Poken: The Future of Social Networking?
December 3, 2008 · Print This Article
At a conference about internet and society last week in Amsterdam the first Pokens were given away to participants. A Poken is a small gadget you can keep on your key chain. When touching someone else’s Poken you automatically exchange ‘business cards’ and links to your social network profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. Is this the future of social networking?
A social networking gadget
Have you ever been in the situation when you’ve met an interesting person at a party and afterwards you tried to find his or her profile on the internet, but you forgot the exact name and you didn’t know where to start searching? In such a situation Poken could have saved you from a lot of trouble: You both grab your Poken, hold them together, they glow their lights and you’re done!
The Poken I was given is orange with flames, and looks a bit aggressive. Luckily there are other designs available too, like a bee or a panda bear. It comes with a little cord you can attach to it, so you can hang it on your key chain or something else you carry with you all the time.
How does it work?
Setting up my Poken wasn’t very hard. The Poken can be transformed in to a USB drive to be inserted in my Mac. First I had to create an account on www.doyoupoken.com. I was asked to enter the information I would like to share through my Poken, and my LinkedIn and Facebook user names. Then I uploaded a picture to complete my Poken ‘card’.
There is a possibility to set up different ‘identities’, probably a good idea if you want to use your Poken in a business setting too. Currently Poken only supports LinkedIn, Facebook and usgang, a social network from Switzerland, Pokens’ country of origin. More social networks will be supported soon.
Now when I meet someone else with a Poken we can hold their little hands together and a green light will glow as our data is exchanged. I can make up to 64 connections without copying them on my computer. When the hand glows orange it means there’s only a few more connections left and when it glows red it means it’s full. My new connection is being made, but the first one gets erased. When a connection fails the hand flashes red. Back home I plug it in my computer to copy and view my connections on the Poken website.
And now?
Great, my Poken is set up, let’s get out there and find people to connect with! Eeehm…. well, this is going to be hard, as there aren’t a lot of Pokens out there yet, which makes the little gadget quite useless for me at the moment. And when I find someone, I don’t think I want to connect just because we both have a Poken. Or maybe I would, especially in the beginning, when things like this are new and exciting, and not used by a lot of people, of course we just want to try them out, to see if this new technology really works!
Is this the future of social networking?
When I first heard about Poken I liked the idea a lot. It’s one of those technological things that are a logical step forwards. First of all for a young, social network savvy audience this might become a hit, if it becomes widely known and available. You can just choose the one you like best and keep it with you wherever you go.
From a business point of view, the current design isn’t really fitting, but the functionality is. We’re still using business cards a lot. At meetings, conferences and parties, wherever people are networking, a device like Poken could be a great business card replacement. Now what if we take Pokens’ functionality and put it in an iPhone (or any phone), wouldn’t that be great? You meet a person, hold together your phones and without having to push a button you’re connected.
We’ll have to see if this is the future of social networking. Currently availability is an issue. You can order a twelve-pack online, although no price is mentioned yet.
What do you think about Poken? Would you use it? Please let me know in the comments!
Wow this sounds really interesting. While I think it would be great if everyone had a poken the inherent problem is that not everyone will have one. I would definitely use it if everyone had one. i think the better idea would be to make an iphone application that would do the same thing. The last thing we all need is another gadget to carry around. Yes it’s small but having it in your phone would be way easier.
a really nice thing
think iwill get me one to
@Amber: Exaclty my thoughts. For now it’s fun to have one because I’m one of the first, but later on, there’s no point to it if it doesn’t get widely spread. If phone companies pick up on this I think it can become a standard functionality. I keep my Poken on my keychain for now, but you’re right, we’re already carrying enough gadgets around these days!
These are pretty nifty (and I want one, just like yours…it has that Day of Dead look about it). As for carrying it around, it seems easier than fishing around trying to find a business card or pen and paper to write down contact information.
If you just make sure you connect it to something you carry with you all the time anyway, like a purse or your keys you won’t have to remember to bring your business cards whenever you go to a meeting. Thanks for your comment, Ellie!
Now that is awesome.
Wow, that’s really awesome.
I don’t know how many parties I’ve been to where I’ve met really interesting people but forgot their names as soon as I left.
This would be awesome if you could set up your own groups as well. If you knew you were going to a rave and wanted to link up with DJs and other people, it would keep them all together so you could make crews.
I want one.
that’s pretty cool I guess. but that keychain looks like it’s for a 10 year old. imagine hanging out a bar and we “power up,” or am I part of the power rangers and we suite up. what am I, 10?
Hugo, that’s a great heads up! Definitely seems like the future when it comes to making new connections. Business cards are definitely on their way out! Eric.
Actually you can do this with phones already. Granted you can’t do it without pressing a button but most smartphones (and some regular phones, although not the iphone sadly) have vcard functionality. You just make an address book entry for yourself with all of the information you want, and then just click send vcard (or business card) to send it to another phone (or palm, etc.)
[...] to your social network profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. Is this the future of social networking? read more | digg story [...]
i remember hearing about something like this maybe 8 years ago called the “java ring” it was just a ring you wore that would allow you to share business card/contact info.
I can’t wait for someone to say “okay, let me see your Pokemon”
Nice idea, but I hope the business model doesn’t rely on the widespread adoption of the these little gadgets. If the same features are offered through software hosted on already widespread mobile tools (phones with bluetooth, wi-fi, always-on internet connection) I think it could catch up and become a real business card substitute (just exchanging vCards as suggested by Jacob is somehow limiting the possibility of networking, in my opinion)
“…and usgang, a social network from Swiss, Pokens’ country of origin.”
You mean Switzerland. “Swiss” is the English demonym for a person or thing from Switzerland.
[...] you can carry around is easily customizable and they have great designs (For the youth) as seen here. It will make it a lot easier to exchange information without having to pull out your phones (But [...]
good idea. The name needs to change though
Now that’s friggin cool. I’ll be getting my hands on this for sure. I’m tired of buying business cards and this is much better for the environment.
Hugo, thanks a lot for your great article. You’re one of the first to go into so much depth describing the Poken experience, including the online services we offer. Can you send me your postal address? I will have a 12-pack shipped to you so you can have plenty of designs to choose from. Cheers, Stéphane. (Founder, Poken)
The Poken is not the first of its kind. There have been others, either in physical stand-alone gadget form, or on mobile/PDA devices. They have never taken off in the social or business worlds despite some peoples’ persistence to make them widespread.
Whilst I like the idea (to a point), physical objects will NEVER be the future of social networking simply because they’ll have to get massively widespread if they are too succeed, and that’s not likely to happen. Not everyone drives the same car, or has the same phone, or uses the same computer. Why would they all use the same one of these devices? Other brands/types will be made and sold, and unless the formats and compatibility were to become standardised across multiple devices, it’s just never going to happen.
Personally, I think the future of social networking is all about data portability and OpenID. When everyone just has one ID to use for their profiles on multiple social networking services, things will get a lot easier for everyone. And that’s already starting to happen.
@Ashpool: It could work very well if everybody going to the same party would have one. It has to become popular in the scene you’re in.
@Sam: You’re right, if you don’t like the design you’re out of luck for now.
@Eric: Thanks! We’ll see what happens.
@Jacob: Right, but the whole thing about these gadgets is not having to press anyting. Like in Ashpools scenario: you could even use them at a party while dancing (This thing is clearly aiming at a young audience).
@Eugenio: Exactly, I totally agree with your points.
@tanketom: Of course, thanks for letting me know, I corrected it right away!
@Stéphane: Wonderful. My email is on it’s way. Thank you!
@reemixx: I understand what you mean about having another physical device, although I think it could become widespread in certain groups, like schoolchildren, students. Maybe that’s the audience they’re aiming for.
Having something similar in a phone doesn’t have to be limited to one particular brand of phones, right? Like cars from every brand can have a navigation system.
Sounds really cool, but… If I lose my poken does that mean other people can get the information that was meant for me?
Good question Sean! I think they’ve got that covered though: when you insert your Poken in your computer you have to enter your name and password on their website before you can view it’s contents.
This sounds really awesome, I miss the days of “beaming” vcard files on PalmOS IR-enabled devices, and it really baffles me that the multitude of smart phones available today do not support this. I am a geek and love toys so I’ll probably splurge on this too.
There is an application for the iPhone that let’s you exchange business cards via wifi or 3g, called Handshake (don’t know for sure if the other party needs to have it installed as well).
I like the idea of the Poken but don’t see it become a great hit.
[...] Pocken vía (StreamLinedMind) // SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Pocken, el futuro de las tarjetas de visita”, url: [...]
Sounds like a good idea at first blush, but there are several problems with it.
First, as you discovered, the device is only as useful as there are people who have a Poken — a typical case of “the network effect.” The device is not inherently useful. (In contrast, the “Java ring” might have been useful even if there was nobody to “connect” to since — at least in its original intention, if I recall correctly — it would store your passwords with biometric encryption.) If you’re the only person on your block with a Poken, you have a “collector’s item” and nothing more.
The other issue is that, at least as you describe it, these link only to certain services (such as LinkedIn and Facebook). I can too easily imagine someone creating a competitor that links to *different* “important” services (say, Twitter or Digg). Which would mean that I would need separate devices for each data exchange. It makes me think of all the grocery store “loyalty cards” that I carry around in my purse… or, rather, of all the ones I _don’t_ carry.
The desire to dump business cards has been around for a long time, and this is far from the first effort to accomplish that goal. I wrote about this on my own blog, a while back: http://advice.cio.com/esther_schindler/why_are_we_still_using_business_cards listing some that I found most interesting or amusing.
Hey,
did anyone ever hear about Near Field Communication?
NFC in mobile phones can exactly do the same thing. You just hold your phones together (before you select the phonebook entry you want to transfer) and whoop there you go.. data is being transferred. There is some info here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoOH7AtCT_E
Cheers
I think it’s a good concept, but the fact that no one sells them individually in the US and to buy a pack it costs $180 tells me it’s not going to take off to fast. I think this functionality in a phone is a better idea, it already exists with bluetooth, just no one knows about it and it’s difficult to access in most phones.
Looks like i’m one of few dissenters here, but it could be b/c in this group of posters I’m the rarity who does not have a smartphone and doesn’t attend many webby type events (so far!)…
But it feels even more big brother-ish than all the other current invasions of privacy that we currently subscribe to (FB, Twitter et al.).
Though as I write this I’m realizing if you have control over the information you include than it isn’t much different than handing out a card once the technology becomes more widespread.
I can just see people abusing it for nefarious purposes - would people have to have a fake account so they can give out a wrong number when someone weird hits on them?
@Esther: Right, at the moment it only supports Facebook, LinkedIn and usgang (Switzerland). Although I guess it wouldn’t be very hard to make it compatible with other services.
I really don’t like carrying around a card for almost every shop I visit once in a while, so if this would go the same direction, it sure would become a problem.
The problem I have with business cards is how to process them. After a meeting I dump received business cards on my desk and forget about them. I should copy their information manually in my address book application of course. Or scan them. Too much hassle!
Thanks for your comment!
@joe: I haven’t heard about that before. I’ll have a look at it, thanks!
@Ryan: As they’re still in beta I think they want to see how people react first, before they get it into mass production…
@Gregg: If you meet someone weird, are you going to give them your business card? No, right? So why would you share your information using Poken then? It’s still your own choice, and you really have to physically hold them together, so I don’t think there is a chance of accidentally sharing your information with someone, unless they force you to.
Didn’t the japanese have something like this in about 2004? I think it was called the Luvvie or LoveBug. Used for connecting to possible dates at a party.
In Saudi they just keep bluethooth on, and open. Zap a bluethooth from phone to phone.
No, it’s not the future, it’s just a gimmick.
[...] Poken: The Future of Social Networking? | Streamlined Mind: “” [...]
I like the idea. But to have a separate device for this would be difficult since I’d rather have the information stored on my phone or computer anyway. So maybe if this was a feature on a phone - like if you waved it over and the Bluetooth captured the info or something. Anyhow, pretty neat
The Future of Social Networking…
There is a service professing to be the future of social networking. The service named “E” was made by a Netherlands-based start-up. “E” is a service to exchange contact information using mobile phones instead of paper business …
[...] my cynical rant seems to be in the minority; the original post that prompted me to write about this is in awe of the service and the potential it could provide. What do you think? Are you ready to “high five” [...]
[...] Poken: The Future of Social Networking? | Streamlined Mind. [...]
It’s a cool concept, but I’m a bit worried about the dark side… like creepy guys on the subway who get their jingly bits close to your jingly bits, and suddenly they know your name and where you work.
Now that is awesome.
This sounds really awesome, I miss the days of “beaming” vcard files on PalmOS IR-enabled devices, and it really baffles me that the multitude of smart phones available today do not support this..
[...] But, now there is actually an action associated with connecting with some one on social networks. A gadget has recently been released called ‘Poken’ - this keychain accessory, when touched with some one else’s, exhanges social networking information with that person. Read more about it on Streamlined Mind. [...]
Price for a 12-pack shipped to the US is $180. $15 each is not exactly a “the price of a simple cocktail” as they claim, though maybe it is the price of a simple cocktail shipped from Switzerland.
[...] | Streamlined Mind Condividi questo [...]
[...] http://streamlinedmind.com/2008/12/03/poken-the-future-of-social-networking/#more-418 At a conference about internet and society last week in Amsterdam the first Pokens were given away to participants. A Poken is a small gadget you can keep on your key chain. When touching someone else’s Poken you automatically exchange ‘business cards’ and links to your social network profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook. Is this the future of social networking? [...]
[...] need to know. Anyway, soon enough we won’t even need to talk to each other anymore, especially if these things become popular. It’ll be; meet, nod, touch ‘USB Personality Generalisers’, go home, read new [...]
[...] Poken: the future of social networking [...]
[...] Physical Meets Virtual At some conferences in Amsterdam, a new physical tool called a ‘Poken‘ has emerged that allows people to connect and trade information. What ever happened to Palm [...]
A friend gave me a Poken. Works like a charm…he gave me a charming three-eyed monster.
I’m now in search for other people with Pokens. How about organising Streamlined PokenParties?!
[...] I wrote about Poken in my article “Poken: The Future of Social Networking?” a lot of people responded, and some people seem to like it a lot while others don’t [...]
Now that is awesome…
I think it’s a good concept, but the fact that no one sells them individually in the US and to buy a pack it costs $180 tells me it’s not going to take off to fast. I think this functionality in a phone is a better idea, it already exists with bluetooth, just no one knows about it and it’s difficult to access in most phones..
There’s sth like this for iPhones and the like. It’s called “e”.
http://hellomynameise.com/
Poken are creating a hype in the Netherlands right now, mainly triggered by the Twitter-chanel. Special Poken meet-Ups are being held in several cities.
See all the info and news collected here at a Netvibes Public Page:
http://www.netvibes.com/doyoupoken
Not only would I USE it, but I would also LOVE it! This is such a great idea… I’ve been waiting for this kind of functionality to emerge. I wonder how long it would be for a lot of people here in the US to start carrying them. Thanks for the heads-up!
Danelle Ice (Homemaker Barbi)
Will Poken catch on ? …
Poken is the new gadget in town. Some people called it the future of social networking.
The idea of exchanging data at the click of a button , or less has been here fore ages. The problem always is that the tool needs to gain Critical Mass before i…
You can buy single pokens now for $18 from europe.
Hey If you guys are interested in Social networking, then you should definitely check out http://ilovepoken.com which is a site that sells pokens that distribute them to the UK, come check out this revolutionary product
Just letting you guys know that poken is coming out in Australia soon. This website is taking some pre-orders:
http://www.ozgadgets.com.au/fun-gadgets/poken
[...] website doesn’t show you precisely how they work so check this [...]