Colin Walker - Latest Comments in Escaping the echo chamber.

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

ryanbrymer — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:27:46 -0000

Colin,
Just wrote a response to this. Check it out if you get a minute
http://tillingthesoil.wordp...

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

colinwalker — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:52:52 -0000

Matthias,

Yes things take time to develop but I'm not specifically talking about FriendFeed here - that was purely an example and it illustrates that people get hung up on the tools rather than what they can be used for.

Social media has been around for quite a while now with sites like Facebook and MySpace having some good traction - good enough that Vodafone are using Facebook as a pulling point in a national ad campaign in the UK. But herein lies the problem: people divide the concept up in to walled gardens (my Facebook community, my Twitter friends etc.) rather than embracing it as an entire online experience. Forget what service you are using and instead concentrate on the people, on the connections, on the potential.

The potential of social media is incredible and the range of discussions possible between the diverse people on the web should be almost infinite but our segregation in to distinct groups is holding us back, although it is unfortunately unavoidable.

As I have said before, though, just SAYING things will be different in 2 years does not make a difference, we need to be sowing the seeds now and giving a reason that social media should be adopted if we ever want to see it go truly mainstream.

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

Matthias Schwenk — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:53:35 -0000

Maybe we should give things a little bit more time to develop. I agree with you that there is quite a lot of senseless conversation on and about FriendFeed. But who know's how FriendFeed will be used in one or two years?

We have to remember, too, that conversations on FriendFeed easily start around topics that are shared by a lot of people. The more special a topic gets, the less likely is a conversation as there might be only a few people (1) understanding it, (2) being now on FriendFeed and (3) being willing to engage.

In the end it might be a question of math! And as people on the street very likely start a conversation about the weather they do it on FriendFeed about FriendFeed. What do you think of this explanation?

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

Michael Sean Wright — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:09:57 -0000

I will continue to look at the developments in social media to find the most efficient way to connect to engaging dialog. I try to be a student of social innovation as defined by the Young Foundation- http://www.youngfoundation.... As the novelty of the new message transport systems wear off the conversation will inevitably turn to inspiring readers/community to action. The channels of quick communication have, for too long, been clogged by enterprises forced to monetize their networks. Today I see an even platform of info flow developing. I know that information development costs to deploy, but it should never take me three clicks to get to it. We must remove the barriers from communal communication, encourage "best practices" and raise the bar on the conversation content for social media to become a real agent of change. Now what's this you were you saying about friendfeed, is there a conversation about ff somewhere?

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

Adam Helweh — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:43:22 -0000

As the early adopters of social media, we will be refining and defining the inevitable path that social media will be taking over the next lifetime. We know its not a fad and with the increasing use of social media, integration with popular technology, etc... it will go mainstream.

What will I do? I will continue to stay involved early on and contribute to the "conversation".

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

madpotter — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:21:19 -0000

It is called the Seed Vase Project. Starter blog here - www.seedvase.blogspot.com -Am emailing details, if I have right email address-

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

colinwalker — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:48:13 -0000

Thanks Britney - glad you agree.

So Mary, what project would that be?

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

britneymason — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:35:34 -0000

Well done... I always tell people you need to get outside the bubble or as you say echo chamber

Re: Escaping the echo chamber.

madpotter — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:48:36 -0000

Agreed. An aspect of social media that has me waking up earlier these days is connectivity itself. The math and the art. I have a project I would love to share with you. ;-)