A new blog called Web Service Finder has done a Map of the Web 2.0 World and opened it up for editing on a Wiki. This is by the same blog that did a directory of APIs and Web Services – currently featuring 105 APIs and 27 examples. Chris Law, who helped found the social networking site Tribe, is the guy behind it.
It’s great to see all these API resources coming out – I pointed to ProgrammableWeb’s directory the other day.
I really like the Map of the Web 2.0 World. Chris has categorized it as follows:
Data Silos:
Sites that create or originate content but do not share them openly are what I call data silos. Many of the “Web 1.0” companies fall into this area. Examples include: Match.com, Career Builder,
Web Service Providers :
Sites that expose functionality and data openly are what I call web service providers.
Examples: Google Maps, eBay API, Flickr
Data Silo Aggregator:
Sites that unify data from separate data silos into one common view.
Examples: AP News Wire (offline), Indeed.com, Oodle
Web Services Aggregators:
Sites that unify separate web services and/or data silos.
Examples: Chicago Crime Guy, Weatherbonk, Craigslist/Google maps mashup
There’s a more detailed categorization on the Wiki. I think there’s some synergy with my categorization and mapping of RSS Vendors – also on a JotSpot wiki. With all this categorization, mapping and directory-building going on, it shows that the Web 2.0 world is maturing and beginning to be fleshed out.
I also enjoyed Chris’ earlier post about his goals for the wiki. Although in it he wrote: “I haven’t managed to find a blog that focuses the discussion how the world changes once web 2.0 comes into existence.” Well this is actually what Read/Write Web has been doing for the past year and it’s one of the things I’m focusing hard on right now.
