In 1999, contributing information and content online required a specialized skill set.  A person had to know HTML, or a Web page editor, had to know how to FTP, and had to have a server, or rent space on a server.  In 2007, those skills are no longer necessary--everyone can contribute content in a matter of minutes.  In 2007, everyone can contribute, everyone can participate.

The tools of Web 2.0 make all this possible.  While there are many definitions for Web 2.0, basically any Web 2.0 is characterized by