I’ve caught the Twitter bug lately and I’ve started using it to update my website as well as my Facebook status (yeah, I said Facebook.) A few people, including Shannon who I’m trying to get to use it, have asked “Just what the heck is Twitter and why would I want to use it?”

Well, Twitter is a free service that is based on the sending and receiving of text/SMS messages. You sign up, add some of your friends (via your email contact lists or through invites,) and start texting about yourself. You tell people what you’re thinking, where you’re at, where you’ll be, etc. Friends who have added you (aka following you, according to Twitter) will receive any updates you make as text messages on their phones. So basically it’s a way to let your personal circle know what you’re up to in your life.

The catch is that each message has to be under 140 characters, forcing you to make small updates. I’ve added a plugin to my WordPress installation which also updates my blog each time I ‘Twitter.’

There’s also a Google-owned service called Dodgeball that would be very useful for those living in large cities (where it is solely available so far.)  You text message Dodgeball with your location. It tells your friends where you’re at and (somehow) lets you know where any friends of friends are within 10 blocks of you so you can meet up with them. I haven’t figured out how that works, but it does I guess, in 22 cities so far.

Here’s an article about why Twitter is good: http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/15-07/st_thompson

You can also “track” certain words and/or phrases and get all updates from Twitter with those in them. Like 37signals, who uses this to help improve their products by listening to what people say about their services: http://blog.twitter.com/2008/01/37signals-likes-twitter-for-business.html

Here’s an interesting way a professor used Twitter in his class to bring his students closer together as a small community: http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2699/a-professors-tips-for-using-twitter-in-the-classroom

I basically use it because I like to hear what people are doing, because it gives me something to do when I’m waiting for something or bored and want to fiddle with my phone. And it allows for instant communication between my friends. Are you my friend? Then you should sign up for it!