Evolving Web Technologies
In the ever-changing digital landscape, the evolution of interactive technologies has been a driving force behind the transformative experiences we encounter on the internet. From the early days of static web pages to the dynamic and interactive web applications we have today, the continuous advancement of web technologies has not only shaped how we connect, communicate, and conduct business online but has also revolutionized the way we interact and engage with digital content using our senses (Sheridan et al., 2022).
We are seeing many technological advancements, such as quantum computing, 3D-printing, flexible transparent screens and artificial intelligence. These innovations and advancements are changing how we use and interact with technologies online. Leading to new interaction paradigms, emotional data-driven design, and designs that employ ‘no interfaces’ that explore new human experiences. Experiences that transform our digital interactions into immersive and multisensory journeys (Kenwright, 2018).
One significant catalyst for change in recent years has been the advent of Web 3, a concept that represents the next phase in the evolution of the internet, emphasizing user-centric experiences and pushing the boundaries of sensory engagement. This has included decentralized crowdsourcing platforms for collecting and visualizing 3D models (Lin et al., 2023). Not to mention, the metaverse, which has gained a lot of attention recently (Kshetri, 2022; Purcarea et al., 2022). A particular area of interest, touched on by Jin and Parrott (Jin & Parrott, 2021) was content generation and distribution in the era of web 3 technologies, especially with the advancements of artificial intelligence and machine learning models (Guzdial et al., 2022; Ravichandran & Ilango, 2023).
Today’s current Web 2 evolved out of the rise of social media, e-commerce, and cloud-based applications, while Web 3 introduces a paradigm shift that promises to redefine the internet as we know it, placing emphasis on the integration of multisensory experiences to create truly immersive and engaging digital worlds.
So, what exactly is Web 3, and how will it reinvent the internet in terms of interaction and userexperience? Web 3 can be understood as a decentralized and user-centric standard for the web, built on emerging technologies such as blockchain, decentralized networks, and cryptocurrencies. Unlike Web 2, which primarily focused on information sharing and limited user interaction, Web 3 envisions a future where our digital experiences will engage multiple senses, blurring the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds (Yu et al., 2022; Aria et al., 2023).
As we explore the distinctions between Web 2 and Web 3, we will delve into the key principles and architectural concepts that underpin the new standard, emphasizing how they contribute to enhanced interactivity, intuitive user-interfaces, and sensory stimulation. We will examine the decentralized nature of Web 3 and its potential to foster a more personalized, engaging, and immersive online environment, where users can interact with digital content through touch, sight, sound, and beyond.
Figure 1. Web 3 is inevitable, since it is driven by the inherent advantages of blockchain technologies offering enhanced security, privacy and data ownership, while promoting interoperability among different platforms and fosters collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity