Facebook – something useless, something cool?

Have you ever seen or come across any of Google’s so called ‘easter eggs’ or some may call it hoaxes. Well recently something similar has been floating around Facebook.

So one of your friends posts something like:

1. Copy this line @+[245771012146935:0]
2. Paste it as a comment below
3. Delete the “+” sign
4. Hit Enter and watch the magic..

And just like magic, it changes to ‘I’m an idiot xD’. No you did not type that yourself. Facebook changed it for you; to tell you what you are. =)

Well its simple. In reality it links to a page on Facebook called ‘I’m and idiot xD’. Pretty clever right? The more interesting thing is, that it doesn’t just link to that particular page. As some of you might notice that the string xyz in @[xyz:0] links to the page reference on Facebook. This is not just limited to Facebook pages but also works with groups/profiles (use the profile ID number not the name) and just about anything.

To try it out simple type @[put_your_ref_number_here:0] then hit Enter and boom it changes to a link to your specified group, page, profile, etc.

Now you could use this as a marketing thing to get people to your page. Combine it with a QR code or something similar, but I guess people would be reluctant to post a string from a QR code straight on to their Facebook status’ or any posts. The idea would be to have a QR which when scanned opens up the Facebook app on your phone and confirms if you’d like to post it as your status or if you’d like to visit the page. The possibilities are endless. A small string like that will work easier and better, as it will generate simpler QR codes, and because QR codes can still be scanned even with a 30% error in the QR graphic; a smaller string largely increases the chances of the QR being read quickly and easily. So something similar to the QR option of being able to send a text message, or opening your browser to take you to a specific URL, etc. can be implemented to do something similar. Of course you’d ask if URLs can already be implemented directly as QRs, why would you want a stupid string? Well for simplicity, and a reduction in error (I just told you QRs have an error tolerance of around 30%).

Interesting stuff, but useful?

 

TextPoetry – the beginning

So, I’ve been going on about the TextPoetry to a few of you for a while now, and I finally got a chance to start on it. I have been working on a simple one page website which will give out all the details. This website is very much similar to an earlier website I created for Emma Sing, at www.singhforcharity.co.cc. These single page websites are a great way to promote things such as the competition, upcoming events and in Emma’s case her charity walk.

So the webpage is now up at www.textpoetry.co.uk.

This competition was made possible by a funding bit to O2 ThinkBig scheme. Along with that, volunteering at Aik Saath for 2 years now, have created beautiful links with many other people and organisations and I was able to get BlackBerry (RIM), to sponsor this competition by donating a BlackBerry handset as the winning prize. This donation of this handset is still in the pipeline and as soon as I have confirmation of it, I will be putting up details of the prize.

Along with this I have decided to use an internet based text-messaging service, so that I can automatically add all the text messages received straight into the database.

I have also created a very simple voting area, which wont be open for till around late November. This voting are will allow everybody to ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ the poem. As the entrants will be kept anonymous (as described in the Terms and Condition of the competition), I have created a random post generator, which on every page refresh brings up a random post from a database. People can then either like or dislike the poem. A record of all likes and dislikes is kept in a database, and the amount is in no way displayed to the voters/users. This is because, the likes and the dislikes are only a guidance on the trends, and will just help us/judges decide on the winning entries. Just to confirm, the winning entries will be decided by the judges.

The phone number and the bbpin for you to send in your entries is yet to be confirmed, as soon as details are confirmed, everything will be updated online and the competition will be live. Facebook open even invitation will be created for you to invite as many people as you like to help your best mate win a blackberry.

Just waiting for a few things to fit into place, and the competition will be live. Till then get your creative minds on and start thinking of those 152 characters that will win you a BlackBerry Smartphone.

If you have any direct questions regarding this competition, the email us at info@textpoetry.com

For any other inquiries, email at me@mansimransingh.com

Tweet @MSingh_5 with #TextPoetry.

Happy Poet-ing.