This post is meant to be a conversation generator and I hope it works, because I think it's time this converstaion began in earnest Is Web 2.0 Mature?

First, I'm going to define Web 2.0 as the proliferation of web applications that have sprung up in the past 5 years social utilities like MySpace and Facebook, instant publishing tools like Wordpress and Zhura, media conglomeration sites like Digg.com, video juggernauts like YouTube, and collaborative documentation tools such as mediawiki - and Softwares As Services (SAS) like SalesForce.com.   There are a few hundred other brand names and a few dozen other apps that I haven't mentioned, but you get the point, I hope.  

Second, by Mature, I mean are the tools/apps/services really capable of taking the next step of being usable to being Habitable.   Now, what the heck does that mean?   Well, being that it's my master's work, I'm going to give a brief description Usable means a software is capable of being used within its scope by a human being to accomplish the task that the software was designed to handle (hopefully); Habitable means something much more organic it essentially is about the software being nimble and flexible enough in its design to become a ‘habitat' where humans can exchange myriads of actions AND then be capable of quick, organic growth as the needs of the community of users change.

If that's long winded and possibly to esoteric or theoretical, well, I apologize.   With more space I could expand on the practicality of thinking Habitably while designing any given number of items from hardware to skyscrapers, from recycling plants to interior design, from software to laws.

Anyway, so, the question is "Is Web 2.0 Mature?"   And I'm asking because recently this topic is on my mind constantly.   It's my profession now and I'm using the tools and consulting on their use to a variety of companies from small to medium to large…and it's dawning on me that I don't think many of the tools really are Mature.   And let me qualify that I don't think they're useless or broken or even immature…I just think they can become something more significant.   Essentially I'm looking for most of our Web 2.0 tools to become Habitable environments that support true change.   Honestly, the last instance I can recall of a social utility having an incredible impact on real organic society is when the Kryptonite bike lock company had to endure radical business model change to deal with the impact of a very short video showing their lock being opened with a Bic pen tip in something like 10 seconds.

Certainly, sites like Digg and YouTube are tremendously successfully but are they mature?   What do they do other than facilitate the rampant spread of gigantic amounts of content?   Is there educational value?   Do they engender environments for significant and POSITIVE social change?   Are they Habitats where people can engage one another for real world change AND THEN grow/mutate in short beta cycles to keep   up with the unpredictable needs of human beings?  

I certainly think they can.   But in my experience thus far which is quite immersive in this field of thought and practice I don't think they've gotten there yet, and, more important, I don't see much real conversation going on about HOW to get them to maturity.   And that's why I'm writing this post.   I'd like a conversation to being here that can become a germ for a very significant topic.   Let's not pretend the government and legislatures and big business WILL be putting much more time, energy and money into regulating the Internet.   And that means restrictions over here, liberties over there…   Grass roots organizations need to vocalize a want that as these actions unfold, the primary objective be for the positive maturation of the very tools/apps that yoke together to become the web.   And my strong suggestion is that Habitability be a major focus of that conversation, both when speaking functionally and developmentally.

…okay…   That's a start.   I'll leave it there to foment for a while.   I hope to hear from you.   Peace…James