I came to some conclusion for these questions about Web 2.0 Usability. I read an article from Clay Spinuzzi called the "The Methodology of Participatory Design." Participatory design calls for an open relationship between designers and users in the development of a product. This methodology indirectly affected the on-going design of Twitter (and other Web 2.0 products) as it moved from an application that enables users to broadcast to a application that allows users to broadcast, network, and have dialogue. These developments of Twitter came through user influence as I detailed in previous entries. Basically, users and designers developed this weak partnership to optimize the application. Spinuzzi calls for strong partnerships between users and designers in Participatory Design. In Web 2.0 dynamics, there exists this sense of "weak cooperation" among users, who upload and content on these applications (YouTube, Wikipedia, Facebook, etc.) (Aguiton and Cardon, 2008). In the case of Twitter, this weak cooperation has grown not just among users but among users and designers. The objective seems to be to create a sustainable system of use.
One thing to think about is the affect on Professional Writing. Organizations are often looking to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, etc. for market outreach in communication with their stakeholders. I will write about these examples as we go along. Professional Writers may be asked to organize this Web 2.0 outreach. But, there is a difference between Professional Writers who are asked to use these Web 2.0 tools and those who are asked to create an application. In the latter, the Professional Writer can act as a designer and has control over the tool and the system. But, in the former, the Professional Writer has influence over the system of communication and production but not the design. In this situation, analysis of the user's objective is important in choice of the appropriate tool.
Aguiton, C. and Cardon, D. (2007). The Strength of Weak Cooperation: An Attempt to Understand the meaning of Web 2.0. Communications & Strategies. Retrieved April 6, 2009, from General BusinessFile ASAP.
Spinuzzi, C. (2005). The Methodology of Participatory Design. Technical Communication. 52(2). 163.
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