XTech 2007: Open AIM as It Relates to You

Kevin Lawver

This is a presentation. If you'd like to view all the slides like a normal web page, you can.

What is OpenAIM and what can it do for you?

Set of developer tools

• Extend functionality beyond the AIM client
  • Tap into existing community of 68 million users

Web AIM (Beta)

• Add AIM to your web page
  • Ability to send and receive messages, set presence, access users' Buddy lists, etc

AIM CC

• SDK to build your own custom client
  • Add AIM functionality to your current application

AIM Bots

• Create interactive Bots for any purpose
  • Bot is able to interact with your community in real-time, on-demand

AIM Plugins

• Add your specific features to AIM
  • Access built-in location based services (Skyhook)

Open Success Stories

AIM Pro

• Built using AIM Custom Client
  • Enterprise level AIM client
  • More info

Lite AIM

• Built using AIMCC
  • Small memory footprint client without all the bells and whistles
  • More info

SCI's PlayLinc

• Gives gamers many tools including AIM/ICQ integration
  • AIM integration allows gamers to communicate with their friends and set-up matches
  • More info

The Lounge

• Virtual world where music fans can hang out, talk about music and interact
  • Uses AIMCC
  • More info

Chumby

• Will launch with an AIM widget built on the Web AIM beta platform.
  • Custom Flash class will be added later this year (Time Frame TBD)
  • More info

What does this give you

• Ability to tap into the existing AIM network
• Create communities around existing screennames (OpenAuth)
• Promotion from AIM site for applications built on AIM platform
• Limitless mashup possibilities

So what does this give us

• Further growth of AIM network beyond AIM client
• Tested, stable environment that is easily extended
• Less development time and energy to integrate with other applications

Aim Developer User License

Currently license restricts development to:

...and your Application shall be for use with the U.S. based version of the AOL Service exclusively.

• Legal and product management are working to revise this ASAP

Kevin's turn

Open Building Blocks

• We're going to talk about two:
  • Open Identity
  • Open Interaction and Social Data

Case Study: User Authentication

Ficlets

• A site for folks without a lot of time who want to write stories
• An "innovation" project built by a very small team in a very short period of time using Ruby on Rails

Enter OpenID and OpenAuth

OpenID

• Distributed identity:

OpenID starts with the concept that anyone can identify themselves on the Internet the same way websites do-with a URI (also called a URL or web address). Since URIs are at the very core of Web architecture, they provide a solid foundation for user-centric identity.

OpenAuth

• Allows third-party sites to authenticate AOL/AIM users in their web apps
• more info

What It Buys Ficlets

• No more passwords! Users don't have to remember yet another one, and I don't have to store them.
• I don't have to create the "oops I forgot my password" UI!

Integration

• OpenID: Ficlets used the OpenID Enabled Ruby Library
• OpenAuth: Three methods in the signin controller... took about 20 minutes.

Demo

• Go sign in!

Case Study: No More Blank Slates

Web AIM

• Allows third party sites to access AOL/AIM users' buddy lists, send IMs and create mashups around and through the AIM network.
• more info

Well, How Can That Help Me?

• Make use of a user's existing social network!
• Interact in real time with your users, allow them to share your content with their friends
• Add IM and Buddy List to your existing application, widget platform, blog, etc.

Example: Widget

• Using Netvibes' UWA, I created a simple Buddy List widget.
• Try it out
• Works great in standalone mode, but there's currently an open question about module servers that keeps it from working in the "real" NetVibes.

How it Works

• Almost a drop in of the Whimsicals code, with a little bootstrapping to make it work in UWA and to fix some CSS stuff.
• Whimsicals are just a reference implementation. JSON and XML APIs are available for you to build apps around.

Example: The Social Blank Slate

• I can't get my friends or family to set up a feed reader to keep up with my blog, photos, etc
• But, they'll actively prune and keep their buddy list in AIM.
• Why not use that to make it easy to set up a feed reader?

Enter: Buddy Reader

• Removes the "blank slate" problem by pre-populating your feed list with your buddies' feeds
• Allows your friends to alert you to new sources of their content

Demo: Buddy Reader

• Currently running on my laptop
• Signin
• Choose my buddies
• Update my feeds
• Browse

Possibilities

• What else could you do?
• How else could a user's existing buddy list remove barriers or give your product a head start?
• What else do you want?

Conclusion

• There's no need to start a "green field" social network.
• Leverage your users' existing connections.
• Have fun, and be open.