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WeeWorld Puts Faces to Names Online

WeeWorld is outfitting people for Web 2.0. I ran into the company at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco Wednesday.

At the WeeWorld site, you can create a cartoon-like alter-ego (called a WeeMee) that represents you in IM conversations, at social networking sites and in blogs.

WeeMees tell online contacts something about what you look like, dress like and feel like. Well, in broad strokes anyway.

Actually, WeeMees look a lot like South Park characters.

I wanted one. So WeeWorld general manager for North America Lauren Bigelow took me to her company's site to get my WeeMee on. After I quickly registered for an account, we began accessorizing.

Bigelow says WeeWorld has developed an API that allows other sites to host the WeeMee-building program. For instance, I could build my WeeMee at the sites of WeeWorld partners like MSN and AOL.

Now when I send someone an IM using AOL AIM, Skype, Windows Live Messenger or Excite, my WeeMee appears beside the text I send. I can also make my WeeMee do tricks like smile, laugh, cry, fall asleep or throw up (really), all for the entertainment (or disgust) of my IM buddies.

WeeMees recognize keywords in IM text, too. If you happen to type the word "sleepy" or "tired" in your IM, chances are your WeeMee will take a little nap. If you type in "angry" your WeeMee might begin to fume.

Bigelow says WeeWorld's purpose is to make online life a little more fun and expressive.

WeeWorld's target demo is the thirteen to thirty-year-old crowd.

Not surprising; it's easy to see how the younger set would dig this stuff. Bigelow says 20 percent of WeeWorld members re-accessorize their WeeMees every day! Seventy percent change it once a week, she says.