A Survey of Web 2.0 Applications in Chemical Engineering

Technology pundit and publisher Tim O'Reilly first coined the term "Web 2.0" in 2004, to describe a convergence of technologies and business models that have had a significant impact on the way we view the World Wide Web. Social Networking sites such as FaceBook and LinkedIn, social bookmarking sites such as del.icio.us, and collaborative content tools such as Wikis and blogs, are all part of this transformation of the web from "top down" information models to "bottom-up" models, where information is built collaboratively by communities of interest. This paper will provide a current review of how Web 2.0 technologies are being used in chemical engineering and how they may change the nature of the profession. The author will also discuss the ongoing efforts by AIChE to integrate Web 2.0 concepts into its own web site.