DISQUS

Christina · 1 year ago

Some things should not go mainstream, because if they do, the value to the connected few disappears rapidly.

ericflo · 1 year ago

Yes, I certainly hope these things don't go mainstream.

MartinSFP · 1 year ago

If they do, there'll be new toys for us to play with by then!

drewolanoff · 1 year ago

Innovation has slowed. Unless we cultivate what we have, spend real time on it, and get a lot of folks using it, what's the point?

It costs money to run these services. You use them for free. That doesn't last and won't last.

MartinSFP · 1 year ago

As an early adopter myself, I do sometimes have a worry that the services I'm investing my time in won't take off. While it's fun to talk about tech-related issues on FriendFeed and Twitter, I'd be happier if my actual real-life friends were using them.

I'd love my friends to share their photos on Flickr, make videos to show on Youtube, share interesting items on Google Reader and then discuss them with other friends on FriendFeed. They'll get there but it'll take a while yet and none of my harassing them to give it a try will speed them up.

It's not an age thing. I'm 29 and even the teenagers I know, a good 15 years younger than me, don't use these services. Just like my friends they'll happily use Facebook... but Google Reader? They'd not know what to do with it.

That said, maybe Facebook could be the answer. As much as many people in the mainstream market hate the new Facebook design, it encourages the importing of feeds and the discussion of items. Hopefully once people see the value in this they'll be willing to adopt the sharing and discussion of lifestreams as a worthwhile thing

s · 1 year ago

what benefit will you get from your friends using flickr instead of facebook photos, or twitter instead of facebook statuses? why do you wish that for?

Jandy · 1 year ago

I'm not Martin, but I'll answer for why I wish for that.

A) Flickr/Twitter aren't walled gardens. I rarely post things directly on Facebook unless I want specific people who are only on Facebook to see them. Because I always have to post them somewhere else as well so people who AREN'T on Facebook can see them. Without resorting to finding the URL from the image properties box, for example, there's no way to upload a picture to Facebook and then post it on my blog the way I can from Flickr.

B) Flickr/Twitter are better at what they do than Facebook is. Each photo automatically has multiple sizes on Flickr. I can put Creative Commons licenses on them. I can embed them other places on the web and use RSS feeds to display them. Flickr has an API allowing tons of other sites to do cool things with Flickr photos. Twitter also has an API allowing apps like Twhirl to bring it to my desktop rather than having to go to the site. On a perhaps petty note, Twitter doesn't make me start every update with my name, like Facebook does.

In short, Facebook is not open and not as versatile as the other services under discussion.

MartinSFP · 1 year ago

Thanks Jandy! that's pretty much what I was going to write! BTW, I've written a bit more on this today in the following post on my own blog:
http://14sandwiches.com/2008/09/22/facebook-lif...

CraigK · 1 year ago

Great post and it's true that although a tool like Twitter may be a huge hit with the early adopters in the tech space, the reality is that it is not mainstream. Will it become one, time will only tell? The demographic to go after for it to become mainstream are college students. College students initially spread Facebook and are always the demographic to look at for new trends whether its technology, music, fahsion, etc. If it can become more mainstream on campuses across the US, then it will grow and more people will adopt its usage.

Craig
www.budgetpulse.com

drewolanoff · 1 year ago

There is value for everyone in the tools that are being built. After all, humans are creating them. I think we tend to like to keep cool things to ourselves so that we can feel special. It's kind of like a band. I liked Dave Matthews Band way before they got big. I still like them, but a lot don't simply because they went "mainstream". The point is, unless more people know about what we like to use and what we're passionate about, we won't be able to create anymore, because the money won't be there to innovate.

Andrew Pass · 1 year ago

A first point: Twitter is fast becoming a part of MSM. Even CNN reads it on the air!!

A second point: Educators need to promote different types of widgets, applications and gadgets. It's not enough for teachers to follow the leads of students in introducing technology. They must also teach them about new stuff. When this occurs, it'll be easier for stuff to go main stream. The only problem is that most teachers couldn't tell the difference between a widget and a gadget.

drewolanoff · 1 year ago

It's all about education and how you explain things to people. You have to listen to their needs and interests, and suggest services that make sense to them.

Most people don't need to sign up for 800 things like us, and thats fine. But there is no reason why my mom shouldn't have a flickr account to share pictures with her friends. It makes sense.

adondai · 1 year ago

Haha reminds me of the other day...

Had a field trip for my uni degree and I was designated photographer. The next day the couple other members of my group asked me if i could send the photos to them. I just automatically told them, "Already have, get them off Flickr"

"What the hell man? Just email them!"