Tech Exploration: Evite∞

Discussion leader/summarizer: [CathyLu]
A sample of a personal evite invitation signup page∞
See the complete founding story of Evite here∞

Key Features

The technology behind Evite is basically a kind of web-database streaming technology which is also used in many kinds of commercial websites such as shopping bots that compare prices across the web. So far the core technology is not publicized as it is probably still business secrecy. It was started off by two Stanford computer science students with a programming language they created, Ootle. The following are some major functionalities Evite currently offers to its users in free form:

1. Evite helps its user in organizing personal events by providing appropriate virtual communication channels and space, for example, email invitation, personalized web page signup, guest message board, and etc..
PaulResnick: I think that one of the key innovations is the public RSVP for events. Invitees can see which other invitees are planning to attend an event.

2. It offers planning ideas, theme suggestion, and places/things of interest to its user as an information resource for event planning.

3. It provides facility to its user to meet online friends as well as potential dating partners through its Evite network and people search.

4. The user can manage many types of personal information on the site, including personal calendar, addressbooks, photos, and guest messages.

Among similar web services, Evite is seen as a close competitor to Friendster, Craigslist, Emode, Meetup, etc., but its event planning feature does maintain a unique characteristics when it is compared with other social networking sites.

Ideal contexts of use

It seems to me that the technology Evite utilizes can also be used for online communities which organize group events, build interpersonal communication, search for information of interest, and provide any other form of networking services.

Connections with other readings, ideas, etc.

[JudeYew] I think that looking at evite offers many interesting points of discussion for our class. I think that evite handles the public/private divide very well as it allows one to handle what is ostensibly private, one's guestlist, with delicacy and finesse. I have been using evite for a number of years now and feel that it eliminates the hassles that surround organizing parties by allowing you to generate customizable e-mail invitations and manage RSVPs online. It enables everyone to be their own event planner/manager sort of.


What I don't like about evite is that my information goes on file without my knowledge or permission. While I am pleased that my friends can organize a party easily, once they add my name and address to the database, there's not a damn thing I can do about getting it out of the system (far as I can tell, anyway).