November, 2008
What I’ve Learnt From #Mumbai
I guess people have been thinking it, but it’s a great opportunity for a select few to get exposure using social media.
I followed with great interest on Twitter, people who may or may not be on the ground updating on the situation in #Mumbai. One particular user from India was updating every other minute, giving live commentary which were summaries of what he had seen live on television. I know this because he was considerate enough to cite his sources. In between commentary, he was exchanging his opinions with other Twitter users as well. Clearly some people got up and paid attention to him. I know I did.
So if you’re lucky enough to latch on to an emerging story, and have access to somewhat privileged information like that fellow’s live Indian TV broadcasts, it’s a good opportunity for just about anyone to play the part of citizen journalist. Even if you’re not really there that’s alright. There’s 15 minutes of fame (maybe more) in relaying information to the rest of the world.
And how about the now world famous Vinu? His images captured during early hours of the attack have propelled him into the limelight. Nobody noticed that the earlier images on Flickr didn’t bear his watermark. He was in the right place at the right time (maybe not so right), and he was able to ride the wave of search queries. Perhaps we’ll see ads on his blog soon.
The fact is that everyone likes a catastrophe as long as it’s not happening to them. Katrina, Sichuan, etc etc. These things capture hits, and if you’re quick, clever or amoral enough, there is much profit to be made from harnessing the internet in the wake of such events.
Who knows? I might get a few hits off this post as well.
No Clean Feed
“The Australian Federal Government is pushing forward with a plan to force Internet Service Providers [ISPs] to censor the Internet for all Australians. This plan will waste tens of millions of taxpayer dollars and slow down Internet access.
Despite being almost universally condemned by the public, ISPs, State Governments, Media and censorship experts, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is determined to force this filter into your home.”
Being from Singapore, I am accustomed to living with censorship, but the last thing I want is for that kind of censorship to come to Australia as well. Australia isn’t a nanny state, so there’s no need for this kind of mollycoddling. Another thing is that this is going to slow down the internet and make it more expensive.
As if the internet in Australia isn’t slow and expensive enough!
The Time Machine
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8rJ1WML60Y
Interactive Cinema Comes to the Small Screen!
Really love this concept of a choose your own adventure style game on YouTube!
I’m a big fan of repurposing websites or services like that. Now I’ll never see YouTube the same way ever again!
