Beyond the Button

As someone who wasn't there, I loved the ability to follow the backchannel. Much more useful than reading session descriptions because I could get the key insights. Much more feeling of being there in an intimate chatty way.

I think twitter in particular could be a great way for a conference newbie/wallflower to get socially engaged real-time. One problem with traditional conference backchannels (i.e. hallway conversations, meals, bar time) is how cliquey they can be. As someone who spent her first two years at ASTC and AAM not knowing a soul and having zero shmooz skills (I can't even spell it), I had no clue how to break in and was frustrated by that "alone in the crowd" feeling. Now that I'm on the "inside," I'm still sensitive to how that felt and am always looking for ways to help others have a friendlier entrance to the backchannel.

and the tweet cloud is great! here's mine.