Web 4.0: The Next Big Explosion of the Internet?

Have you ever thought about the fact that the internet we are using now will eventually become outdated? From the static pages of Web 1.0, to the social media of Web 2.0, and now to the Blockchain Decentralization of Web 3.0, the internet has been evolving. Now the tech community is starting to discuss Web 4.0 - what will it look like?

Simply put, what the hell is Web 4.0?

Web 4.0 is not something that already exists, but rather a concept that is still on paper. To summarize it in the simplest terms: an intelligent internet driven by AI, supported by Blockchain, and focused on immersive experiences.

Sounds virtual? Let's break it down.

Core Elements

Intelligent: Every webpage and every application will understand your needs like an assistant, recommending things to you in advance. It's not the kind of “system guessing based on your browsing history” that exists today, but rather truly understanding what you are thinking.

Decentralization: Based on Blockchain, data is no longer monopolized by a large company. Your privacy truly belongs to you.

Immersive Experience: XR (Virtual + Augmented Reality), 3D visualization, makes the web no longer a two-dimensional screen, but a three-dimensional world.

Internet of Things Integration: Your refrigerator, air conditioner, and car can seamlessly connect and collaborate with each other.

Quantum Computing Empowerment: Processing speed is incredibly fast, and encryption algorithms are harder to crack.

How might it be used?

• Medical: AI doctors provide remote diagnosis and customize treatment plans based on your genetic data.
• Education: In the virtual classroom, teachers and students interact in a 3D environment, providing a completely different learning experience.
• Finance: A truly decentralized bank, with transaction security and speed off the charts.
• Smart Cities: All infrastructure collaborates automatically, with traffic lights and traffic flow fully optimized by algorithms.

What is the schedule like?

Experts generally believe that:

• 2025-2030: Web 3.0 is still being improved, and the infrastructure continues to upgrade.
• 2030-2040: Web 4.0 technology begins to mature, with small-scale applications.
• After 2040: Possible large-scale adoption

In other words, we are still too early. Web 4.0 is still just a dream in the lab.

But don't get too excited, there are quite a few problems.

To truly achieve Web 4.0, we must first overcome these hurdles:

1. Scalability: The current Blockchain processing speed is still not fast enough.
2. Interoperability: How do different systems ensure compatibility?
3. Regulatory Dilemma: How do governments view it?
4. Security Risks: New technologies always come with new risks.
5. User Acceptance: Can ordinary people adapt to such a big change?

Bottom line

Web 4.0 sounds like science fiction, but it is actually an upgraded combination of multiple mature technologies. Whether it can truly be realized depends on the degree of alignment between technological breakthroughs and social needs. In the short term, we still have to continue to tinker for a few more years based on Web 3.0.