I think we can expect more of the same. We’ll see many more companies touting revolutionary widgets find startup capital. I also think we’ll see new website emerge that aren’t the current darlings. Some of the companies that have been at the forefront of the movement may die off, and be replaced by newcomers.

And mostly we’ll see tons of new innovation. Ajax development will continue, and developers will continue to work on making surfing a totally fluid event. As data becomes as fluid as water, applications will approach becoming a thing of beauty, and the companies with the most useful products will thrive.

I also think companies that are just plain popular will continue to lead the way. Despite the best efforts in planning, it can never be pre-determined which sites will be the big hits, but it’s safe to say it will be the ones that users find the most useful. Usability is becoming more than just a marketing mantra. It’s becoming a necessity for anyone who wants to compete.

What do you think the second half of 2006 holds for Web 2.0?