WeeMee
Encyclopedia
WOO!
A WeeMee is an animated avatar
for AOL Instant Messenger
, Skype
and Windows Live Messenger
. WeeMees are noted for their resemblance to characters from the series South Park
. It provides homepages that are similar to MySpace or Facebook, along with cartoon-based avatars they can have appear in various chats and game rooms they visit, in their email, on blogs, or on forums.
By June 2005 nearly 5 million users had created a personal WeeMee, In October 2006 Iain Bruce of the Sunday Herald
reported A new WeeMee being created every 5 seconds, and by April 2008 more than 21 million had been created with more than 600,000 new ones being created each month.
began offering the avatars for use to their Hotmail
customers. The new service attracted 150,000 users during the first day of the avatars being launched, with the WeeMee website attracting 1.5 million hits daily. In 2004 the UK's largest social network, Friendsreunited.com, also introduced the WeeMee to their user base. In December 2008 the virtual technology firm DA agreed to develop a 3-D version of the avatar.
, the Middle East
and Africa
, North America
and Asia
(Pacific). In 2008 the WeeWorld opened its application programming interface
(API) for other sites to integrate WeeMees into their own sites. After testings of the API with several partners, including USA Network
and the United Kingdom
's National Health Service
. Microsoft built the NHS
Resource Center and used the API to integrate WeeMees. Approximately 1.3 million NHS employees were encouraged to create their own WeeMee for interaction within the NHS employee community. Since the API was made available, many diverse sites have begun using the avatars.
A WeeMee is an animated avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
for AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997...
, Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
and Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
. WeeMees are noted for their resemblance to characters from the series South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
. It provides homepages that are similar to MySpace or Facebook, along with cartoon-based avatars they can have appear in various chats and game rooms they visit, in their email, on blogs, or on forums.
By June 2005 nearly 5 million users had created a personal WeeMee, In October 2006 Iain Bruce of the Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
reported A new WeeMee being created every 5 seconds, and by April 2008 more than 21 million had been created with more than 600,000 new ones being created each month.
Background
The avatars were created in 1999 by the then CEO and Founder of Saw-You.com, Mike Kinsella, in Glasgow, Scotland, Saw-You.com was founded in 1999. In 2003 MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
began offering the avatars for use to their Hotmail
Hotmail
Windows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live group. It was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as "HoTMaiL". It was one of the first...
customers. The new service attracted 150,000 users during the first day of the avatars being launched, with the WeeMee website attracting 1.5 million hits daily. In 2004 the UK's largest social network, Friendsreunited.com, also introduced the WeeMee to their user base. In December 2008 the virtual technology firm DA agreed to develop a 3-D version of the avatar.
Expansion
In 2005 "Saw You" announced plans to expand WeeMees into EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
(Pacific). In 2008 the WeeWorld opened its application programming interface
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
(API) for other sites to integrate WeeMees into their own sites. After testings of the API with several partners, including USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
. Microsoft built the NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
Resource Center and used the API to integrate WeeMees. Approximately 1.3 million NHS employees were encouraged to create their own WeeMee for interaction within the NHS employee community. Since the API was made available, many diverse sites have begun using the avatars.