This is cool! Updates from NASA on the Mars Phoenix via Twitter

Truly shows the incredible rate at which information is transmitted. Better yet, these are micro updates meaning we get quick insights as they happen - I found out that the ice on Mars was actually water as soon as NASA posted it. I was excited during the lead up as I was told about the tests and the anticipation felt by the scientists. Way before the media told me, I already knew! And better yet, I cared because the message was shared with me by a person!

Although Twitter is not a new technology, it delivers information in a new way. It offers large corporations a way to personalise their company - a face to its name. It’s easy to hate a company, but hard to hate an individual (unless they are a knob of course). I feel somehow connected to NASA as I read the Twitter updates. NASA now has a voice and I share their excitement and connect with the ‘brand’.

Barack Obama has focused his campaign on a grass roots approach and this includes the use of Twitter. It’s brilliant and although some may question the impact of only having 40,000 followers, these people will be the troops who rally up an army. They are frequently connected to Obama via his regular updates which gives the illusion that Obama is their friend - he is speaking to YOU in an informal way. Of course he also has Myspace (over 400,000 friends), Facebook (over 1,000,000 supporters), Youtube, Flickr, Linkedin, Digg, and the popular Barack Obama is my Homeboy campaign.

This, in my opinion is far more potent than commercial political tv advertising and really does mark a ‘change’ which is what Obama stands for.

In conclusion, every organisation should have a Twitter account (as well as other social media channels).