To TWITTER or not to TWITTER...

Twitter? The first time I heard about this term was in a newspaper article, then the next day when the story hit the TV stations. A young man was out of the Country when he was arrested. He used 'Twitter' to alert his 'followers' and they came to his aid. Sounds strange doesn't it?

Twitter is a website that allows it's users to update their 'status' (what they happen to be doing at any given time). It's kind of like MySpace's 'Status' option, only your followers have the option of being notified of your 'status' change via email or their cell phones.

This is how it works. Visit http://www.twitter.com and sign up for free (create a user name and password). You are then prompted to update your status. Are you working? Having a BBQ? Getting ready to see a movie? Just start typing in the 'What are you doing' box and click on Update. That's it. Now, you can invite your friends or family to join Twitter and follow your updates (they become your 'followers'). And you can also search for friends (ones you know, or simply a search in a particular City or Town). Once you locate some 'friends' simply click on 'Follow' and you can follow their status updates. You have the option of being notified via email or text on your cell phone anytime someone you're 'following' updates their status.

So, here's where it made the news. Once the young man mentioned above used his cell phone to update his status (ARRESTED), his friends received the message and knew he had just been arrested in Egypt.

Here's the actual news blurb:
mercurynews.com — Buck, 29, used the ubiquitous short messaging service to tap out a single word on his cellular phone: ARRESTED. The message went out to the cell phones and computers of a wide circle of friends in the United States and to the mostly leftist, anti-government bloggers in Egypt who are the subject of his graduate journalism project.

Now, it's not likely that you will happen to be out of the Country and have to rely on Twitter to summons your friends to rescue you, but it's a great way to stay in touch, and let people know what you like to do (so long as you keep it somewhat PG).

What's interesting is the amount of attention that this site is getting, and also the media that is now climbing on board. Last night I was watching CNN's coverage of Hurricane Gustav, and was surprised to see them using Twitter as one of their main forms of live communication with those still in New Orleans.

You can also add Twitter updates to your own blogs (mine is in the upper left corner of this particular Blog site), as well as your personal websites, MySpace, etc. With one text, or one update on Twitters website, your status will automatically be updated everywhere you have installed the Twitter 'gadget' or code.

You may not think you 'need' this particular 'gadget' right now, but there may come a day where you might find yourself saying, that really came in handy. Imagine living in New Orleans right now, and most of your out of state friends are frantically waiting to hear if you made it out before the hurricane. One cell phone text from you to Twitter ("All is well guys"), and immediately a text, email or update to your website goes out to all.

http://www.twitter.com