Microblogs and Twitter

Class 8

PDF Handout:  class08_microblogs.pdf (470 kb)

Assignment 7: assignment_07_class08_microblogs.pdf

Microblogging

Microblogging is a new form of communication in which users can describe their current status in short posts distributed by instant messages, mobile phones, the Web or other software applications.

A Microblog is a web service that allows the subscriber to post short messages on a Web site and to other subscribers of the service, similar to a blog. The length of the post of a microblog is usually limited to about 140 to 200 characters, which makes it considerably different from a blog.. The posted message is text, although some microblogging services allow video or audio posts and hyperlinks. The posts are listed in reverse chronological order.

Writing and reading a post

Post can be made from the microblog website, an instant message (IM) client, a mobile device or a third party software application Microblog posts can be read online. Subscribers can also read posts with an instant message program or with a mobile device as an SMS text message. Microblogs have an RSS or Atom feed so they can be syndicated. Anyone with a mobile phone can send and receive updates at any time, from anywhere.

Subscribe vs Follow on Twitter

You can subscribe to all of the posts of a microblog, such as Twitter via an RSS feed. You can also "follow" that person. When you follow a person, you will receive theri posts in your Twitter account, along with your own posts. This makes Twitter an excellent communication tool to keep in touch with what another person or organization is doing.

Microblogs are being used in today's world for many useful reasons:

•  real time news updates
•  emergency information
•  eyewitness news reporting
•  business specials, hours
•  conference Q&A

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that allows users to post their latest updates of up to

140 characters. Based in San Francisco, Twitter was founded by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams.

It was launched in July 2006 and by April 2007 had gained immense popularity. In April 2008 a version of Twitter was created in Japanese. As of January 2010 Twitter has sold no advertising and produced no revenue.

A few years ago, Twitter was not that well know, but today, it is almost a household word!

Your update or post is the answer to this popular question “What are you doing?”

Additional Video: Twitter in Plain English - 2:25 min  

Lecture video: Microblogs and Twitter - 9 min 

Is Twitter Revolutionizing the Web? - Tim O'Reilly - from Web 2.0 sumit April 2009

Funny Twitter video that shows the downside of Twitter - "Twouble with Twitters" - 4:30 min

There is an assignment (Assignment 7) to accompany this class. See the handout attached above.

You have 2 weeks to complete this assignment - due October 25th!

OPTIONAL: I have set up a page to list your microblog URLs, if you wish, in case you want to follow or communciate with each other. This is not required.