Twitter has been described as a micro-blogging application which allows users to publish short (<140 characters) snippets of text [1]. Video micro-blogging is similar but allows users to publish short (often less than 5 minute) video clips.

What Is Seesmic?

Seesmic [2] is an example of a video micro-blogging service. Users can record video clips directly from the Seesmic Web site (no additional software needs to be installed). Alternatively video clips can be uploaded or retrieved from sites such as YouTube.

The video clips can be viewed directly on the Seesmic Web site (as shown below and available at <http://seesmic.tv/videos/9E6jdYm8kF> or embedded in other Web pages.

The screen shot shown above is of a video clip lasting 1 minute 27 seconds asking whether blogging can be rewarding. It should be noted that seven video responses to this post have been received.

Uses Of Seesmic

Sceptics argue that, unlike micro-blogging applications such as Twitter, video micro-blogging ser vices such as Seesmic are difficult to process quickly, as it is not possible to quickly digest the content or skim through video content.

Seesmic fans argue that use of video can provide a richer form of engagement with the publisher of the post. A blog post on the UK Web Focus blog describes the potential for use of Seesmic as a mechanism for creating content for use in presentations, for reviewing such content and for encouraging others to provide feedback which can be used in presentations [3].

Viewing Seesmic Posts Using Twhirl

Seesmic video posts can be viewed using a Web browser, either by visiting the Seesmic Web site or by viewing a Seesmic video post which has been embedded in a Web page.

In addition a dedicated Seesmic client, such as Twhirl [4], can be used to view the video clips.

Twhirl was developed as a client for reading Twitter micro-blog posts. However it can also be used to view micro-blog posts from other services and video blog posts from Seesmic, as illustrated. An advantage with this approach is that new video posts from Seesmic users you are following will automatically be displayed in the Twhirl interface.

What Can Video Microblogging Services Offer?

It is too early to say whether video microblogging services such as Seesmic will have a significant impact. However as there is low cost to using Seesmic and it can allow users to gain experience in creating videos it may be a useful service for evaluating.

References

1. An Introduction to Twitter, UKOLN Cultural Heritage Briefing Document No. 36,
   <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-36/>
2. Seesmic,
   <http://www.seesmic.com/>
3. Experiments With Video Blogging To Support Presentations, UK Web Focus blog, 10 Oct 2008,
   <http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/experiments-with-video-blogging/>
4. Twhirl,
   <http://www.twhirl.org/>

Micro-blogging is defined in Wikipedia as “a form of blogging that allows users to write brief text updates (usually 140 characters) and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, email, MP3 or the Web” [1] [2]. Popular examples of micro-blogging services include Twitter and FriendFeed.

What Is Twitter?

Twitter, the most popular example of a micro-blogging service was launched in July 2006. Twitter allows users (who can register for free) to send brief posts (sometimes known as ‘tweets‘) which can be up to 140 characters long. The tweets are displayed on the users profile page and are delivered to users who have chosen to receive them by following the users’ tweets. Readers of a user’s tweets are referred to as ‘followers‘.

Although the tweets will be delivered to a user’s followers, the tweets can normally be accessed by anyone, even users who have not signed up to Twitter. They are published on the user’s Twitter home page and can also be accessed by an RSS feed.

Twitter Clients

For many the initial experience with a micro-blogging service is Twitter. Initially many users will make use of the Twitter interface provided on the Twitter Web site. However regular Twitter users will often prefer to make use of a dedicated Twitter client, either on a desktop PC or one a mobile device such as an iPhone or iPod Touch.

As well as allowing tweets to be read and posted Twitter clients often allow Twitter followers to be put into groups, Twitter posts content searched, etc.

The Echfon iPod application [3] and the Twhirl [4] and TweetDeck applications for the PC [5] are both popular. An example of how TweetDeck is being used is described at [6].

Use Of Twitter

Examples of uses of Twitter in the cultural heritage sector include:

Brooklyn Museum

A pioneer in the museum sector. See <http://twitter.com/brooklynmuseum>

Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and CILIP in Scotland

See <http://twitter.com/scotlibraries>

Organisers of the Museums and the Web 2009 Conference

Use of Twitter to support its annual conference. See <http://twitter.com/mw2009>

The Getty Museum

See <http://twitter.com/GettyMuseum>

As can be seen from these examples and articles at [7], [8] Twitter can be used by professional bodies and institutions as well as by individuals.

Getting Started With Twitter

If you wish to evaluate Twitter either to support individual interests or those of your organisation you would be advised to register and allow yourself a period of several weeks in order to give you time to ‘get Twitter’ [6]. Remember that you will probably need to follow a critical mass of Twitter users to gain tangible benefits and you will also need to post as well as read tweets to gain the benefits of membership of a viable Twitter community. You should also remember that Twitter may not be for you – you do not need to use Twitter; rather you should be able to use it if it is beneficial.

References

1. Micro-blogging, Wikipedia,
   <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-blogging>
2. An Introduction to Micro-blogging, UKOLN Cultural Heritage Briefing Document No. 35,
   <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-35/>
3. EchoFon, <http://www.twitterfon.com/>
4. Twhirl,
   <http://www.twhirl.org/>
5. TweetDeck,
   <http://www.tweetdeck.com/beta/>
6. Getting Twitter, UK Web Focus blog, 21 Oct 2008,
   <http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/getting-twitter/>
7. Learning from our Twitter xperiment,Lynda Kelly, 20 Aug 2008,
   <http://museum30.ning.com/profiles/blogs/2017588:BlogPost:9689>
8. Twitter for Librarians: The Ultimate Guide, 27 May 2008,
   <http://www.collegeathome.com/blog/2008/05/27/twitter-for-librarians-the-ultimate-guide/>

Micro-blogging is defined in Wikipedia as “a form of blogging that allows users to write brief text updates (usually 140 characters) and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, email, MP3 or the Web” [1].

Popular examples of micro-blogging services include Twitter and FriendFeed. In additional the status feature of social networking services such as Facebook provides another example of micro-blogging.

What Is Video Micro-blogging?

Video micro-blogging is the multimedia equivalent, whereby short video posts can be published. The best-known example of a video micro-blogging service is Seesmic [2].

What Benefits Can Micro-Blogging Provide?

Rather than seeking to describe potential uses of micro-blogging tools such as Twitter, it may be preferable to provide analogies for their use. As described at [3] micro-blogging tools such as Twitter can be regarded as:

• The bar where everybody knows your name.
• An interactive business card (see [4]).
• A room of experts who can respond to your queries (see [5]).
• A room of friends who can listen to your concerns.
• A room of strangers who can sometimes surprise you.
• A digital watercooler, particular useful for home workers to share office gossip.

Other potential benefits include:

• Listening into announcements, discussions or informal conversations about your organisation or the services provided by your organisation.
• Providing business intelligence related to your peers, your funders or, in some circumstances, perhaps, competing organisations.

Micro-blogging can be regarded as a tool which can support a community of practice by providing a forum for work-related discussions and informal chat.

The Downside To Microblogging

A superficial look at Twitter might lead to the conclusions that micro-blogging services such as Twitter provides nothing more than trivial content and has no relevance to the information professional. However many Twitter users who have chosen to spend time in exploring its potential benefits. Twitter, like blogs, can be used for a variety of purposes although it also has the potential to be used as a communications medium, with Twitter users asking questions and discussing issues. In this respect Twitter has some parallels with chat rooms. But as with chat rooms, Instant Messaging, email and Web sites such tools can be counter-productive if used for inappropriate uses and if used excessively or to the detriment of other work activities.

Developing Good Practices For Micro-blogging

A simplistic response to potential misuses of micro-blogging tools would be to ban its use. However this approach would result in staff missing out on the benefits of making use of informal contacts and your organisation exploiting the benefits described above.

If you feel there is a need to establish a policy covering use of micro-blogging you might wish to ask whether you trust your staff to use such technologies in an appropriate fashion. And if you feel there is a need to implement such policies remember that staff can misuse their time at work in other ways which do not need access to technologies. Perhaps the best advice would be to ensure that you keep up-to-date with examples of effective use of micro-blogging [5] and ways of appreciated its benefits [6]. Managers should also encourage their staff to be innovative.

References

1. Micro-blogging, Wikipedia,
   <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-blogging>
2. An Introduction to Seesmic, UKOLN Cultural Heritage Briefing Document No. 37,
   <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/cultural-heritage/documents/briefing-37/>
3. Twitter, microblogging and living in the stream, The Edtechie Blog, 9 Sep 2008,
   <http://nogoodreason.typepad.co.uk/no_good_reason/2008/09/twitter-microblogging-and-living-in-the-stream.html>
4. Twitter? It’s An Interactive Business Card, UK Web Focus blog, 17 Apr 2008,
   <http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/twitter-its-an-interactive-business-card/>
5. What Can Web 2.0 Offer To The IAMIC Community?, UK Web Focus blog, 22 Sep 2008,
   <http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/what-can-web-20-offer-to-the-iamic-community/>
6. Getting Twitter, UK Web Focus blog, 21 Oct 2008,
   <http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/getting-twitter/>