I’m really pleased to be speaking at Mashup Event’s Social Media 09. It’s a great line up and I’m in the exciting but nervous position of talking last. So partly to keep the surprise and partly to stop people from “acquiring” ideas, I’m going to keep the details of what I’m talking about under wraps.

The broad brush strokes of what I’m talking about though, are how it seems kind of odd to be talking about the social web or even the real-time web or flow-by web. These are all excellent and semi-interchangeable names for bits of technology which are almost totally invisible now to the people who use them. To pigeon hole these technologies, and to give them a name, especially when as a collection of things they’re now so diverse and nebulous sometimes can make them seem like a fad, or a whipping boy or magical.

However I think we’re on the horizon of some interesting implications of what we’re making and thinking at this point in time. We have the bits and pieces of technology to do some incredible things, some of which have societal implications which will outlast these names we give the technology now.

I’m interested in relating a few stories to what happens when things flip (or in some cases flip back) to a situation where people are more in control and existing hegemonies are broken. Some good, some bad and then hopefully some good again to leave people feeling smiley and that all is good in the world.

I’m really excited about speaking and would like to thank Simon and Phillip for the invitation. Hopefully see some of you on the 12th.