Originally published on March 30, 2009 in our free SmallLaw newsletter.
Twitter, the love-child of email and text messaging, exploded on the scene in 2007 and is growing at a rate matched only by the hyperactive media coverage surrounding it.
Buzz this intense usually stems from "irrational exuberance" so you might wonder whether Twitter, and close cousin FriendFeed, are fads. To find out, review what these technologies do, and then read some actual Twitter streams for examples of what they can do for you.
No Shortage of Ideas
Ideas for the use of Twitter abound, with more being dreamed up every day. Many uses have already become free software that you can try right on the Web. Such applications generally fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Those that harness information posted by existing users to deliver custom-updates or power a more comprehensive application.
- Those that apply the lessons of Twitter in a private environment — usually with a proprietary twist relating to security.
- Those that combine the immediacy of Twitter with the always-on capacity of cell phones and GPS technology.
Example: Twittervision — Tweets pop-up and show a user's location in real-time.
Example: Yammer and Presently are Twitter-like services for businesses with enhanced security for private group communication.
Example: Twinkle alerts friends and colleagues of your location via Twitter.
The three categories take advantage of Twitter's core features — short messages, easy sending, instant feedback, easy customization. In essence, Twitter is whatever you want it to be.
But What About Us?
I've been thinking about what kinds of Twitter applications would suit my practice. I can already bill via Twitter, update my calendar via Twitter, and remind myself of useful links via Twitter, but nobody has really hit the bulls-eye when it comes to creating lawyer-friendly third-party Twitter applications.
For what it's worth, I'd like to see the following three applications (all names and descriptions are mine — to my knowledge these applications don't exist yet):
- CaseTweet: Cases get their own Twitter identities that users can "follow." Public events such as filings, hearings, court deadlines, and the identity of parties and other lawyers on the case, could all be contained in its feed. Each lawyer's office could also enhance and combine information for a more complete picture of case activity — a la FriendFeed.
- DocketTweet: Being #25 on the 10:00 call in one courtroom means you can show up at 10:30, but show up one minute late in another courtroom and the Judge will have already called your case and dismissed it for want of prosecution. What to do? This application would count down the cases preceding yours and let you know when yours is about to be called. Priceless.
- TweetMinder: I'd like to see this application most of all. Combine location-awareness with calendar information and to-do's. The result: once you reach your destination the application tweets about each of the things you have to do there. Voila: instant schedule. Bonus: it will also find other lawyers on any of your cases if they're in the building. If you want to meet them you can send a quick tweet.
The Verdict
Sure Twitter and FriendFeed (which is really just a combination of multiple feeds) have applications for attorneys. We just have to create and use them. If we do, the sky's the limit. If you develop any Twitter applications in your office be sure to let me know. Happy tweeting everyone!
Written by Mazyar M. Hedayat of M. Hedayat & Associates, P.C.
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