The evolution of websites has had its days of sorrow and glory. There we can tell from the early days of the .com era and its subsequent crisis, to the personalized and dynamic experiences of today. This change has not only been driven by technological advances, but also by the growing need to connect more effectively with audiences and provide practical solutions to real problems. In this sense, organizations such as Wingu play a fundamental role in this process, understanding how and when a technology can bring benefits for social causes.
A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE USES
In the 1990s, Web sites began to become popular with fairly basic functions. Blogs allowed users to share their thoughts and experiences, while institutional sites offered a kind of digital business card for companies and professionals. These early forms of websites laid the foundation for future digital expansion.
Over time, websites began to integrate new functionalities that revolutionized the way we interact online. E-learning platforms such as Moodle, Learndash and Coursera allowed access to courses from anywhere in the world, democratizing education. Moodle, for example, offers a wide variety of templates that allow you to customize the learning experience for different contexts. Another outstanding example is the e-learning platform Red AEIOTU, developed by Wingu together with Fundación Carulla, which provides interactive educational resources for children in Colombia.
In turn, buying and selling portals made it possible to sell products to places and areas that previously seemed impossible. Platforms such as Shopify and Woocommerce have been instrumental in this transformation, offering tools for creating robust and scalable online stores.
Data, as the greatest value-added asset in the world today, continues to be vital, and open information portals and interactive dashboards are key for communities to work with information and use it in their respective areas of interest, such as the Open Budget with a Gender and Diversity Perspective. In these cases, tools such as Tableau, Power BI and Chart.js are key to visualize data in an understandable and accessible way.
TRANSFORMATIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed the digital landscape. With restrictions on movement and the need for social distancing, websites became the main point of contact between organizations and their audiences.
As we work as observers and participants in this technological evolution with the aim of enhancing the social impact, Wingu was able to adapt to this transformation. In the midst of the pandemic, we had to bring meetings, events, sales, donations and anything else that could happen into a virtual format, and it was websites that allowed us to implement low-cost technology to keep working and communicating with audiences of interest in a virtual format.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WEBSITES
Artificial intelligence has taken website functionality to new levels. The integration of chatbots and virtual assistants that intelligently interact with site content has enabled the creation of highly personalized user experiences, making it easier for organizations and their audiences to publish reports and open data portals. An example of this is CLIMEA, an interactive environmental platform that demonstrates how technology can transform education.
The story of the resurgence of websites is also the story of how technology can be a force for good, democratizing access to information and empowering the most vulnerable communities. In an increasingly digital world, websites will continue to be the cornerstone of connection and innovation.
At Wingu, we want to ensure that technology is at the service of social impact and equity. If you are thinking about how to enhance your website or want to create a site for your project do not hesitate to contact our team.