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There was no way to transfer a document instantly and without using paper. Faxes were slow and used paper. There was a clear business need. So I don't think th

There was no way to transfer a document instantly and without using paper. Faxes were slow and used paper. There was a clear business need. So I don't think thats a fair comparison. Then again I don't remember those days from personal experiences, just making an assumption. From a different perspective. If it was serving a need people would be willing to pay for it.

Elepsis 17y ago
When email was first becoming popular, most people didn't know they wanted to transfer a document without using paper. And in fact when they GOT a document in an email, much of the time they wound up printing it out. But even then your basic argument is flawed, because it assumes that the point of email is attachments. The original technology email replaced was not the fax machine but the letter. Likewise, Twitter is arguably partly a replacement for SMS.
- nick-dap 17y ago
  Thanks for the insight on email. I stand corrected. However I still think that you can't compare Twitter to email. By now Twitter is widely accepted. And I still don't see how we would _rely_ on it for communication. Its a micro-blogging service, might as well call it "follow my random thoughts and I'll follow yours", which obviously works for a lot of people. We should start treating it as a enterntainment tool and not as a fabric of modern society without which news would not propagate throughout this world. There is waaaay too much hype around Twitter. The day I saw CNN read random twitter feed is the day I died a little inside.
- rimantas 17y ago
  No, the point of email is not attachements or being paperless. It is the speed.
omouse 17y ago
Uh, there was no clear business need. Businesses were fine with using fax machines and the telephone. If there was a clear business need, XEROX would have capitalized on it since they had some of the first networked PCs.
joubert 17y ago
Before Twitter, there was no way to Tweet.
bbgm 17y ago
I've been in enough situations where direct messaging on Twitter has the best and most efficient means of communication to dismiss Twitter not serving a need. Yes, the utility of Twitter is almost always overblown by the media, but we shouldn't underestimate how many use it as part of their regular communication workflow.
- joshfinnie 17y ago
  Twitter is basically a phone book. Imagine loosing your address book on your iPhone or blackberry; you'd be lost. Direct messaging might be a great way to communicate with people, but that is mostly because that direct message then gets emailed and texted to the individual.

Elepsis 17y ago

When email was first becoming popular, most people didn't know they wanted to transfer a document without using paper. And in fact when they GOT a document in an email, much of the time they wound up printing it out. But even then your basic argument is flawed, because it assumes that the point of email is attachments. The original technology email replaced was not the fax machine but the letter. Likewise, Twitter is arguably partly a replacement for SMS.

nick-dap 17y ago
Thanks for the insight on email. I stand corrected. However I still think that you can't compare Twitter to email. By now Twitter is widely accepted. And I still don't see how we would _rely_ on it for communication. Its a micro-blogging service, might as well call it "follow my random thoughts and I'll follow yours", which obviously works for a lot of people. We should start treating it as a enterntainment tool and not as a fabric of modern society without which news would not propagate throughout this world. There is waaaay too much hype around Twitter. The day I saw CNN read random twitter feed is the day I died a little inside.
rimantas 17y ago
No, the point of email is not attachements or being paperless. It is the speed.

omouse 17y ago

Uh, there was no clear business need. Businesses were fine with using fax machines and the telephone. If there was a clear business need, XEROX would have capitalized on it since they had some of the first networked PCs.

joubert 17y ago

Before Twitter, there was no way to Tweet.

bbgm 17y ago

I've been in enough situations where direct messaging on Twitter has the best and most efficient means of communication to dismiss Twitter not serving a need. Yes, the utility of Twitter is almost always overblown by the media, but we shouldn't underestimate how many use it as part of their regular communication workflow.

joshfinnie 17y ago
Twitter is basically a phone book. Imagine loosing your address book on your iPhone or blackberry; you'd be lost. Direct messaging might be a great way to communicate with people, but that is mostly because that direct message then gets emailed and texted to the individual.