Visual Collaboration Over a Network

During the many, many hours I sit and stare at a computer everyday I find it hard not to visit sites that supply a constantly updated stream of news and media such as Digg and Delicious. These sites are fascinating because a conversation is happening all across the glob in the language of links images and video, as one pops up, another that is similarily related in some way will surface in just a short time, people are interacting faster than they ever had before without ever having a one on one conversation.

As a visual artist, I often would rather use images rather than any other means of communication. In works that I produce in my sketchbook, I use a method of collage then move the image to my computer to further manipulate the image to convey a certain mood or idea that I may not have words for. What if, for example, someone else "dug" the work I was creating and had something to suggest about it or add to it but also felt that words couldn't quite convey it? I think that, if implemented sufficiently, many people could get a lot out of a virtual place where they could meet with people all across the world and communicate and convey ideas through image instead of just words and links.

Kenneth Hung's 60X1.com is very inspiring as it displays a rich collage look on the web. This style is something that could possibly be recreated live, employing multiple users

Social bookmarking and networking sites such as Digg.com and del.icio.us are the driving force behind "Web 2.0" millions of people visit these sites, major corporations are buying them for millions and millions of dollars, people visit these site so often because content is generated nearly constantly and the sites update with new and often exciting content very quickly.

I will use Digg.com's interface as an example of how a site that is very similar to many others is more successful because of good design and slick features. Next

Visual Collaboration over a network