "one-way Web" in 1997 and will become a "two-way Web" in 2007, said Michael Arrington, Founder and CEO of TechCrunch, a highly respected Web 2.0 technology analysis Web site, on the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0.
Regarding the key aspects of Web 2.0, Arrington said it treats the Web as a platform, using data as the driving force. Its architecture is based on participation, has a great deal of network effects and has transformed an era of Web sites into Web services.
Managers from flickr, Saleforces.com, and Bubbleshare also briefed the audience on the business model and operations of Web 2.0 services.
Representatives from successful Taiwanese Web 2.0 companies, such as Wretch, iPartment, HemiDemi and PChome Online shared their experience with participants as well.
The two-day conference concludes Wednesday after an invitation-only workshop, which will focus on technology and cooperation opportunities.