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Web 2.0 The Magazine

A Journal for Exploring New Internet Frontiers.

TOP STORY

In the early days of Twitter, many folks were turned off when they read of the many inane comments (such as “I just had a peanut and jelly sandwich” or “My new next door neighbor is so hot” or “I just bought great red shoes”) – items of a personal nature of little interest to most folks -- and refused to try it. Unfortunately, I have a number of friends for whom that description fits. They did not understand that it was up to them to choose which Twitterers that they “followed;” in other words, they did not have to follow any one who only “tweeted” personal doings.

It was only when the serious users, such as newscasters, technology
professionals, government agencies, and others of that type, began to use
Twitter that the system became useful for all.

Now we have come full circle. A number of programs and apps have been
introduced that are aimed at the “Where Are You?” (or, as the “texters” write, “Whr U At?”) and “What Are You Doing?” questions -- and they seem to be attracting scads of users. These programs, unlike the free-form tweets, focus the writer on places of interest in her / his area – restaurants, parks, movies, museums, sports arenas, etc. – and encourage the writer to comment on the quality of the food, movie, performance, etc. Using the GPS function of the iPhone or Android system, the system lists the places of interest which the system is aware of – and the menus in the systems that I have used are remarkably complete for Jefferson Valley, New York; the user may also add items to the menu (I have added “MCM Plaza,” my home and office, and a local pizza parlor to mine). The user selects a location and may add a comment about what he or she is doing before “checking in.” Once the user checks in, the entry is viewable by all those who have chosen to” follow” or “friend” the user.

The two applications that have gotten the most press in this arena are “Foursquare” and “Gowalla.” Each of these applications have versions for the iPhone, Android system, and web versions, accessible through Wintel, Macintosh, and Linux systems (I am johnmac13 on both Foursquare and Gowalla). I find the applications to be substantially equal on content and functionality (with Gowalla having the edge on appearance and color).

The significant difference between the systems will not be in the functionality but, rather, in the user community, both its size and make-up. The more people (and the more interesting people) using one of these competing products should result in its continued and growing advantage. Foursquare was the first of these products that I was aware of but, Gowalla seems to have vaulted ahead due to its big splash at the recent “South by Southwest Music and Media Conference” (“SXSW”).

Both of these products, if adopted by many, bring us to a new level of transparency and openness in our Web 2.0 world; a level that some regard as a further erosion of privacy.

Let me know “Whr U At?”

My recent post on Foursquare:

@ Barnes & Noble: The New England Clam Chowder on Fridays in the Cafe area (coffee by Starbucks) is excellent. There is also an outlet (for plug-in) in the ceiling by over the right window in the café

My recent post on Gowalla:

McM Plaza

250 year-old barn

John F McMullen

Jefferson Valley, NY

A writing day

WHR U AT? BY JOHN F. MCMULLEN