The University of California, Berkeley announced last week that it is making its entire course lectures and special events available on YouTube. That is Web 2.0!

Berkeley is the first university to offer complete videos of courses and events on the popular video-sharing and social networking site. Last year, this UC School launched a very successful podcasting program, delivering thousands of hours of content and dozens of courses through the school’s web site. 

What we are seeing is that the Internet is finally starting to become a true communications platform. Sure, it will never replace F2F interactions with people, creative brainstorming sessions, interesting class discussions or the fun of campus life. But it was a brilliant idea to replace a long lecture in a crowded hall with a recorded image of the professor and her materials delivered to each student through YouTube.

Perhaps just like companies that are starting to re-assess the need for business travel and replace it with online meetings, more and more other organizations will begin substituting online content delivery for in-person appearances, saving F2F interactions for the most appropriate, creative and interactive events. When this trend really catches on, it would be the best use of the Internet and the real triumph of Web 2.0.