Intrinsitivity

As I mentioned in a short n’ sweet March post entitled "Human Cells," cell phones can easily be considered as primitive tools enabling "human cells" to exchange information. Learning about Twitter prompted this analogy, and I imagine that many over the past few months have made the same connection.

In the article below, two writers at the New York Times discuss the role that cell phones play in this "social networking phenomenon," using services like Twitter and now Kyte. As the Web becomes more personable, its developers continue to explore creative ways of appropriating existing technologies for our novel networking needs. In this light, it is no surprise that social networking is leaving the confines of the desktop. (Technically speaking, though, it is not leaving the confines of the computer, since even the most primitive and bulky two-handed 1980s cell phones are astoundingly complex computational devices.)

Social Networking Leaves Confines of the Computer

The social networking phenomenon is leaving the confines of the personal computer. Powerful new mobile devices are allowing people to send round-the-clock updates about their vacations, their moods or their latest haircut.