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I was recently reading an article written by usability expert Jakob Nielsen. Nielsen is a pioneer in user interface initiatives. Among many accomplishments, and a Ph.D. in human computer interaction, Nielsen first started publishing information about usability in the late 1980s.

Web 2.0 web sites definitely have distinct design features. When viewing a site, it’s fairly easy to distinguish among sites that have been designed using Web 2.0 trends and those that have not.

AJAX, rich Internet UIs, mashups, communities, and user-generated content can all be considered part of Web 2.0.

Web 2.0 ideas are pushing the envelope with the services that are offered to web users. But is Web 2.0 just a trend?

Nielsen, however, says that Web 2.0 technologies do more bad than good. Do I agree? Not necessarily.

I think Nielsen is putting all Web 2.0 innovations into a single category and not exploring the vast individuality of the millions of available, functional examples.

Nielsen says, “But it’s more common to find Web 2.0 ideas that either hurt users or simply don’t matter to users’ core needs.”

I agree. There are quite a few Web 2.0 ideas that, indeed, do not matter because many users may not find them useful. If a Web 2.0 idea does not matter to a user’s core needs, it will not be used. Users will move on.

But all Web 2.0 innovations are not meant to appeal to every audience. Many Web 2.0 functions are developed specifically for niche audiences. The idea of personalization is one reason why Web 2.0 technologies have caught on so well.

Nielsen says, “While the latter case might seem innocent, irrelevant website enhancements diminish profits because they indicate a failure to focus on those simpler design issues that actually increase sales and leads.”

Although there are many Web 2.0 ideas that never come to fruition. There are also many Web 2.0 ideas that do not gain user attention and do not survive. But there are also Web 2.0 ideas that are used extensively.

I think Nielsen is putting all of Web 2.0 into a can on this one. All Web 2.0 ideas that are used are not irrelevant. Many of them make task completion more efficient and appealing.

Many Web 2.0 design features are “simple.” Maybe “subtle” is a better word. I think subtlety is the key with design enhancements. Subtlety plays a big role in moving forward with design from what currently works to what will enhance a design.

Throwing big changes to users causes confusion. Moving forward with baby steps allows users to continue to feel comfortable in their enviroment.

Design aspects should seem natural to a user so that there is no question about what is supposed to be done.

Overall, I think Web 2.0 technologies have offered a great number of services to users and developers that have consequently made the Internet a more productive, efficient, and fun atmosphere.

Nielsen says, “… dangerous for your profits, that is. If you focus on over-hyped technology developments, you risk diverting resources from the high-ROI design issues that really matter to your users — and to your profits.”

Web 2.0 opens the door for idea innovation. It seems as though Nielsen’s standpoint for the advancement of Web 2.0 is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

If so, how do we progress web technology if we only stick to what has worked in the past?

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