Web 2.0 affirms that you can develop a better application, faster, with a handful of developers who know
what they are doing. Conversely, nine mothers cannot make a baby in one month.

The most popular mashups and remixes follow a similar pattern. For example, Google Maps (which
kick-started the rich browser application movement) was developed by a very small company in
approximately two weeks. Productivity and, consequently, business impact is so high because developers
have the tools they need on hand, and because, at the end of the day, the developers know what
they’re doing.

Amazon as a company has adopted the Web 2.0 line of thinking with open arms. Having weathered the
dot-com bubble, it has its sights fixed firmly on the future, and is making great strides toward defining
the direction of its company and, to some degree, the Internet itself.

Amazon allows customers to review products, tag and categorize them, rate products, and even rate
product reviews by other customers.

The Web is alive and well and more compelling than ever. I once sat in a conference room where one
CEO likened the creation of the Internet to the discovery of fire. Now, even with my best propeller hat
firmly in place, I think fire was a little more significant. Nevertheless, there is a wealth of opportunity on
the Web for developers and business people alike.