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Anything 2.0

2011 July 22

From Anything 2.0 it is sure that the 2.0 has been used for diverse ideas. The main purpose of using 2.0 as a suffix has been to show participation between web administrators and the readers of the website. Just as the .com also had its effect in having some businesses adding .com to their business names, the “e” for electronic also had its own time. I think the ‘e’ formerly ‘e-‘ started with email and then we have elearning, ecommerce, ebusiness, escience etc. This show how einnovative (e-innovative) or innovative 2.0 we can be, to show our presence in the “new thing”.

The addition of prefixes, or suffixes to terms are forms of participation. These additions to “anything” are like comments from the public (critics). In the form of interviews or lectures, some of the inventors (creators) of these prefixes and suffixes have responded to the critics, and also the general public (spectators). The concept of Long Tail also has its effect on Anything 2.0 because as time goes by, new words keep coming up and joining the “Anything 2.0”

In chapter 5 of Library 2.0: a guide to participatory library service, Casey and Savastinuk gave two elements that make a service Library 2.0 as 1) constant change and 2) participation. Though technology was not included, but they mentioned that “technology is the tool that the administration employs to help them and their customers carry on a dialogue in the easiest manner possible.” I would include Technology 2.0 (Web 2.0) as a necessary element. So, my litmus test for services that are Anything 2.0 would include constant change, participation, and technology 2.0.

2 Responses leave one →
  1. July 22, 2011

    Doyin,
    You always have interesting well written posts. I agree with your assessment of how 2.0 is/ should be used when naming information services. I do find though that 2.0 is often overused and misused (ie. not encouraging collective participation).
    Also, 2.0 is more time period sensitive than some other modifiers (like “e”). I think Anything 2.0 will fade out of usage and become outdated much sooner than eAnything.

  2. July 23, 2011

    Hi Doyin,

    Excellent post! I never thought of a similar phenomenon happening 10-15 years ago with the “e” prefix.

    However, I have to disagree on the part about technology. To me, “2.0” isn’t about innovation. The suffix “2.0” should tell the user that the institution is moving towards a participatory model, not technological innovation. Michelle Ramos’ thread “Win times infinity?” in the “2.0 suffix in information organizations” discussion board is very interesting. It also links to blogs that are extremely helpful.

    Levine, through a requote by Lankes, reminds us that “libraries should focus on the phenomena made possible by the technology, not the technology itself”. 2.0 doesn’t necessarily imply innovation. Instead, The Librarian in Black believes that “Library 2.0 is a state of mind. We need to work to meet changing user needs. We need to trust our users.”

    “Library 2.0:Not just for Users” by Jenny Levine:
    http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2010/02/24/library-2-0-not-just-for-users.html

    “Organization 2.0” by Sarah Houghton-Jan:
    http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2010/04/org2dot0.html

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