facebook: how you like me now?
I posted facebook onto dynamolondon in March ( http://www.dynamolondon.org/projects/53 ) and it got some positive feedback, I have noticed since then a massive increase in the number of people using it. Facebook’s own statistics tell us that in the month of March alone page views jumped from 1 billion a day to 1.5 billion.
That in it self is an amazing statistic and since then it had launched Facebook Platform, essentially an open source approach to the data it holds.
Now if you’re so inclined you can go to http://developers.facebook.com and watch the rather dull keynote given by the young chap behind facebook. I warn you it is rather techy. In short he has announced the opening up of facebook into a resource in which developers can create applications based on facebook as an information resource and communications platform.
Users of facebook will already have noticed that this means you can now share videos, music and files as well as a whole host of other tools (of varying flippancy) through the same interface. It also points the way forward for the relationships between users and the tools they use to connect to each other.
So, are there any new converts out there? New users, old users, developers and facebookers, what do you think of this change?
Personally I still rather dislike the design, I can’t understand why the top right hand corner doesn’t line up properly, perhaps I can write an application to fix this...
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posted by Andrew Nicolaou
on 13 June 2007
Rapid Prototyping and Social Ties
After briefly using myspace (I couldn't work out how to use it) I fled to Facebook for the superior user experience that focusses on keeping in touch, and sharing things, with existing friends. I think this is in contrast to the more "look-at-me-and-my-garish-profile" in myspace.
Now, with Platform I think we'll see a raft of useful services - especially in trust-based social systems. For example, a marketplace can get beyond the "do I trust this user enough to buy from them?" because there is an explicit linkage between users, who they know and what they do - similar to buying from a mate in the real world.
I'm looking forward to developing applications to take advantage of the infrastructure that Facebook provides. By hooking into the various Facebook features I'll be able to rapidly prototype an "in-facebook" application utilising the facebook user base and information.
I think this is an amazing and well-thought-out leap forward.
And personally, I like the design - it keeps out of your way and focusses in the information!
posted by Malcolm Garrett
on 18 June 2007
MyFaceBook
Following a request from an old 'Friend' to join the Facebook party, I've just spent some time over the weekend, looking around and uploading personal stuff to see what happens.
I too am impressed with the configurability and user-activity reporting and found the whole thing thoughtfully laid out too - unlike all of its software peers.
I do think I need to spend even more time before giving a better appraisal of how such a thing really can affect or improve my social life, or whether it's just a fun and potentially time-consuming and diversionary pursuit.
posted by Malcolm Garrett
on 18 June 2007
Just who is behind Facebook?
If you are of a nervous disposition you may wish to skip this: does what happens in the Facebook stay in the Facebook? http://www.albumoftheday.com/facebook/
posted by Zoe Black
on 24 July 2007
ooo scary video, but is it??
i've watched the movie, and my initial reaction ...whoa!!! was probably fairly standard. however in hindsight, really it's no surprise that the american government has a behind the scenes association with sites like facebook.
posted by Malcolm Garrett
on 25 July 2007
Will they succeed in shutting Facebook down?
Facebook faces fraud claim http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6914843.stm
posted by Jenni Lloyd
on 11 September 2007
Is Facebook the suburbia of the internet?
Facebook consumes time in a strange and scary way - or at least for the first 3 weeks. It's like starting a relationship with someone you find intensely sexy - but can't converse with. It's hot at first but then you get bored.
In Facebook there's this great explosion of activity as you add friends, get bitten by a zombie and send drinks to people, but once you've done that you suddenly wonder what it's for. It remains a closed world - I get notifications that I've got a message from a friend, but then I have to login to read it. Building apps will be the same - the onus is on the developer to build and then distribute to an enclosed world, the data within facebook stays in Facebook (except when it's being shared with Govt agencies ;-).
There's a great article by Ivan Pope which explores this idea - and expains the 'burb reference... http://blog.snipperoo.com/2007/07/facebook-it-w-1.html
The future of the web surely, is in open, participative, distributable data - a step away from the idea of monolithic proprietary systems like Facebook.
posted by Malcolm Garrett
on 16 September 2007
The Tamagotchi of our times?
It's just some annoying toy that needs constant feeding with digital crap, but for no significant benefit, other than to just keep 'it' alive.
I'm not sure I really want people I care little about (although all of my 'friends' are really nice of course) tracking the nuances of my digital daily life, and vice versa.
All of my real friends I meet in real life, and connect with real emotion, real information and real friendship.
I'll give it a little while longer, and then...
posted by Jenni Lloyd
on 17 September 2007
Do you twitter?
Twitter is a distillation of Facebook - in that it is purely a tool for broadcasting your status - or micro-blogging - either to a group or the world at large. It's oddly addictive and useful in a peculiar way. It is a totally open system that allows manipulation of the data through an API, giving rise to great mash-ups like http://twittervision.com/maps/show_3d.
Te best bit is the integration with mobile and desktop widgets, so you can interact with it wherever and however you like. Nice.
posted by Matt Cooper
on 18 September 2007
I Quitbook
Well after a couple of months of pumping information into facebook i got bored and shut my account down. Now this usually leads to looks of disbelief from those whom I used to share this world with. "But how will I get in touch wih you?" they ask, sitting accross the table from me. "What about the pictures you wont see?" they ponder. "How will we know what you're doing?" they fret.
And after about a month of no Facebook I have good news: i'm still in touch with everyone, if they want to know what i'm doing then I tell them, although i admit there are some pictures I haven't seen, i'll just pop round to someone's house and look at them on their computer. I might even print them out and hang them on my wall.
There's a whole lot of life streaming that i'm not burdened with, there's a load of time saved, there's a whole lot more face to face contact happening. I'm still checking my emails, i still answer my phone.
Facebook is a game. In fact it's level in a game. Myspace was Level 1, Facebook was level 2. I wonder what will come next? Whatever it is i don't think i'll be playing.
posted by Joseph Bloor
on 21 September 2007
its not who owns facebook, its who is on face book that counts
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=556422259
posted by Malcolm Garrett
on 23 September 2007
it's how the people who are on facebook use it that counts
Many people appear to use it to interact with one another in rather trivial ways, which is ok I guess but not for me, or they use it to shamelessly promote their trivial talents.
There must be something better than this.
posted by jonathan roper
on 28 October 2007
who threw poo?
I was in an office last week, and two people were guffawing at each other about how they were throwing poos at each other via facebook. When we are able to go truly sci-fi style virtual reality as in the full touchy feely body suits, to meet people like this in cyberspace might be a bit unpleasant! I know where I will be.... Has anyone here looked at Second Life?