[LINK] USDAFoodSafety is using Twitter.

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Crispin Harris wrote:
> Hi Marghanita,
<snip>
>  
> In essence, twitter is an API-reachable micro-post blogging service.
>  
> An application posts to the twitter blog (to a limit of 130 characters 
> per entry), and then the twitter infrastructure stores that posting.
>  
> The twitter blog is available in multiple streams:
>  - Web interface (just like Blogspot, Wordpress etc)
>  - RSS interface (just like Blogspot, Wordpress etc)
>  - ATOM interface (just like Blogspot, Wordpress etc)
>  - SMS messages (unlike the others)
>  
> One thing that a lot of people confuse is:
>  - the original purpose (and initial question) of twitter
>  - the actual/potential use of twitter.
>  
> I am coming to believe that there are several "twitter-verse's".
>  - Those who do answer the question: "What are you doing now?"
>    (Mostly useless twaddle and uninteresting drivel)
>  - Information/alerting services
>    (Predominantly commercial services - Stock updates, bushfire 
> warnings, Anti-virus/malware updates, news headlines)
>  - informed commentary & conversation
>    (Short, interactive version of the blogosphere)
>  
> In many ways you can consider twitter to be a cross between mailing 
> lists and Instant Messaging. Some of the best of both, and also some of 
> the worst.
>  

Is it just a slicker version of a chatroom or  Skype text messaging?

> As a messaging service though, it would be silly to write-off twitter 
> just because the original intended use is inconsequential, or because 
> the majority of users/traffic is content-free.
>  
<snip>
What I'm trying to ascertain is whether Twitter fits into the
Linkedin/Facebook/Youtube/Amazon/Myspace/EBAY close proprietary database.
and will go the way of Real Audio and Second Life.

Or whether it is open and accessible - complies with open standards - eg e-mail
formats, HTML and RSS feeds accessible by search engine robots?

Whether it will "work" on the next generation of technology,
which will effectively combine the eeePC
<http://www.ramin.com.au/linux/eeepc-aegean.shtml>
<http://www.ramin.com.au/linux/eeepc-video-conference.shtm>
with Mobile Broadband.

Picking up on the mobile phone charger discussion - the Chinese Government has
mandated USB as the standard. For an example see Laser(R) pocket Multimedia
video player <http://www.ramin.com.au/linux/#mvp>

And on the topic of Landfill....I have just converted a 1995 state of the art
laptop (Parallel Port, PCMCIA Slot, Floppy Disk - no CDROM, no USB)
into a Digital Photo Frame. <http://www.ramin.com.au/eco-sydney/e-waste.shtml>

and for really old formats see:
> 
> USB Turntable
> $ 99 *
> 
>     * Play, record and back-up your LP albums to your PC
>     * Convert the files into MP3 format
>     * 33.3, 45 and 78 rpm speeds
>     * Ceramic pick-up
>     * Auto arm reset
>     * One touch play/stop control
>     * Built-in RIAA equaliser
>     * RCA line-out for audio amplifier
>     * Software included
> 
<http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_5583.htm>

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: (+61)0414 869202