Path, the startup that seeks to create a “personal network,” is out with an update to its iPhone app that finally lets users react in-app to photos and 10-second videos shared by friends.
The startup has again opted for something a bit unconventional, however. Instead of introducing traditional comments, something Path has yet to do, it has opted to added the ability to attach emoticons — or “Emotions” as the startup calls them — to photos and videos.
App [iTunes link] users can now select from one of five emotions to visually emote to the photos or videos shared by friend. Emotions are happy, mischievous (ie. the wink), sad, shock, sad and love. And, as is this case with everything Path has done stylistically, emotions are an aesthetically pleasing addition the app. Not only are they cute, but they are carried throughout the app experience.
Emotions, from a functional standpoint, are an interesting, dare I say clever, deviation for the startup. Most social networks allow for “likes” and free-form comments, but most don’t support a range of positive and negative emotions. We anticipate users will respond positively to new addition, as the ability to quickly react to moments shared by friends and visually assess how others are reacting are nice conveniences. Still, app users may be dismayed that, at least for now, comments are not a part of the app experience.
Should Path accumulate a large enough user base and aggregate emotions across its private social network, it could use emotions data to develop a mood algorithm that understands human emotion over time. Of course, that’s a stretch, but perchance there’s more method than madness happening behind the scenes at Path.
The updated app, version 1.3, should be available for download later this afternoon.
Image courtesy of Flickr, paloetic
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