21 Web 2.0 predictions for 2010

2009 will go down as a significant year for Lifes Good, the commencement of this unique blog.  Initially established for the final subject of a university masters, it will continue as a place where interesting, relevant articles are posted relating to “Web 2.0“, “Enterprise 2.0” and any other discoveries in the online blogossphere where I feel there is a lack of quality information.  Importantly, I will attempt to put a positive spin on most topics and attempt to bring a smile to the reader…and now for my predictions for Web 2.0 in 2010

• Google Wave will begin to establish itself as a relevant, effective useful innovative tool – with many users initially using it as an email alternative, with future benefits integrated with new web 2.0 products
• Twitter will attract a significant takeover bid from an established technological company, not necessarily from a Web 2.0 established business
• Layar will become one of the leaders in augmented reality, and associated applications/web sites will use this or similar products to innovate on the web
• A new application will emerge in which antonyms to “Like”, “Recommend”, “Tag”, “Favourite”, “This is good”,  or “Digg” will be significant
• Wikis will become accepted and commonplace in large organisations and government
• Sharepoint will continue to attempt to be all things web 2.0, and fail, continuing as a word document repository with too many confusing or poorly performing functions
• Enterprise mashups involving relatively new technology will become common place
• Previously secure and confidential company data will be publicly released as organisations search for new business opportunities
• A social network aggregator will emerge with a feature or innovation which will lead to wide adoption and acceptance
• EC2′s commencement of a spot market for cloud hosting, will herald a hosting market similar to the commodities spot market today
• Mobile platforms will become essential for success of new and innovative web 2.0 applications
• The Twitter API will continue to assist in innovative expansions of the Twitter platform, leading to wider acceptance in the business community
• MySpace will continue to decline in user numbers, but will eventually stabalise as a niche music networking site with assistance from an increasing developer network
• Collective intelligence and an “Army of Davids” will increasingly be used by large sporting organisations and media organisations in marketing and consumer feedback
• User generated content will become increasingly relevant to businesses where customer service is one of their key business success measurements
• Acquisitions such as EtherPad will become common for exciting new Web 2.0 innovators
• Youtube will innovate in attempt to increase profitability and relevance
• Sharepoint 2010 will attempt to enter the social networking market, and create a new “type” of user which only have used Microsoft products in their lifetime
• public display of ROI of successful Enterprise 2.0 implementations will assist in broader adoption
• A significant security breach in a major social networking platform will occur, with broader repercussions

Many of these predictions will occur and  not be noticed by the majority of the population, while some may take several years to develop.  Significant advances in Web 2.0 adoption and use will occur in large business, most noticably in companies with Enterprise 2.0 as an acknowledged  part of their business plan.