Our digital journey has evolved from reading on the internet to posting and now to chatting. This evolution signifies a shift from content consumption to a craving for presence.
The pandemic prompted a reevaluation of our digital spaces. Livestreams became our new collective hangouts, where emojis in chat rooms symbolized our presence and unity. This transformation wasn't solely due to COVID-19. Our interaction with tools shapes and is shaped by us. "Chat" and "presence" have subtly permeated our digital worlds, with chat representing a communal mindset, particularly in live streaming and interactive media.
Consider the integration of tools like Google Slides and Figma, where live comments and active cursors created a sense of presence akin to a Twitch chat room.
I often think about the following conceptual diagram with axes ranging from 'alone' to 'together,' and 'observer' to 'active participant.' It led me to differentiate 'alone spaces' and 'together spaces' on the internet. The traditional internet was solitary, but now, we often find ourselves together in what are essentially 'alone spaces.'
Presence is versatile: one can be passive in solitude or actively engaged in a communal space, each with its own dynamic.
The gaming world, especially multiplayer environments like Fortnite, illustrates that presence is key, transcending the game's primary purpose. This underscores the joy of being alone yet accompanied by others, challenging the 'dark forest' narrative in favor of visible presence.
In digital interactions, identity becomes fluid. The essence is not in the avatar but in the signs of presence. Content is abundant, but presence is scarce. While content farms attention, presence cultivates intention.
In the web3 space, beyond ownership and transactions, lies the power of remixing and reimagining, akin to the dynamics of a chat. Web3 emphasizes intention over attention, offering users control over their digital experiences. Being 'on-chain' in web3 means having a digital identity. Each address in this space represents an untapped social graph potential. Web3's essence is in broadcasting transactions, yet it often feels lonely. This highlights the need to reintegrate presence into our digital experiences.
Content is plentiful, but what we crave is presence. This calls for a reimagining of application spaces, moving beyond cursors to designing more connected, less lonely spaces. Web3, as a real-time multiplayer environment, offers novel coordination opportunities. Stepping out of the 'dark forests' into clearer spaces can revolutionize our digital interactions.
We're leaving the broadcast-centric internet, driven by addiction or overload. This shift calls for a rethinking of digital spaces with a focus on presence. What are the new interaction patterns, haptics, and ergonomics that can enhance presence, while balancing anonymity and authenticity?
Considering presence, AI, bots, or digital twins might reshape our interaction in Web3, encouraging more than mere transactional exchanges. If we pivot to presence, it could transform our engagement models, moving beyond broadcasting to nurturing a more interactive human swarm.
So may I have your presence, please?
thx for Shuya and Rafa for sparking some of those thoughts.
Links:
https://x.com/angeIsighting/status/1729843603587960989?s=20
https://x.com/rafathebuilder/status/1734524499150729341?s=20
