Upcoming: The Intersection of Event Calendars and Social Networking
Upcoming serves as a hybrid platform, blending the utility of a comprehensive event calendar with the connectivity of a social networking site. At its core, the platform functions as a searchable and browseable repository designed to help users discover a wide array of activities, ranging from music concerts and art exhibits to professional conferences.
The platform's strength lies in its community-driven approach. While a significant portion of event data was originally contributed by users, the site saw an increase in data originating from commercial sources in its later years.
Key Facts
- Hybrid Model: Combines event discovery with social networking features.
- User Interaction: Users can mark themselves as "watching" or "going" to specific events.
- Social Connectivity: Supports "friend" relationships and notifications regarding friends' attendance.
- Yahoo Integration: Transitioned to Yahoo! user accounts and the domain upcoming.yahoo.com in early 2007.
- Technical Standards: Utilizes iCalendar, GeoRSS, RSS, and hCalendar microformats.
Evolution and Branding
The platform underwent a significant transition in early 2007. During this period, it migrated to the Yahoo! user accounts system and updated its domain to upcoming.yahoo.com. Along with these technical changes, the service formally rebranded, shortening its name from "Upcoming.org" to simply "Upcoming".
Technical Infrastructure and Syndication
To ensure seamless data portability and accessibility, Upcoming employs several industry-standard protocols for content syndication—the process of making content available for redistribution.
Syndication Standards
- iCalendar, GeoRSS, and RSS: These formats allow event data to be shared and synced across different platforms.
- hCalendar: By using these microformats (small patterns of HTML tags), events can be downloaded directly into various calendar applications.
Developer Access
Upcoming supports an open API (Application Programming Interface), which allows developers to programmatically search for or submit event data, fostering a more open ecosystem for event information.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Function | Searchable event repository and social network |
| Data Sources | User community and commercial sources |
| Syndication Formats | iCalendar, GeoRSS, RSS, hCalendar |
| Integration | Yahoo! user accounts (since 2007) |
| Extensibility | Open API for searching and submission |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of Upcoming?
Upcoming is a searchable repository of events, such as concerts and conferences, that combines calendar functionality with social networking features.
How do users interact with events on the platform?
Users can indicate their interest or intent by marking that they are "watching" or "going" to an event.
How does the social aspect of the site work?
Users can establish "friend" relationships, which allows them to receive notifications about which events their friends are attending.
What happened to Upcoming in 2007?
In early 2007, the site changed its name from "Upcoming.org" to "Upcoming," moved to the domain upcoming.yahoo.com, and adopted the Yahoo! user accounts system.
What technical formats does Upcoming use for calendar integration?
The site uses iCalendar, GeoRSS, RSS, and hCalendar microformats to allow events to be downloaded into calendar applications and syndicated across the web.