As we all had video cameras on our desks also there was a link to that which could be included or excluded at the status poster’s choice: if someone wanted something they had in front of their camera to be seen by others, they’d say so and wait. Two people clicking on the same event would be sent to a videoconference with each other (easy since we controlled the boot image on everyone’s home computer, we could invoke very sophisticated software with very simple URLs) or to a common video feed for a briefing. Not all of this stuff worked smoothly, it was R&D. Once someone left their sound off and a person who’d clicked in to what was supposed to be a videoconference ended up watching someone else in their underwear walking around – for half an hour – not counting the five or so minutes she spent making popcorn to munch while she watched him. Very funny.

The way people report their feelings, interests, events and so on could be very much richer, but perhaps at the cost of rigorizing the way they express themselves. If the spam problem can be solved very decisively then links could be more openly exchanged to communications venues etc..

But if the point is to keep voyeuring in on others’ inner state, then, maybe these “practical” features just distract from the main attraction, which is that stream of conciousness.

Like most social applications, sharing it with your friends is what makes it fun. Yet, I quickly turned off notifications because it just got overwhelming. I receive text messages directly from friends to coordinate, I get messages from servers updating me about issues. These are each important. When you toss in getting messages that might not be important, I found myself reaching for the phone a lot less.

Yet, I agree that receiving notifications is where it’s at. And your ideas to increase communication and make it a better-rounded service are great, but they’ll also increase notifications.