The web as we know it today is Web 2.0 – the social web. We access content from several sources, and we, too, generate content that other users can access. It’s like an open conversation between the user and the world, where both sides can communicate with each other. However, after nearly two decades, it appears that we may be all set to migrate to Web 3.0. And, net users, including businesses, are curious to know what Web.3.0 holds for them and how they can offer the best to their users with this latest technology. This brings the obvious question of Web 3.0 UX UI and how it can impact their platform or product?
What is Web 3.0?
To begin with, here are a few questions. How would you feel if your computer could understand the meaning of data? Or if it were to recognise people, products, businesses or data? What would it be like if computers could learn ‘what we are interested in? It seems that Web 3.0 will be able to address these questions.
Web 3.0 is an AI/machine learning-driven web that will offer users relevant and responsive search results based on their search context, not merely keywords.
Furthermore, Web 3.0 aims to use decentralised protocols such as blockchain (the technology used in cryptocurrency transactions) to end data monopoly and protect user data from misuse. Thus, by tackling critical data control and ownership issues, it seeks to counter some significant shortcomings of Web 2.0.
In perspective, most online users today rely on the internet-related services provided by big tech companies that dictate what services their users can use. With Web 3.0, these internet providers will not be able to impose on those using their services as they won’t be intermediaries between users and their needs.
Looking ahead, most businesses are keen to know the implications of Web 3.0 for their business website. And while it promises a more relevant and relatable user experience, the role of UI/UX design will gain prominence in Web 3.0 main features on web design.
Here are some requirements you could incorporate for a Web 3.0-ready online presence.
Web 3.0 UX UI
1. Offer Relevant Multimedia Content
When designing for Web 3.0, UI/UX designers must aim to match their client’s web content with their customers’ search habits as closely as possible.
Recently, there has been a noticeable shift towards multimedia content, and Web 3.0 will push it forward even further. Designers can enhance their clients’ UI/UX by implementing basic steps such as:
– Developing dynamic website content that matches the conversational tone of voice search queries. This will help your client’s business keep pace with customers’ voice search trends.
– Offering more audio and video content that is easily accessible by customers who are always on the go.
– Optimising the client’s website by offering more experiential content as it’s not possible to provide traditional content through smart IoT devices.
Web 3.0 aims at enhancing user experiences. Therefore, businesses will need to optimise their websites to offer engaging content. Designers can significantly facilitate conversational tones, multimedia content and optimise content delivery to improve consumer interaction on the client’s website.
2. Design for AI-Relevance
Since Web 3.0 relies heavily on AI and machine learning, AI will significantly impact user experience and design. Designers must build smoother web interfaces that offer a seamless, non-disruptive user experience. They will also need to actively use AI frameworks to understand customer expectations based on Web 3.0 design trends regarding the look and feel.
Data elements such as gender, age, profession, location etc., will help expert designers fine-tune design specifics. For this purpose, reliable data and a sound analytics system lie at the heart of such a website. And though data is increasingly being used to design engaging websites, it will become an industry norm in the Web 3.0 era.
3. Focus on the Semantic Web
Designers looking to maximise the benefits of Web 3.0 for their clients will have to consider the semantic web, which is Web 3.0’s biggest USP.
You can use the extensive data sets on your customers and structured data for Web design 3.0. For example, as traditional search habits rapidly evolve, users expect the web to understand what they mean when asking a question rather than knowing the meaning.
Furthermore, by using data analytics, designers can focus on user details that offer better insights into the context of their search activities. For instance, where a customer searches for a budget smartphone online. In that case, having a more nuanced insight into their phone usage and the activities they perform the most with their phone, search engines will be able to display phones that match their needs.
Leveraging structured data can support designers in providing more contextual user experiences.
Focus on the semantic web will offer customers more context-oriented search answers rather than generic keyword-based results. To achieve these results, designers must optimise digital experiences with intelligent voice search features.
4. AR/VR Augmentation
AR/VR will become critical design elements for Web 3.0 and are expected to fuel its growth and success. The technology will notably enhance the quality of experiential interactions and transparency.
Whether your client’s website is a new e-commerce platform, a B2B vendor, or a fashion e-store, designers must leverage AR/VR to enable the customers to experience the client’s product or service. This capability will help customers make informed purchases, leading to greater customer satisfaction, which will benefit your client’s business.
Likewise, the transparency of user interaction is enhanced with proper AR/VR augmentation as well. Offering customers insights about a product or service they plan to acquire will assure them of the quality and value.
Incorporating AR/VR will help you ensure a Web 3.0 website that is better accessible through IoT devices.
5. Accessibility through IoT
Easy accessibility from anywhere, anytime, will be one of the unique features of Web 3.0.
When designing for IoT Web 3.0, a large part of its success relies on User Interface (UI). The website’s UI will need to be optimised to enable the platforms to work seamlessly on smart devices, including smart hubs or smartwatches with limited processing power. Designers must implement a speedier and more agile process and design best practices to create result-oriented UI for these devices.
Also, a significant proportion of IoT concerns are linked with security and devices with limited processing power may not be very secure. Here, it is therefore critical that the designers incorporate security measures to safeguard the website and prevent any threats to the user’s data security.
6. Chatbots Integration
Most websites already incorporate chatbots or plan to integrate one shortly. However, while modern chatbots are of superior quality and offer plenty of information and help to customers, you must opt for the latest technology like Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3, (GPT-3).
The GPT-3 is a pre-trained AI tool in which the text generation algorithm is already trained with the necessary data; unlike traditional AI-based chatbots, which ‘learns-as-it-goes’.
GPT-3 has the capability to create any content that has a language structure. Therefore, implementing this technology for chatbot operation on your client’s website will ensure that it matches Web 3.0 standards.
7. Designing for the user – Blockchain awareness and education
Web 3.0 features a fully decentralised internet which runs on the blockchain. Here are some additional points to remember while designing for productive customer interactions on Web 3.0.
– As many users are unaware of the potential and capabilities of blockchain, designers must inform all visitors on the site while presenting a viable use case.
– Designers must clarify the mechanism behind their app as users may be concerned about moving their money online. In addition, to make your users feel safe about using this new platform, you must make them feel secure.
– Strategies like friction help slow the process for the user and provide them valuable time to understand it better. For example, you could use a simple progress bar to show where the customer’s money is being transported. Keeping your customers aware will increase their sense of security on Web 3.0.
– Use existing metaphors and mental models from Web 2.0. Customers feel secure when interacting with familiar workflow. For example, when Apple started developing the touch-screen iPhone, they referenced the weight and friction of familiar objects when creating swipes and prolonged taps, thus leveraging existing mental models within humans and observing how they interact with everyday objects.
Provide customers with a high degree of transparency when designing user-centric interfaces, especially since transparency is one of the foundational blocks of Web 3.0. For example, be transparent about the security and technology processes, using tiny descriptive bubbles to make users feel comfortable.
Web 3.0 vs Metaverse
Much often, users confuse or interchange the term Web 3.0 with the Metaverse. The two are entirely different. A metaverse may be defined as a network of 3D virtual worlds that focuses on social connection.
The following explanation establishes the distinctions between Web 3.0 and the Metaverse alongside critical differentiators.
Objective:
While Web 3.0 seeks a decentralised internet ecosystem where users do not have to follow pre-determined rules, the Metaverse aims to establish a 3D world or virtual reality for users.
Application:
Web 3.0 uses the blockchain’s advances while the Metaverse new dimension includes gaming, health, education, entertainment, education, social platforms, virtual training techniques etc., that utilise Web 3.0 advances to achieve its target.
Key Difference and Perceptions:
To build the Metaverse, connection, decentralisation, interfaces, a creator economy, and advanced technology is required, while Web 3.0 aims to create a decentralised web-based only on the blockchain where users can access online services using blockchain by a decentralised network.
In addition, while Web 3.0 is mainly concerned with who will govern the internet in future, the Metaverse focuses on how users will engage with it. Metaverse proponents believe utilising Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enter the internet as digital avatars navigating virtual realms is possible in future.
Technology and Ownership:
While the crypto body has emerged as the world’s first decentralised step towards Web 3.0, the Metaverse is created upon the basis of AR, Human Interface, Edge Computing, Creator Economy, NFTs, Multitasking UI,5G, and WiFi 6G(in early stages).
And finally, Web 3.0 aims to end the monopoly of tech giants, making it public-controlled, for example, the bitcoin market. But, conversely, tech giants seek more significant roles in owning the Meta world.
Conclusion
With Web 3.0, the web can guide users in finding correct search results for their queries. It will also offer a more enriching web experience, sans the limitations and friction of the current Web 2.0.
