One of the more interesting technologies that has been gaining attention lately is Twitter. Twitter combines IM (instant messaging) and SMS (text messaging) with the social-network concept. This can be described as a free micro-blogging service. It allows users to post updates about their activities in 140 characters or less. Hence the blogging moniker. Twitter also combines the social-networking aspect by allowing users to follow their friends or other selected updates, known as tweets. The innovative idea behind Twitter is ability of these tweets to be created or received by SMS (text messaging), as well as via the expected online fashion. All of this provides the user a way of keeping updated with their social network, as well as updates of interest while being incredibly mobile.
Why would anyone want to post updates via Twitter when they could use text messaging? Efficiency. Sending one message by text messaging or the computer can instantly update large numbers interested followers, about what is occurring or something of interest. Furthermore, Twitter provides the option to post a feed to Facebook and blogs. This further extends visibility and provides others access to important events, blog posts, and items of relevance.
In addition to posting personal updates, Twitter is great at providing a window to see what others are talking about. Despite the noise of all the activity, there are several programs that help organize all of the chatter into a more meaningful context.
This raises several questions. Here are a few:
- How can Twitter’s technology be applied to education?
- Is it just one more avalanche of data?
Answers to the questions above and more in the next installment…
