Interesting. I've just been watching a video stream of XML Prague. put on by river-valley.tv. Since I couldn't be there this was the next best thing - also, I didn't have a hangover on Sunday morning, unlike some :-). Managed to put faces to names I knew and heard some very good presentations.

The video feed had a portion of the screen used for a sort of irc channel. The conference had created a Twitter feed. I created an IRC channel. Then I sat back and started to wonder about this. There are so many ways for 'groups' to talk. Briefly (a conference), longer (project development?), long term (a long term project such as Docbook). Instantly (irc or Twitter), delayed (Wiki?), email. Archived or not? etc etc etc. The number of choices is becoming bewildering. Seems today it's likely to be habit or personal preference or a wish to take advantage of certain features of certain channels, but I wonder how this will develop (or start to merge perhaps).

Seems like a very good conference to attend though. The video is a real benefit for non-attendees, despite missing the beer in Prague!