Less conversation(s), more action(s)

With the exponential growth of social networks and the explosion of real time data streams, everyone is about the conversation in the real time web. Of course, this is great value for a lot users, since the information travels faster and faster from producers to consumers. However, the value of sharing links, (re)tweeting the latest developments and adding friends on Facebook is bounded. There is only as much relevant information at any given time and following more and more people won’t change that. To the contrary, social media is believed to have some significant negative effects, such as  eroding attention spans and disrupting individual focus.

When developing XTWIP, we had in mind harnessing the power of the real time web in order to make people focus, work together and get things done while keeping up to date with relevant developments from co-workers. Our service helps developers bring their application users together in producing information, rapidly reviewing it and delivering it on time. XTWIP is about shifting real time from quantity to quality.

Most real time services on the web have an outward perspective, inviting people to share and re-share information that has already been produced (blog/magazine articles, pictures, artwork, witty quotes and so on). XTWIP challenges developers to rethink the possibilities of their applications so they can engage teams of users to:

• be more creative & inspired
• brainstorm while actually working
• distribute tasks naturally and efficiently
• deliver faster, with less effort
• turn negative stress (deadlines) into positive stress (reciprocal engagement)

And have you ever noticed how annoying is to have work and communication as two separate processes ? You sit at your desk trying to focus on your tasks. All of a sudden, 5 emails rush in a completely mess up your thought patterns, even if those emails directly concern what you are working on. What if you could receive the feedback and the help you need directly in the design you’re creating ? Or in the document you’re writing ? Or in the workflow you’re so meticulously laying out ?

Wouldn’t it be better if the people who nag you about “how you should change the color scheme on that web page concept” could actually change the color scheme themselves, side-by-side with you ?

How about not spending 10 minutes on the phone with a customer who’s trying to explain how to drag 2 buttons around around to the upper-left side corner ? How about if he could do it himself while you watch and fine-tune? That would be a very empowering feeling to the customer and it would be a great time (and stress) saver for you.

So what if you’re an architect or interior designer ? Maybe your clients are as busy and you are and they can’t afford dropping by your office in the middle of the day. They could just drop a link in the browser and they could drag the virtual furniture around, while you discretely assist them in making the right choices, step by step. This would save a lot of frustration on both sides, don’t you think ?

Or how about shopping together with your online friends ? Maybe it’s for a group gift you want to buy or even just for the fun of it.

Wait wait… I think I have a better one. How about you design your own Nikes together with your friends ?

Our vision is about merging work and communication into one single process. About actually producing information in a social, fun and interactive way.

XTWIP is the backend technology that makes this work. We have taken the first step to making the real time web more than a context(less?) conversation. Now we need you – developers, designers and visionaries – to meet us half way.

Or – as Elvis so eloquently put it – “A little less conversation, a little more action please“

Do you have a great idea about a real time collaboration application ? Drop in a comment, send us your feedback give or twitter us about it.