Good question. Are you even Web 2.0 capable? Let’s explore what it means to be Web 2.0 and what it means to participate in Web 2.0 activities.The team at Pew Internet & American Life Project has released the results of a study entitled, A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users that can be useful to us. Here are some numbers from the study:
* 73 percent of U.S. adults own a cell phone.
* 68 percent have a desktop computer.
* 30 percent possess a laptop.
* 73 percent connect to the Internet.

The report defines Web 2.0 users as people who take advantage of technology “to express themselves online and participate in the commons of cyberspace,”. These include maintaining a personal Web site, blogging, vlogging, remixing media or sharing new media creations.

* 8 percent of U.S. adults are “deep users” of Web 2.0 features.
* 37 percent regularly use instant messaging.
* 41 percent have sent a text message from a cell phone.
* 25 percent U.S. adults have downloaded music files.
* 19 percent have shared photos, stories, artwork or videos.

Pew identifies eight major connection points to participate “in the commons of Cyberspace”: desktops, laptops, digital cameras, video cameras, Webcams, media players, cell phones and smart phones.

* 55 percent of U.S. adults own a digital camera.
* 20 percent have a digital-media player such as the iPod.
* 11 percent own a PDA or similar device such as a BlackBerry.

Pew determined that there are 10 distinct types of technology communicators.

Omnivore (8 percent)
Devoted Web 2.0 users of either gender, though usually under 30, who voraciously update personal Web pages, blogs and mashups to publicly express themselves. Likely to watch videos on an iPod or participate in a virtual world. Most social interaction takes place via instant messaging, texting and blogging via a high-speed Internet connection at home and work.

Connector (7 percent)
Mostly female thirtysomethings who have been online since the early 1990s and have a fully loaded cell phone or smart phone. They are happy to use the Internet, usually via Wi-Fi, from either device as a place to manage content and connect for work, community, family, hobby and entertainment interaction. They are twice as likely to blog or have a Web page than the average American.

Lackluster veteran (8 percent)
Been there, done that on the Internet since the mid-’90s and could care less about Web 2.0 or mobile media. Usually fortysomething men who have a laptop and a broadband connection. E-mail and cell phones are seen as essential for work for these users, and they surf the Web to find information, as well as e-mail to stay in touch with family and friends, but the interest ends there.

Productivity enhancer (8 percent)
These moderate users, likely to be fortysomethings of either gender with kids, have a positive view on what the Internet offers, in terms of getting their job done and learning new things. They like to use the Internet to stay in touch with family and friends, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find them watching a Lost video clip on a cell phone or laptop.

Mobile Centric (10 percent)
Typically thirtysomething, you’ll find these users’ cell phones jam-packed with things like video clips and games. They, however, are less enthused about connecting via a computer and have been online only for a relatively short time, compared to other groups. Pew found this group to include a high share of African-Americans.

Connected but hassled (10 percent)
These users have invested in technology and connectivity but see it all as nothing more than modern “intrusive” necessities. Usually females in their late 40s, they are interested enough to invest in broadband accounts, cell phones and digital cameras, but they suffer from “information overload” and couldn’t care less if they have lost access to the Web, e-mail or cell phone.

Inexperienced experimenter (8 percent)
Having the necessary technology and desire to join the party but unsure of what to do with it, these usually female fiftysomething users of above-average income are below average when it comes to using the Internet and cell phones. They probably have been online for only five years but have tried a little of everything, including posting a comment to a message board, downloading music or sharing photos via e-mail.

Light but satisfied (15 percent)
Also usually females in their mid-50s who went online in the last five years. They are satisfied with the technology they own and use but do so only occasionally and could easily do without it. While the majority have cell phones, they are feature-light and would not consider using one to replace a landline.

Indifferent (11 percent)
Mostly men in their 40s who do not have broadband, these annoyed users have cell phones and Web access but rarely connect. Their slow connections are “no doubt a barrier” to more actively using the Internet to pursue hobbies and share with others.

Off the network (15 percent)
People in this group, tending to be 65 or older, do not have a cell phone or Internet access. Some have computers or digital cameras.

So, where does that leave you? Are you sure now that you should think of yourself as a Web 2.0 body? Are you in that elite 8 percent of US adults? Or are you just wired?

PEW footnote: Teenagers, considered to be heavy technology users, were not included in the study. The data was gathered by Princeton Survey Research Associates International through phone interviews of 4,001 adults from February 2006 and April 2006.

CNN.com is reporting an AP story of confirmed cases of computer gadgets being purchased from manufacturers and retailers pre-installed with multiple electronic viruses.

Apple has confirmed many video iPods were delivered to your homes with viruses as serious as providing hackers a way to steal passwords from your computer; including your bank account login information stored in your web browsers’ configurations.

Best Buy has pulled many gadgets including electronic photo frames from their shelves blaming their partner manufacturers for the virus issues.

Sam’s Club and Target are performing internal investigations to attempt to validate complaints against their products.

The AP said they’ve contacted some of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers to interview them on protecting their processes from virus insertions but all have declined comment or did not respond. Among them are Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., which is based in Taiwan and has an iPod factory in China; Singapore-based Flextronics International Ltd.; and Taiwan-based Quanta Computer Inc. and Asustek Computer Inc.

The bottom line for each of us as consumers is to be prepared. Be prepared for the worst and protect yourselves and your computers. If you have not already, purchase an anti-virus software application from one of the major manufacturers such as Symantec or McAfee. And be diligent about keeping the anti-virus definitions up-to-date.

If you’re prepared, are smart about your Internet surfing and have taken the proper security steps to protect your computer system(s), you can sleep soundly 95% of the night. Let us worry the other 5% for you.