A new product is out in beta testing mode which could change the way we interact when browsing the internet. As a person surfs the web, they find interesting content and want to share what they’ve found with a friend. Using either e-mail or entering into a chat room, the web page could be forwarded via embedding a link in a message so that friends could find the page. But once the web page is shared, any conversation about the content of the page has to be reserved for the next time people see each other. Firefly hopes to change all that with their Flash overlay chat program which allows visitors viewing a web page to interact in real-time while navigating the same site.
The idea of Firefly is simple: Allow users who are viewing the same content to chat about what they’re reading or viewing.
A web page administrator can embed Firefly into their site and visitors will see a simple tab which will tell them how many people are currently viewing the site and offer the chance to turn “On” Firefly. By doing so, a thin Flash overlay appears over the web page and other viewers cursors can be seen as they move over the web page. Simply by typing, a user creates a flash chat bubble that other viewers can see and respond to. Cursors can be customize so that one viewer can be distinguished from another. Instead of waiting for a comments log to be updated, users can respond to other users posts in real time. In order to avoid clutter, the chat bubbles do fade over time. For sites with large amounts of traffic, only the first 50 users will be able to interact. The 51st Firefly user will enter a queue and as soon as a space becomes available, they are able to join in the chat.
As it stands now, Firefly has some great functionality. For website creators, it gives their site a more communal feeling. Much like having a remote technician “share” your computer with you to fix a problem, Firefly enabled websites offer shared web browsing with like-minded people. You can share the website you are viewing using Firefly’s built in Twitter feed and invite friends to browse with you. Cursors can be customized to reflect personal avatars for easier identification. Running logs of Firefly conversations spanning more than a week’s time frame are available at the bottom of the page. Groups of people can gather on a website and discuss the information presented in a conference like manner. Website administrators are able to supervise the chat and warn or ban offensive users. But the future potential of Firefly is what truly shines brightest.
Imagine website virtual tours enriched with the ability to discuss content on the fly. Educators could use Firefly to lead classes through online content to discuss subject matter. Instead of hard copy textbooks and lesson plans illustrated by chalkboard examples, teachers could gather students online at the Museum of Fine Arts website and tour the Egyptian wing. The teacher’s cursor would hover over important images and highlight details of which students should take note. Question and answer sessions would become more orderly. Attentiveness and subject retention would improve for students. Even if only used as a precursor to an actual museum tour, the ability to prepare students for the information in a more interactive fashion than pure lecture is invaluable.
For entrepreneurial sites, Firefly offers website owners the ability to take potential investors and customers through a more in-depth look at their product before making a trip out to meet in person. If there is a particular question about a product, Firefly would allow participants to go directly to the image or video and hover over the item that required deeper analysis. Whereas websites have typically been a static display allowing for one way communication from vendors to customers, Firefly could make the virtual storefront more of a two way conversation.
The public hears more and more about Web 2.0 technology. As the internet evolves from a “look-only” technology to an interactive workspace, users can and will demand more from their web browsing experience. Products like Firefly may seem like simplistic conversation tools, but sometimes the best ideas start off simple. By allowing web page viewers to “buzz around”, Firefly may help raise the bar in baseline website functionality and light the way to a richer internet experience for everyone.