The Significance of Social Computing

I'm back from a fantastic vacation, the first YouCruise, a Carnival cruise organized by YouTube vloggers. I will blog about the cruise extensively elsewhere but I do think it is appropriate to write about the social computing aspects here.

There is a lot of industry buzz about social networking. Some trade magazines even suggest it is relevant to enterprise IT. I didn't take it seriously until I got heavily involved in the YouTube community where it is possible to actually get to know people quite well and make a lot of friends. Unlike any other web site I've known, YouTube inspires a significant emotional investment in the site. I've seen a grown man cry when his account got suspended due to terms of service violations. Being banished from your community is cruel. I've seen entrepreneurs get wildly excited about the YouTube community and become self-appointed technology evangelists just to express their enthusiasm for the site. In fact, there is a group of vloggers currently scheming to create something to address the shortcomings of YouTube's messaging system and various interpersonal communication issues. Although LiveVideo is now a technically superior vlogging platform, the fierce loyalty to YouTube has prevented that site from attracting much interest.

The technology media have somehow managed to completely overlook the YouTube craze. I still find a lot of articles that only treat YouTube as a video sharing site with no mention of the social networking community that thrives there. Even vloggers are conscious that many people still "do not get it".

The YouCruise was an interesting development because it was not organized by the YouTube staff. I don't even think they knew about it. The YouCruise was just an idea for a gathering put forth by one of my favorite vloggers. I never would have considered going on a Carnival cruise without this enticement. If I had won a cruise in a contest, I probably would have given it away because I'm not adventurous. But this Carnival cruise was a truly awe inspiring experience and it has drastically heightened my appreciation for the YouTube community which led to it. In July, I hope to attend the Yo'Tube gathering in Philadelphia which promises to be a huge event.

Computing is changing from an impersonal, anti-social activity to highly social interaction that forms real community. I've seen ample evidence that this will change people's lives.

 

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