Pondering Seesmic’s relationship to Twitter
In my mind, Seesmic came from Twitter. When I have to explain Seesmic, I generally say it is a video Twitter. The more I use it, the less I think that is true. However, Seesmic may not ‘be’ a video form of Twitter, it has ‘come’ from Twitter. But then it is full circle, and a certain percentage of my Twitter friends and content comes from Seesmic now.
So Twitter clearly came first, but without Twitter, I likely would not have cared about Seesmic. When I first saw Twitter, I thought it was silly. However, I immediately grasped the value of Seesmic. I credit knowing Twitter first for this. I have learned to not write off any technology because at first it seems silly.
If indeed Seesmic is a video Twitter, knowing Twitter first helps people understand Seesmic. Ok, scratch that… I’m thinking out loud here. I’m picturing my mom. She has seen Twitter in fact, and has no purpose for it. But I bet she would see the value in quick videos, especially as they relate to grandchildren. (and this leads to the fact that Seesmic needs privacy functions, more on that later) For now let’s just say that my mom would love quick little updates from her grandkids who live in Ohio and Arizona, while she is in Alaska.
Ok, not the conclusion I thought I would end up with. Wait… I had a conclusion? No, I guess not, more a collection of thoughts. Now it’s your turn, what do you think?
UPDATE: My Seesmic about this post:
November 26th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Chicken and egg thing I guess. Each serves a niche for me. I twit all day and enjoy the short messages rather than having to wander through long Sessers.
When I started on Seesmic I watched all the videos but I now find myself watching only the first 30 seconds or so. I’m sure once we get a real following timeline like Twit that I’ll be back to watching the full vids. Except for all the Jeremy videos of course.
Right now on Sees it’s a bit like playing chess long distance and sending your moves back and forth in the mail. Wouldn’t it be nice to take Seesmic to more of a real time connection where you can have a live conversation.
Short messages are nice but I wonder if we look back in three years if we’ll tell our kids, “I remember when we used to record videos and then wait sometimes hours or days for a response.” “No shit”, they’ll say, “How’d you ever stand that?”
November 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Yes, it would be interesting to have live conversations. There is technology that does that of course, and you ‘raise your hand’ when you want to talk and all that. But to have both the current record options along with the ability to break into small-medium conversations on the spot. Now that would be interesting. And all recorded of course so those that missed it could go back and keep up with the conversation, and continue to add to it themselves.
Very interesting idea Steve, I like it. Impromptu video conversations.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
I know we have Skype and other tools to do a video chat. But what i like about Twitter and then Seesmic is that there is a talent pool that you can ask for help and someone will respond.
That’s different than trying to track down one person at the right time to connect. I consider both my Seesmic community and my Twitter community as friends and people that care about each other.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I’m not arguing. Or perhaps you are just clarifying… but I think it is a fantastic idea. Not to replace the video clips, but in addition to. We still need the time shiftedness of the recordings.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Did you just blow me a Kiss? That is not how you end your videos! RETAKE!
I also describe Seesmic as Video Twitter, but is it? I think not.