New Web-based synchronous and asynchronous communication tools have recently been created to facilitate socializing and exchanging multimedia information such as text, images, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and video conferencing. Other recent tools include blogs, wikis, and instant messaging systems. The book considers Web 2.0 as an invaluable communication medium for supporting business organizations and, of course, for e-commerce applications.

Section 1 introduces Web 2.0 and social software, including their definitions, underlying concepts, current challenges, and areas of opportunity. Section 2 depicts business applications and novel ways to support business operations through the use of Web 2.0 technologies. Section 3 focuses on Web-related legal and security issues in enterprises. Section 4 discusses issues with virtual worlds, including definitions, educational and business applications, and legal and ethical issues. Section 5 is concerned with online learning supported by activity theory, promoting authentic educational situations through Web 2.0 tools. Section 6 provides a comprehensive 58-entry glossary on Web 2.0 and social networking research, applications, and related topics. This section also includes a general tutorial on Web 2.0 and social software aspects, emphasizing blog creation and blogging, as well as its business and educational applications.

One of the highlights of the book is that it competently assesses recent research in the field of virtual worlds--three-dimensional (3D) computer simulations inhabited by virtual representations of its users, called avatars--focusing on Second Life (SL), a presumably addictive and compelling online virtual world used mainly for social networking that has millions of registered users around the world. Three chapters are devoted to the social, ethical, legal, commercial, and educational aspects of virtual worlds, including future trends of this Web technology. For instance, the authors of these chapters predict that more innovative SL applications will emerge, such as the ability to easily make “real” phone calls from the SL virtual world, due in part to recently released SL open-source code.

One of the topics missed is Web 2.0 research and applications for mobile computing, an area that is expanding and evolving rapidly. Even so, this book is a valuable resource for Web developers, researchers, and practitioners interested in legal, ethical, and other important social issues.