Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Twitter, SQPN, and the Social Web

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been reading blogs describing and discussing Twitter, a micro-blogging tool that allows people to post brief messages to their friends and (in Twitter parlance) followers. A sort of breaking news service for bloggers, where one is limited to 140 characters. Noted blogger, Robert Scoble, does a fair job in this video in describing Twitter.

Like many new Web 2.0 technologies, I still do not know the usefulness or potential of Twitter. So in true journalistic style, in order to fully grasp the meaning of this Twitter thing, I opened an account and started Twittering.

One person in particular convinced me to investigate Twitter; that someone is a person you would least likely expect to be interested in the Web. A Catholic priest. Father Roderick Vonhögen, a podcasting priest from The Netherlands, mixes his faith with his passion for technology across his SQPN podcasting network. His hallmark podcast is a daily show called Daily Breakfast (subscribe), and I must admit, I am hooked. In was during one of his shows that he mentioned Twitter and how he was using it to keep his colleagues updated on his work and travels.

If you are easily offended by religious talk, then maybe this website is not appropriate for you. However, if you want to listen to someone who is truly enthusiastic about podcasting, then Father Roderick and his growing list of quality podcasts is definitely for you.

The social web. Sometimes I am amazed by how fast this area of the web is growing, and how people, particularly teens and young adults, are adopting these technologies and using them in incredible ways.

I feel almost left behind.

What were my peers doing at this time?

We were busy with Nintendo's Duck Hunt Light Gun and copying music tapes using dual-cassette recorders. I guess. The good old days.

2 comments:

Chris Brogan said...

Quite interestingly, I learned that "feeling left behind" is a VERY strong motivational factor.

Turns out Twitter's feeling a little beat up by the load of all its users, so the system is falling down a bit. Lots of people have already started adding friends on Jaiku (same thing, but in Finland, with a few more tricks).

#1 answer people gave for "Why are you building up a network on Jaiku?"

I didn't want to be left behind.

David Kemper said...

The introduction and adoption of new web technologies occurs so quickly that not wanting to feel left behind is probably the main reason why many of these Web 2.0 sites take off and reach monumental heights in such a short span of time.

Take MySpace, for example. No one wanted to be left behind, I suppose. Now some users are leaving the MySpace space because it ran its course.

about the author

I am an information professional, researcher, and writer with over eight years experience in the information services field with experience in information and communication technology.

I have a B.A. in History and a Master's in Library and Information Studies and working on a Web and Multimedia Design certificate.

I believe that empowering people with information can enrich lives and transform the world.