As web 2.0 becomes a business strategy, not just some cyber-theory, more people are looking into the new ways of participating on the Internet. If you’re new to the Internet world or just took a five year nap, then you are probably asking what’s a widget?

In the early twentieth century, a widget was a mechanic part whose name you can’t remember. It was like a “thing-a-ma-jig.” Last time I checked, widgets were somehow related to George Jetson’s company, competing against Spacely Sprockets. But today, the term has been co-opted by Internet software enthusiasts and there are more widgets available every day.

A widget, essentially, is a piece of software with a user-end that is easy to use. The first distinction to make is between desktop widgets and Internet widgets. A desktop widget is a simple application that performs a function, like a pop-up calculator. Operating systems like Vista is designed to use widgets on the desktop as well as to allow users to download all kinds of web widgets.

Internet-based widgets are downloaded so you can check the weather, stock market statistics, or even a rss newsfeeder for specialty news. For example, a weather widget will check the latest forecasts when you’re online and provide an easy-to-read graphic for your destination of choice.

Now that you can answer the question what’s a widget, can you guess what a thing-a-ma-jig is?