Twitter Faces Abbreviated Challenge

(FiniteTimes.com) – One of the sleeper hits of the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show wasn’t a 3D television, a tablet computer, or an e-reader. In fact, it wasn’t an electronic device at all, but a re-imagining of one of the hottest Internet trends of 2009.

“Think of the Tri-ble (pronounced try-bull) as an abbreviated form of twitter, for those who have neither the time nor words to languish on 140 characters,” Tri-ble creator Josh Sampson told a small crowd gathered around his off-off-floor booth at CES 2010. Tri-ble, inspired by the memorable tribble characters in Star Trek (“They were small and cute, but ultimately formidable and a game-changer.” – Sampson), works just like Twitter, with one exception: users are limited to three words, for a total length of 25 characters.

“Who has time to ramble on and on in Twitter, when study after study have shown that the English language and American attention span are optimally suited for clarity at just three words,” Sampson said, tri-bbling “working, dinner seven?” to his fiancée at the other end of the convention floor.

“Twitter, Clarified” is actually how Sampson has been marketing his new app, and he’s attracted the attention of a number of celebrities and “name” Internet enthusiasts who are seizing on the technology as a way to stay in the spotlight without having to invest a lot of time to do so. Among those who have agreed to participate in Tri-ble’s inaugural Super Bowl commercial:

Former Senator Bob Dole: “Pill, pause, Pwong!”

Former VP candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: “You bet cha.”

RNC Chairman Michael Steel: “Dog Inna House!”

Entertainer Jay Leno: “See you… later!”

Tri-ble is currently in beta-testing, but expects to be live and clarifying the world at its launch during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7.

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