This is the third part of my documented exploration of communications in business, and a continuation of e-mail e-fail. Parts one and two are here and here.
It's no secret to those that I work with that I'm quickly beginning to grow tired of Twitter. It's been almost three years I've been on there, it's changed a hell of a lot, and recently I've been feeling that for me personally it's not quite right any more. People close to me also hear be griping about other platforms, like how email is fundamentally broken as a comms system, and how RSS is in need of some TLC. I'm constantly experimenting with new communications platforms and trying them out on clients, and I've been thinking about some new places to explore.
[My spam-filled Twitter follower list as it stands right now]
Twitter changed a lot of things for me. Over a period of time I watched it change how I use my mobile phone, instant messenger, RSS feeds, search, and more recently, email. But some of the functions that made it really great were deleted a long time ago. Like IM integration and open replies. It's getting overtaken once again by other things... Nimbuzz on my phone for example aggregates all the instant messenger systems I use to bring IM together for me in a really useful way, like Twitter used to. Feedly has brought RSS back to life, so I'm using that again more. And honing my rules, like tinkering with my mobile's flashing lights and doing things with canned comments, email is becoming more useful again. Twitter's increasing crappiness is meaning other places are catching up again.
It's no secret that I can't wait for, and would love to try out Google Wave. Yes, I was one of the people to watch the whole 1hr 20min video demo. In too many recent events to mention I have presented my version of how Google Wave will change communications, based on what I've researched. I can't wait for it to come out. When I do get an invite I will be sure to take my comms thinking to part 4 as well, not sure if that's a bad thing to be honest. But one thing I'm beginning to think will be increasingly likely. The Google team say that Google Wave is what email would be like if it were invented today. I'm wondering how a converged, part social, part instant, part private, part offline comms system will completely redefine how businesses, consumers an people in the communications profession talk to one another.
Who knows for now. Here's to wondering about how that will change.
I'm totally with you on Google Wave Drew (I watched the video too!) - have you seen this: http://mashable.com/2009/07/21/google-wave-invites/
But I disagree with you about Twitter. I'm still finding it more useful that any of the other social tools out there, although as it gradually moves from early adopter/geeky stages to a more mainstream audience, it's certainly changing and developing which in itself is exciting to watch.
And the spam thing doesn't really bother me either, because that's the great thing about Twitter (versus email for example): it's opt-in. So, those spammers can follow you all they like, but if you don't follow them back, then they'll still never appear on your radar...
Posted by: Danny Whatmough | July 22, 2009 at 09:48 AM
Ah, the flashing light on a Blackberry. It's always fun to show people how you can turn it off for emails and see their delight at the idea that that phone won't be sat blinking at them, making them feel guilty if they don't immediately read every email.
Posted by: Mark Pack | July 22, 2009 at 11:26 AM