David Weinberger mentions the Flash-based visualizer built into the ICQ Universe SNS. Intrigued by the possibility of an usable network visualizer (mostly because I’m in the process of developing one for the SparkCard System), I immediately headed over to see how big the universe really was.

After finally registering for the service, I was invited into the network after about twenty minutes by a complete stranger — someone I did not even proposition for an invitation. I’m still very skeptical about the practical uses of this whole Universe thing, but I will admit that this visualizer is very interesting.

The visualizer utilizes a Start Bar like module that allows you to track the path to the user universe you are currently viewing. Each user’s universe is represented in a rectangular area that has small card-like profiles for individual contacts. The contacts are shown in a scaled-down size which is zooms in on mouseover. A great deal of information is visible in the scaled-down size. The card contains an icon (possibly a photo) for the user, the age of the user, a flag indicating their country, an ICQ bloom indicating their online status, a small counter indicating their total friends in the universe, and a statement of the relationship the center user holds with the contact.

Clicking on a card drills down into the universe of the selected individual. For the entire universe, the owner is centered in the space with a little bit more information about the user including links to send a message and view a profile. Unfortunately, messaging is performed outside of the Flash application, which tends to ruin the continuity.

I recommend that anyone interested take a look for themselves. If anyone would like to add me (1648879) or to be added, please let me know.

It seems that these days, as the SNS stew continues to simmer, more and more of the top executives are being brought in front of a growing number of attentive audiences. During these panels and interactions, most are probed and prodded to provide information and insight into not only their business models but the phenomena as a whole. These often candid discussions have provided many with a great deal as perceptions of the value and scope of these systems is revealed.

Lately, the majority of the controversy seems to stem as each SNS tries to explain its founding role in the system while applying a mixture of data, pseudo-statistics, and personal opinion to describe how social networks work. Many, including myself, are wondering if the application of these metrics are valid measures of motives and indicators of human relationships. is the growth of these sites a valid source of research? In many ways, the answers to these questions can only be understood after understand the body of research that predates the buzz. One very important number is 150, informally known as Dunbar’s Number.

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Yesterday I discussed several of the issues surrounding the continued branching and chaining of SNS systems. Stuart HenshalI (Source: Many-to-Many) provides a frank and succinct look in the hands-on user experience and frustrations with the current crop of SNS 1.0 application. At best, it seems like it’s all wrong and will require some serious overhauls to make things not only right but usable. I’m glad that I was not the only one that hasn’t sipped the Kool Aid at this party.

In many ways, I read his comments and come away feeling like SNS has given us a shiny new set of rollerskates while strapping a sack of potatoes to our backs and positioning us at the top of Everest. The overload is tremendous, new problems are surfacing, and little can be done to prevent our eventual collision with the floor.

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Yesterday, I mentioned the ICQ Universe and at least one user’s perception that the Universe was not the most appropriate location for conduction business networking. This assessment led to many questions as to what makes one SNS better for a certain social context versus another as well as why most SNS seem to be single-minded in design.

To understand where SNS 2.0 will be positioned and how it will grow from SNS 1.0, it’s important to consider several key factors:

• Current state of SNS 1.0
• Forces behind SNS 1.0
• Experience’s role in differentiation
• Growing importance of social context

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Stowe Boyd mentions an article out from Boston.com writer Michelle Johnson regarding the ICQ Universe. Although she covers much of the same things already mentioned, one important aspect of the analysis is the spectre of business social networking. Her intial experiencese seem to support the notion that, although possible, business networking is not likely in the Universe.

This raises an interesting question: Why don’t SNS sites currently deal with both subject matters simultaneously? Is the reason for the separation programmatic or social? If given the choice, would people desire everything in one location or are the specialized models viable, if not only because of their specialization?

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Social Networking is working its way down into every imaginable crack and crevice we can think ok. The Social Software Weblog points to a New York Post article covering the recently launched Dogster site. I originally came across the Dogster site a couple of months ago while working with our partners over at Leashes and Lovers.

For anyone that hasn’t already guessed, Dogster provides social networking for dogs, as well as their proud, loving owners. Apparently, there’s something to this as the site is growing quite rapidly. As the Post reports:

The popular site, www.Dogster.com, went live in early January with just 100 dogs; last week, the site broke 10,000, and as many as 1,000 new dogs are added daily.

For Web surfers who have dogs, Dogster.com is a way to sing the praises of puppy love by posting photos of beloved pets online. For those who don’t have dogs, it’s an immersion course in dog culture - without the bother of cleaning up poop.

People at real-life dog runs frown on dogless people “just watching,” but Dogster welcomes voyeurs who don’t own dogs, and even encourages them to post photos of beloved childhood dogs. “We tried to make the site as fun as possible,” says founder Ted Rheingold of San Francisco.

Source: New York Post, “Dogs Online”

On a related note, anyone in the NYC area that is interested in meeting up with other single dog lovers, please feel free to attend the monthly Leashes and Lovers event this Tuesday. More details can be found here. This event is SparkEnabled as well, so anyone wishing to see the SparkCard in action is welcome as well.

As the venture capitalists pour more and more money into the ever-expanding crop of Social Networking applications and service providers, many outsiders are wondering if we’re re-living the bubble-thinking of the 90s. As these discussions progress, more and more individuals are starting to examine the potential revenue models and viability of such solutions.

What will be the winning model? Is it viable at all? Opinions vary, to say the least.

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In the ensuing battle between end users and spammers, a clever series of experiments has netted a usable Anti-SPAM solution. filster is a new initiative developed by Justin Mason Richard Soderberg that attempts to string together a collection of well-known tools with some quick code.

The premise is surprisingly simple. The system culls information from your existing FOAF profiles (retrieved from the likes of Orkut, FOAFweb, Reputation Research Network, and CPAN. A simple cross-reference with these files for the incoming sender address and, if successful, a simple X-Header is added to the mail message.

For the technically minded, it’s worth checking out. Thanks to JD for pointing this out.

With the advent of SNS systems, one of the more elusive concepts of social networking has been surface, that of the Connector Hubs; individuals central to the discemination of information and the contagion of social virii.

I’m curious if anyone is considering the potential negative effect of exposing the connectors.. i.e. when their bandwidth is consumed, will they overload bringing on the social equivalent of a blackout?

Clay Shirky provides a quick glance at the FAQ of the soon to be unleashed on the, uh, universe, ICQ Universe. Of all the already surprising features of this new system, there is apparently a gated community that requires high-jumpers to go through great efforts to get their heads high enough over the outer walls to garner the attention, conviction, and acceptance of the Universe’s citizens. This sounds more and more like a game by the moment.

The best part is the Roach Motel nature of the ICQ Universe (and this trap actually does hold):

Q. How can I leave the ICQ Universe?

A. You cannot completely remove your card from the ICQ Universe, since this would break the connections between your friends as well as prevent them from navigating via your card in the ICQ Universe. However, you can make yourself unavailable and then your card will turn black. Any information about you will no longer be displayed on your card, as well as it will no longer be possible to send you messages or invitations from within the universe.
To make yourself unavailable, click on the text link under the Logout button.
To leave the ICQ Universe, click the text link at the bottom of the Lobby page indicating if you wish to remove yourself from the ICQ Universe Lobby.
If you wish to rejoin the ICQ Universe, go to the Welcome page and click Join Now. The system will recognize you when you log in and you will once again appear as available in the ICQ Universe.

Source: ICQ Universe FAQ

As Clay puts it, “It’s like an e-mail pyramid scheme: Don’t break the chain! The mind boggles at an SNS that make registering with the service an irreversible act.”

I’ve already expressed my thoughts on why this is particular process doesn’t completely offer much by way of value — this kind of arrangement only seems to amplify those problems.