Ustream Adds Live Applause and Polls

With any startup, it’s not about adding the features everyone else has. It’s about creating the specific features that reinforce your unique selling proposition. Live video streaming site Ustream adds two new features to make their offering more live.

The Shout Meter:

Every time you click, you boost both your personal shout volume for the show (how interested you are), as well as the overall roar of the crowd. Both measures of shout volume are dynamic–as soon as you stop clicking, both your personal shout volume and the roar of the crowd start to fade. This lets Ustream measure the second-by-second excitement level of each show, and highlight the most exciting shows by featuring them on the homepage and program guide.

Live Polls:

The new Ustream will also let our broadcasters find out how their audience feels with our new Live Polls. At any time during your broadcast, you can go to the Broadcaster Console and set up an Live Poll just by clicking Poll and filling out the form.

Both these features look like they need a lot of concurrent traffic to become useful. Hope Ustream builds their audience to test these ideas.