A Moment of Ambient Intimacy

In following a series of links about Twitter and its potential, I landed on this great post from Leisa Reichelt. But rather than talking about the technology, Leisa takes the human side, talking about how this technology can influence and affect our behaviours and emotions. Twitter, she says, is a form of "ambient intimacy":

Ambient intimacy is about being able to keep in touch with people with a level of regularity and intimacy that you wouldn’t usually have access to, because time and space conspire to make it impossible. Flickr lets me see what friends are eating for lunch, how they’ve redecorated their bedroom, their latest haircut. Twitter tells me when they’re hungry, what technology is currently frustrating them, who they’re having drinks with tonight.

But the Twitter-stream can go way beyond ambience. It goes to the heart of social currency, and also to driving a deeper and more trusted connection between people. For example, the other day I was scanning my Twitter feed, smiling at the short conversations that would pop-up. One was a short burst from my friend Luc who was just taking his princess to the park. That short snapshot stayed with me ... and even though I did not respond (it was, after all about 5 hours ago), it made me think of Luc and his family out for a stroll. It made me smile.

And this has a clear emotional impact. It is the stuff of life. And it helps us keep in touch with each other moment by moment ... even when the timezones or planets do not align.

Comments

[mindblob]

Gavin,

Leisa's "ambient intimacy" post is a real gem.

It is touching to know that reading my Tweet touched you this way. Especially after all this talk about Twitter lately. I agree with you it shortens the distance and time between people willing to share.

[Shaping Youth]

Gavin, ironically, I'm looking to do a post on this very topic, as David Armano's Twitter post about the heroes that saved the older lady from the passing train compelled me to see new media as a HUGE opportunity to 'pay it forward' in conversation. (Ironically, I found it on my own AOC/Facebook profile via Scoble's link on BlogFriends!)

Do you even REALIZE what touchpoints you and Drew have created among us as AOC co-authors/contributors?

I certainly hope so...You are gold, and have given of yourselves generously via the AOC alliances...Those of us that are watching, embracing, and feeding off that kind of positive energy are clearly paying attention...I know Shaping Youth is for certain; it's intellectual karma points, m'dear, creating a better world through deeds and actions. Proud to know you (virtually, anyway), Cheers, Amy

[Ann Handley]

That phrase -- "ambient intimacy" -- practically glows off the page, doesn't it? Nice post, Gavin.