辛辣的想法:为什么视频正在改变世界

This is the first installment of 何塞-卡斯蒂略’s new column, 辣的想法, in which Jose will bring his considerable knowledge of Web 2.0 video to bear on the issues and challenges facing new media outlets. If you’ve seen Jose’s insightful, funny presentations at any of the 流媒体 shows, you know that whatever he has to say, it’ll be worth reading.

This was supposed to be a standard review of yet another video service. I would start out with a witty quote or analogy and then go through the features and benefits. The discussion of user interface versus underlying technology would probably be won by the interface design. I would mention a few competitors and give some examples of how individuals and companies were using the service. After no more than 850 words I would email this to my editor and go on to the next flashy new media toy. 但在我最近的评论中发生了一些事情. I was reminded why video is so important and why it is changing the world … it’s all about people communicating.

I frequently give presentations on the latest trends in online tools and services, and the week before I wrote this I spoke to a graduate class of digital media students at a local university. 其中一个学生, 路易, 是个聋子, and he had expressed an interest in learning more about one of the video sites I had talked about, Seesmic (www.seesmic.com). He was eager to see if he could use Seesmic as a tool for the deaf to communicate using sign language. I had never thought about using a video tool like this for the deaf, and it was interesting to think about how much we limit our ideas. 路易斯开始了一件有趣的事.

那么什么是地震呢? In September 2007, web entrepreneur and blogger Loic Le Meur launched Seesmic.com. Currently still in private beta (sign up on the website and you will usually receive an invitation within 24 hours), 地震是一种简单的方法, 快速视频对话工具. Record or upload a video through your browser and receive instant video responses from other users around the world. 听起来很简单, 而且好得令人难以置信, but almost every time I record a post I get video replies right away. This is different from video chat, and it keeps track of conversations and generates RSS feeds. 该公司每周更新一次. With investors such as Michael Arrington from TechCrunch and video blogging pioneer Steve Garfield, Seesmic is harnessing video and technology thought leaders along with its very active userbase to change online video conversations.

路易 is a perfect example of how people are helping companies to change quickly. He sent me a message saying that he wanted to try Seesmic but had not received his invitation. 我给洛伊克发了个消息, who was very interested in how Seesmic could be used for deaf conversations; he assured me 路易 would get his invitation. Just a few hours later 路易 logged on to Seesmic and recorded his first post. Using American Sign Language he recorded a brief welcome video, and the responses were instantaneous. A young guy from France figured out how to sign "welcome to Seesmic," a user from London wrote a "hello" in Sharpie marker on packing tape, an older woman from New York talked about her work with special needs communication, and 19 videos later 路易 was in the midst of an incredible discussion about how we communicate and how people with disabilities use technology.

Most importantly, 路易 had started an idea about how to use video to change peoples’ lives. We all are guilty of focusing too much on the tools we use every day. Blinded by the coolness of our latest application or service, we sometimes forget that connecting human beings is at the core of online media. We are well-versed in what tools to use and how to best deliver content, but we need to remind ourselves why we get out of bed every morning. 谢谢你！, 路易, for reminding me that we have barely scratched the surface of how technology can change the world.

所以下次你打开相机的时候, 登录到您的web应用程序, 或者打开你的笔记本电脑, take a moment to think about why you are doing your job. 视频正在改变世界, and folks like 路易 and Loic are providing the conversation and the place. 你可以在www上注册.seesmic.加入我们的对话. 路易很想和你谈谈. 他的地震主页是http://api.seesmic.Com/lsrccrd，我的是http://api.seesmic.com/thinkjose.

在我写完这篇文章几周后, the conversation on deaf communication is still going on strong. 路易和洛伊克一直在传消息, and I had my first American Sign Language lesson on Seesmic the other day. 路易 is considering applying for an internship with Loic and the company that inspired him.