blending the mix

I blogged earlier today about Seesmic being the first web app (that I know of at least) to permit the sort of Twitter-style rapid micro-blogging but with video, yet one overriding thought occurred to me:

we are almost back where we started 10 years ago

But look what has happened. Before all this wonderful technology came around, people met and talked.

• Then they wrote and stopped talking (email)
• Then they wrote to each other (IM/email)
• Then they wrote something and hoped someone would read. (blog)
• Then they started to write to each other again (although with only 140 letters). (twitter)
• Then they started to talk to each other using video. (seesmic)

I am currently reading this, which presents new research to prove that as a species, we are wired to connect. We want to meet other people. The most subtle facial expressions can dramatically impact upon the perception of something we have said.

If this is the case, why are we only now finding ways to communicate visually online? Why have webcam networks never become as revolutionary as blogging networks for example, why has video telephony only recently taken off? Have technology restrictions meant that we have only just been able to communicate via video?

We have moved from face-to-face to text and email, are only now sending serial videos to each other.

Where is the real interaction? Is THAT the big opportunity in 2008?

What are your thoughts?

Tags: seesmic, twitter, email, sms, video, 2008, web app