Web 3.0 learning

Growing machine intelligence (Source: Geralt, goo.gl/JrjjQI, under CC0 Public Domain licence)

The nature of web 3.0

While web 1.0 refers to the original informational web, and web 2.0 refers to the social web, the term web 3.0 refers to the currently evolving version of the web. Although the term is associated with the inventor of the web, Tim Berners-Lee, there is as yet no fully agreed upon definition of web 3.0.

Semantic web > Most commonly, web 3.0 is referred to as the semantic web or the intelligent web. The underlying concept is that as artificial intelligence (AI) – and notably generative AI – improves and our devices become smarter, they will increasingly be able to read, collate and integrate information, enabling them to give intelligent responses to our questions, and to customise information and notifications to our needs. These ideas are captured in this old but succinct and informative definition of web 3.0:

It is the “executable” phase of Wor[l]d Wide Web with dynamic applications, interactive services, and “machine-to-machine” interaction. Web 3.0 is a semantic web which refers to the future. In Web 3.0, computers can interpret information like humans and intelligently generate and distribute useful content tailored to the needs of users.

Source: WittyCookie. (2012, Jun. 4). What are the major differences among web 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0?  https://goo.gl/URvzve

The notion of the semantic web often entails an increase in personalisation, based on accumulated data about individuals’ interests and preferences. We can see the beginnings of a shift in this direction in the personalised search results returned by Google, or in the personalised newsfeeds on Facebook and other social media platforms which filter posts based on users’ actions and interactions. A greater shift in this direction is likely with the rollout of AI-based search.

Geospatial web > While the emphasis is most frequently placed on the semantic web, mention is sometimes made of the concept of the geospatial web, involving 3D graphics like those seen in virtual worlds or even gaming environments, potentially linked to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). There has been some discussion of the relationship of web 3.0 to the concept of the Metaverse, as promoted by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and others.

Decentralised web > Another, more recent usage of the term web 3.0 – sometimes linked to a related but more specific concept known as Web3 (rather than ‘web 3.0’) – focuses on the emergence of a decentralised web. This web may be underpinned by technologies like Blockchain, though this idea is still controversial.

It may be that some or all of the elements associated with these three conceptions of web 3.0 will eventually merge together, along with mobile elements. One recent description suggests web 3.0 will have 8 core features:

1. Semantic Web
2. Artificial Intelligence
3. 3D Graphics
4. Connectivity
5. Ubiquity
6. Blockchain
7. Decentralized
8. Edge Computing

Source: Expert.ai. (2022, Apr. 8). The 8 defining features of web 3.0. https://www.expert.ai/web-3-0/

Such developments are illustrated in this example from everyday life set slightly in the future, which also highlights the potential role of mobility and mobile devices in the web 3.0 ensemble:

In Web 3.0, while driving, you can ask your automotive assistant a question: “I would like to watch a romantic movie and eat Japanese food.” The search engine embedded in the car assistant provides you with a personalized response that considers your location, suggesting the closest cinema that matches your request and a good Japanese restaurant by automatically consulting the reviews on social media. Then it might even present a 3D menu from the restaurant on the display.

Source: Expert.ai. (2022, Apr. 8). The 8 defining features of web 3.0. https://www.expert.ai/web-3-0/

Some references on web 3.0 worth checking out include the following. However, bear in mind that, as noted above, conceptions of web 3.0 (and its relationship to Web3) vary:

• • Metaverse vs. Web 3.0: An Explainer (Enterprise, 2022)
  • The Next Phase of the Internet is Coming (Adrian Ma/The Conversation, 2023)
  • Web 3.0 Explained: A Comprehensive Guide (Simplilearn, 2023)
  • Why Web 3.0 is Important in Today’s Evolving World (NextUpgrad Web Solutions/LinkedIn, 2023)
  • What is Web 3.0 … ? (video) (PixelPulse, 2024)

Problematic issues are already beginning to arise with web 3.0. Some of these are similar to the issues with web 2.0, regarding for example the spread of misinformation and disinformation, surveillance and privacy concerns, attentional overload, exploitation of human labour and the environment, and the concentration of power in the hands of a small number of corporations; for more details, see the web 2.0 page of this site. Many of these issues are likely to be accentuated by web 3.0, including those associated with misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes, exploitation of humans and the environment, and concentrated corporate control, while additional issues are also arising, for example around bias in the case of generative AI, and excessive personalisation, as in the case of AI-enabled search; for more information, see these pages on this website.

Learning with web 3.0

Semantic web, generative AI & personalised learning > While web 3.0 is still evolving, we are beginning to see the educational potential of the semantic web. This includes the ability to leverage AI support, through software such as ChatGPT, for learning tasks and teaching tasks, as well as the ability to make effective use of AI-based search; for more information, see the generative AI page of this website. We are also likely to see more automated personalisation of learning: in the future we may well become accustomed to a certain amount of low-level personalised learning being handled by AI agents or virtual assistants, before notifications or requests for additional assistance are sent to teachers in the case of struggling or at-risk students. This is linked to the developing areas of big data and learning analytics.

Geospatial web & extended reality > As regards the educational implications of the geospatial web, see the pages of this website dedicated to virtual worlds, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR); note that the latter two belong to the larger category of extended reality (XR). Possibilities range from exposing students to immersive recordings or simulations of locations, events and phenomena (VR) to encouraging place-based learning in real-world contexts outside the classroom (AR).

Last update: February 2024.