Been thinking a lot lately about how social networking will evolve over the coming year and in the near future. I think it’s clear that it will only grow in popularity. If for no other reason than that in the future, it may be the only to find a job. More and more companies are already leveraging social media for hiring (HR has certainly realized that it’s a killer app). Why would anyone in the future hire someone from outside the network???
Anyway, I’ll save my predictions for later, for now I thought I would share someone else’s idea.
A weakness of social networking may be it’s somewhat ethereal nature. Good news, for those of you who prefer something more tangible, now there’s Poken. I think the video below explains Poken better than I could.
Before you dismiss Poken entirely, consider that it’s only $20. If students can be persuaded to invest in a Poken, then it could have nearly the same spread as Facebook, which also started among this group. Or Twitter which technically got its start among computer geeks at a conference.
Poken does have a software benefit as well. The social timeline feature seems like it would be useful. Ideally though it would be wireless and happen without having to “poke”, “touch” or “bump” a device. After all it would be weird for me to ask my best friends to poke each time I see them. But if it happened wirelessly, it wouldn’t be as weird and I could go back and check out the last few times we met. See if anyone took pictures etc.
Wondering whether to spring for a Poken and be the one of the first? I would probably opt for the less tacky “Poken Pulse” for $35.
Looking forward to seeing more cool SNS tools in the near future…
PS.
Poken Girl is the US Reseller located in South Florida and on the web here:
www.pokengirl.com
www.twitter.com/PokenGirl
www.facebook.com/PokenGirl
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.tomhcanderson.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
9 responses so far ↓
1 Vanessa // Dec 7, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Nice post. Be in touch if you’d like one to try out for yourself, I think you’d love it.
2 Andy Tarczon // Dec 7, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Wow - sudden flash back to memories of beaming my business card to people using my Palm Pilot. Thinking I’ll sit on the sidelines for this one - should it actually become a fad.
3 jeremy // Dec 13, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Tom: Nice post. I appreciate anyone who is helping spread the good word of Poken. But since you are using the post to promote pokengirl.com, I would truly appreciate it if you would not use our product photography in your post. Please take it down. We would appreciate it, if you were to email a request to use any of our proprietary marketing collateral.
Nice post though…thanks for helping spread PokenMania
4 Tom H C Anderson // Dec 14, 2009 at 12:24 am
Jeremy,
Not sure I understand the difference? I was told Pokengirl was the US distributor. Happy to put up your link as well if you explain.
I must say I would have thought if you are affiliated with Poken in anyway you would like the fact that an independent blogger would mention the product.
Very 1.0 of you. Not sure your product will go very far with that attitude.
5 Tom H C Anderson // Dec 14, 2009 at 12:26 am
And by the way, the image has always linked to http://www.findapoken.com/
6 jeremy // Dec 14, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Tom, I apologize. We are just a small company, with very limited resources, just trying to make it in a competitive market.
You are right, I do appreciate independent bloggers writing about Poken. Thank you.
My request was premature and very short sighted. I apologize if I offended you or PokenGirl. I truly respect and appreciate both of your efforts. Please do not hold my request against the rest of the Poken community; the community is filled with phenomenal people. I am embarrassed if my request has changed your opinion of Poken or the community. I wish you continued success in 2010.
7 Tom H C Anderson // Dec 14, 2009 at 3:51 pm
NP Jeremy, Wish you both good luck.
I think it’s great that small companies are getting involved and leveraging social media in new ways like this!
8 jeremy // Dec 14, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I appreciate your understanding. Thanks for setting me straight=)
9 Tom H C Anderson // Jan 27, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I had the time to review some Pokens that were sent to us. I think there is a major problem with them that you need to address ASAP. Apparently they are locked from being able to use them as a portable data stick for non Poken related info. This is a major problem and will severely hinder market acceptance.
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