| The video at right* is of Tweetdeck columns or tweetstreams, from left to right, for the search terms egypt, mubarak, cairo & protest. As more and more people in the world post links and comments tagged with one of these terms, the faster that term's search column moves. This broadcast capability makes it possible for large groups of people without any connection other than shared interest, to follow the same events and information, so folks posting links or comments know that others following those subjects might see their link, their video, their picture, their comment. Now, I'm viewing this on a broadband internet connection, but one of the most interesting aspects of Twitter, the thing that makes it an important organizing or emergency tool, is that, while you might need a good internet connection to view Tweetdeck like this, you don't need one to post or access Twitter, which can be done via text message from your mobile phone. This is a big part of why it's so hard to stop. While a phone call is one attempt and then stops, so might fail when a network struggles, text messages are such small packets of data that, once sent, they wait patiently for enough signal to get through. |
You are witnessing here a 21st century revolution... Twitter and Facebook... this has changed the whole nature of communication and organization and made it now impossible for autocratic, authoritarian leaders to suppress the views of their people.It's an amazing time to be alive, this enormous change we are witnessing.
The pop sound in the background is the fire. Peace, out, y'all.
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UPDATE, Tuesday 2/1/11: CNN reports this morning that Google & Twitter are cooperating to allow Voice Messages to Twitter to help those without internet access post updates to Twitter.
*The video isn't rendering properly in Microsoft's Internet Explorer. We're working to correct this. You can find it here.
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