In our What's the Story Here? deprtment we're going to take a look at "hot" technologies and decide whether you need them and if you do -- what you might use them for. Heard of it? Twitter is a mini-blog and social networking site that allows you to easily post updates up to 140 characters long. Updates are simply answers to the question "What are you doing now." The updates are "tweets" (can you stand it?) The update is sent off to those who "follow" you, they're interested in what you're doing, you see the updates of people you "follow". Twitter has the advantage over IM since you don't have to answer, the twits are just updates. Ever been stuck in IM hell with someone who won't quit sending messages? Twitter has the potential of being very silly. And is really great for egomaniacs who think you might be interested in their every move. "Poured milk for cereal" "Read the paper" "Took out the trash. Boy, it's hot here" But wait. Twitter can be useful. It's a actually a very efficient way to stay up-to-date with busy people you care about. Get your entire work group to use it. If you're in NYC and a teammate is in Austin and more teammates are in Silicon Valley it's a way to not feel disconnected. Get your family to use it. Kids away at school? Get them to update with the occasional tweet. Next time you're on the phone with them there will be more to talk about. Twitter is being used in real ways. Dell uses Twitter to respond to customer queries and provide service updates. The LA Fire Department uses it in situations like the October 2007 California wildfires. The University of Texas at San Antonio uses it for student information. Twitter could be an effective way for a customer services department to provide update information about service interruptions. If you Twitter, you can get "daily wisdom" from tinybuddha, recipe ideas from cookbook and breaking news from cnnbrk. Want to twitter? twitter.com It's free.