What is Web 3.0 going to be like? It's for sure that it will be a semantic web, with a lot of linguistic and data-mining technology integrated in it.

This semantic web is going to be an intuitive web with the ability to scan and label information automatically and link the right information to the right person on the right moment. The knowledge society will come closer, because people don't have to take any steps anymore to make themselves known as a specialist on a certain subject. The Web 3.0 will do that for them. Just being on the internet and search for information will make you known as a person with a certain interest. 

Publicizing on the internet will make you known as an expert in a certain field of knowledge and without any effort you can reach the status of connoisseur! And what is even better: Web 3.0 will be able to generate knowledge representations around certain subjects and proactively suggest knowledge that is needed for certain tasks. Just being present on the Web 3.0 is enough to make you world famous as an expert!

But there are downsides as well. Issues of personal data management and reputation management will become more important than ever. And  the role of the information manager/knowledge manager/journalist will certainly change, but how? Will it be be changed to one of relationship facilitator? Or to that of a quality checker? 

Here are some pros and cons of Web 3.0. 


 Pros:

•     More specific (better) information will be available
•     More relevant search results
•     Working on the Internet becomes easier because the Internet is more personalized
•     Knowledge sharing is made easier
•     More difficult to "fool"people and to operate with a fake identity online
•     Possibilities of personalised 'mass' entertainment - and the social consequences of it



Cons:

•     Privacy policy is needed more than ever
•     People that aren't active on the web 3.0 "don't exist"
•     Using search results and user data in marketing
•     Easier to find personal/private information
•     People will spend more time than ever on the internet.
•     Less anonymity
•     Reputation management will become more important than ever

For more information about events and activities at Dialogue Cafe contact julie@dialoguecafe.org

Yesterday, SIX organised a session on social finance as part of the Social Innovation Europe Initiative. The main purpose of the session was to get practical input and thoughts on the current state and current developments in the funding systems in place to support social innovations in Europe. These thoughts and insights will now be woven into the Social Innovation Europe initiative's report on the topic for the European Commission. It has been shown over the last decades that there is a lot of excitement and energy surrounding social innovations across Europe but no sustainable market for social investments. Apart from traditional grant funding infrastructure, there is little appropriate support for social innovations and our focus must turn to new financial instruments.





As part of the session, participants discussed the following questions:

What type of funding has promoted the most socially innovative activities?

How can the European Commission encourage and support social innovation activities? What kinds of finance would better support social innovation?

What role should the private sector play? What would be the role of different tools offered by that sector - for instance through capital markets or through banking finance? How might private investors be empowered to drive positive change? What can be done on a European level?

Can foundations play a greater role in funding and financing social innovation? How could this be further enhanced by European Commission support

Where do we want to be in 10 years time? What do we want the finance infrastructure look like?



For more information about social innovation exchange and the Social Innovation Europe initiative see www.socialinnovationexchange.org