Intro.md
1 # Web3: Background and Introduction 2 3 ## Purpose of the internet and arpanet 4 5 The purpose of the Internet, as initially conceived, was to create a network 6 of interconnected computers that could communicate with each other 7 seamlessly, regardless of their geographical location or differences in 8 hardware and software. This vision was driven by the need for secure and 9 efficient communication between researchers and scientists at different 10 institutions, particularly during the Cold War era.[^1][^2][^3] 11 12 --- 13 14 ## Web1: The Read-Only Web (1990-2004) 15 16 In the early 1990s, **Tim Berners-Lee** developed the protocols that would 17 become the World Wide Web at CERN in Geneva. His vision was to create open, 18 decentralized protocols that allowed information sharing from anywhere on Earth 19 [^4]. This first iteration, now known as **Web1**, was characterized by static 20 websites owned by companies, with minimal interactivity between users. 21 Individuals seldom produced content, leading to it being known as the 22 **read-only web** [^4][^5][^6]. 23 24 Web1 can be likened to a large, curated "walled garden" where users could 25 browse and consume content but had limited ability to interact or contribute. 26 It was similar to reading articles in a magazine, where the content was 27 presented without opportunities for feedback or engagement [^7]. 28 29 --- 30 31 ## Web2: The Read-Write Web (2004-Present) 32 33 The emergence of social media platforms marked the transition to **Web2**. 34 Starting around 2004, this phase allowed users not only to consume content but 35 also to create and share it. The web evolved from read-only to **read-write**, 36 enabling user-generated content and user-to-user interactions [^4][^5][^6][^8]. 37 38 Web2 introduced dynamic websites and applications that responded to user input, 39 leading to the rise of blogs, forums, and social media platforms like Facebook, 40 Twitter, and Instagram [^6][^7]. This interactivity created a more personalized 41 browsing experience. However, it also led to concerns over centralization, data 42 privacy, and the exploitation of user data by tech giants for advertising 43 revenue [^8][^9]. 44 45 ### Issues on Web2 46 47 Companies like Facebook and Google offered free services in exchange for user 48 data, which they packaged for advertisers to create targeted marketing 49 campaigns. This practice raised issues of data privacy and ownership, as users 50 did not have control over their content or benefit from its monetization 51 [^4][^8][^9]. Additionally, the algorithms used by these platforms often promoted 52 inflammatory content, leading to concerns about mental health, political 53 polarization, and the creation of new "walled gardens" controlled by a few 54 large corporations [^8][^9]. 55 56 --- 57 58 ## Web3: The Read-Write-Own Web 59 60 **Web3** represents the next evolution of the internet, focusing on 61 decentralization and shifting power from big tech companies to individual users 62 [^5][^6][^8][^10]. Coined by Ethereum co-founder **Gavin Wood** in 2014, Web3 63 envisions an internet where users have direct ownership over their digital 64 identity and assets, without the need for intermediaries or third parties 65 [^4][^6][^8][^10]. 66 67 Key principles of Web3 include: 68 69 - **Decentralization**: Ownership and control are distributed among users and 70 builders, rather than centralized entities [^4][^5][^6][^8]. 71 - **Permissionless Access**: Everyone has equal access to participate in Web3 72 without exclusion [^4][^5]. 73 - **Native Payments**: Web3 utilizes cryptocurrencies for online spending and 74 transactions, eliminating the need for traditional banking infrastructure 75 [^4][^8][^10]. 76 - **Trustlessness**: Operations are conducted using incentives and economic 77 mechanisms, not relying on trusted third parties [^4][^5]. 78 79 In Web3, users can participate in the governance and operation of decentralized 80 networks through tokens or cryptocurrencies, effectively becoming participants 81 and shareholders rather than just customers or products [^6][^8]. 82 **Decentralized applications (dApps)** are governed by cooperative structures 83 where decisions are made openly by token holders, enhancing transparency and 84 community involvement [^8][^9]. This model aims to reduce the reliance on big 85 tech companies and give users more control over their data and online 86 interactions. 87 88 **Blockchain technology** underpins Web3, enabling features like **Non-Fungible 89 Tokens (NFTs)** to establish ownership and trade unique digital assets, 90 aligning with Web3's focus on user control and decentralization [^5][^8]. 91 Cryptocurrencies serve as the native payment system, enabling decentralized 92 peer-to-peer transactions [^5][^8]. 93 94 --- 95 96 ### Challenges and Limitations 97 98 While Web3 holds promise, it faces challenges such as: 99 100 - **Accessibility**: Scalability issues and high transaction fees can hinder 101 widespread adoption. Solutions like Layer 2 protocols aim to address these 102 concerns [^4]. 103 - **User Experience**: Balancing usability and security remains a challenge, 104 highlighting the need for ongoing education and user-friendly designs [^4]. 105 - **Centralized Infrastructure**: Despite decentralization goals, some aspects 106 of Web3 still rely on centralized services, which can be points of failure or 107 control [^4]. 108 - **Unequal Ownership**: There are concerns about unequal distribution of 109 tokens and resources, leading to potential centralization of power among a 110 few entities [^5]. 111 - **Technical Barriers**: Creating and maintaining blockchain networks often 112 require specialized engineering expertise, posing high barriers to entry 113 [^5]. 114 115 --- 116 117 ## Dapps Structure 118 119  120 121 Img1. Shows relations of some technologies for building web3/dapps 122 123 ```plantuml 124 @startuml 125 skinparam arrowStyle classical 126 127 rectangle "DAO | DeFi | DeSci" as DefiDao { 128 } 129 130 rectangle "Token\n(ERC20)" as Token { 131 } 132 133 rectangle "NFTs\n(ERC721)" as NFT { 134 } 135 136 rectangle "DAPPs" as Dapps { 137 } 138 139 rectangle "OrbitDB" as OrbitDB { 140 } 141 142 rectangle "Smart Contracts" as SmartContracts { 143 } 144 145 rectangle "DWEB/Static" as DWeb { 146 } 147 148 rectangle "DePINs"{ 149 rectangle "Blockchain\n(Process Decentralized Data)" as Blockchain { 150 } 151 152 rectangle "IPFS\n(Stores Decentralized Data)" as IPFS { 153 } 154 155 DefiDao --> NFT 156 DefiDao --> Dapps 157 Token --> NFT 158 NFT --> SmartContracts 159 SmartContracts --> Blockchain 160 Dapps --> SmartContracts 161 Dapps --> DWeb 162 OrbitDB --> DWeb 163 DWeb --> IPFS 164 165 @enduml 166 ``` 167 Listing 1. PlantUML Code to generate Img 1. 168 169 ## References 170 171 [^1]: DARPA’s Official Website - [Arpanet](https://www.darpa.mil/about/innovation-timeline) 172 173 [^2]: Internet Society (ISOC) - [ISOC](https://www.internetsociety.org/history/) 174 175 [^3]: Internet Archive - [DARPA INTERNET](https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/DARPA%20INTERNET) 176 177 [^4]: Ethereum.org - [Web3](https://ethereum.org/en/web3/) 178 179 [^5]: Chainlink - [Web3](https://chain.link/education/web3) 180 181 [^6]: MetaMask Learn - [What is Web3](https://learn.metamask.io/lessons/what-is-web3) 182 183 [^7]: CoinDesk - [What is Web3 and Why is Everyone Talking About It](https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-web-3-and-why-is-everyone-talking-about-it) 184 185 [^8]: Forbes - [What Is Web3](https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/article/what-is-web3/) 186 187 [^9]: ConsenSys Blog - [What is Web3](https://consensys.io/blog/what-is-web3-here-are-some-ways-to-explain-it-to-a-friend) 188 189 [^10]: Wikipedia - [Web3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web3)