Out Goes “Twitter” In comes “Foursquare” as I told you in 2008! Geomedia are on the rise.

Schedule IVSA conference 2010 Bologna

This is the schedule of the conference, download: IVSA2010_final_schedule

Deus ex Machina, MICROSOFT KINECT much more than a new game controller

The genie is “almost” out of the box. This has been in the making for a long time, far from being something technically new (many machines have been able to decode visual information for some time now) it is something phenomenally different and uniquely important. A game controller on the surface, it is under the skin the first huge leap in the uncharted water of next generation interacting “sensing machines”. On the surface an innovative game controller, under the skin a “game changer”, the first baby step of a new generation of interacting devices. Think of the game industry as a huge incubator or training facility in which the machine is using us to learn to interact with us. A two players game in which one tries to outsmart the other reacting to each gamers every move. The potential evolution of this technology is no short of a science fiction scenario. Do not be confused, we are not playing the machine, the machine is learning to play us. It´s the first step, they can now see and interpret the world, much more will soon come.

Google needs Caffeine

This is a really interesting evolution. Google has updated his world renowned algorithm to a new version code named “Caffeine”. While the old index generated by the algorithm “had several layers, some of which were refreshed at a faster rate than others; the main layer would update every couple of weeks. To refresh a layer of the old index, we would analyze the entire web, which meant there was a significant delay between when we found a page and made it available to you.
With Caffeine, we analyze the web in small portions and update our search index on a continuous basis, globally. As we find new pages, or new information on existing pages, we can add these straight to the index. That means you can find fresher information than ever before—no matter when or where it was published”.
You can read about it and know more by pointing to the original googleblogpost here

International Visual Sociology Association (IVSA) 2010 International Conference Bologna

We are getting close. Program of the conference will be released monday the 14th. For the list of Hotels in Bologna and a map to see their location download these files

Hotels Map

Download a list of hotels here :bologna_hotels

Privacy and Jurisdiction in the Network Society

Privacy and Jurisdiction in the Network Society Article by Gry Hasselbalch, May 2010 “In the network society, the right to privacy is challenged by new automated methods of collecting data and global information networks used to their full potential by both state actors and non-state actors. New technologies hold a potential for increasingly sophisticated methods of state’s intelligence gathering and police investigations. Moreover, with the introduction of the internet, a space for private parties as data disseminators, collectors and processors has been created. This development has expanded the primarily negative scope of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights to include also positive obligations. In its case law, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has on several occasions addressed the challenges of technological progress to the right to privacy and stipulated the positive obligations of states when securing the appropriate balance between the benefits of technologies and the right to privacy. In some aspects the stipulations are rather clear however, there are some implications of the ECHR’s application of a primarily territorial definition of jurisdiction to the question of global information networks that creates a level of uncertainty as to the essence of state parties’ to the convention obligations….” Gry Hasselbalch, May 2010
link: here

Seminar: Envisioning Theory, Media Convergence and Live Performances @ Hum-Tek. (Time lapse Video:Dan Schou)

Well I guess you can really tell that I am originally from Italy. I am basically conducting an orchestra with my hands while talking

Google goes Hyperlocal.

well as I have described again and again the evolution of Geomedia is fast paced nowadays. Google is the first to offer services that finetune your research results based on your current location. This, as I repeat once again, is just the tip of the iceberg of what is going to happen once Geomedia get in full swing. stay tuned for more.

The Sony Bloggie 360 degrees videocamera hits the streets!

Sony has started selling what may be considered the first commercial 360 degrees video camera on the market for only 190 USD! I certainly want one now!

LINK here

THE PUBLIC DOMAIN MANIFESTO

Go read and SIGN the Public Domain Manifesto.

“After decades of measures that have drastically reduced the public domain, typically by extending the terms of protection, it is time to strongly reaffirm how much our societies and economies rely on a vibrant and ever expanding public domain. The role of the public domain, in fact, already crucial in the past, it is even more important today, as the Internet and digital technologies enable us to access, use and re-distribute culture with an ease and a power unforeseeable even just a generation ago. The Public Domain Manifesto aims at reminding citizens and policy-makers of a common wealth that, since it belongs to all, it is often defended by no-one. In a time where we for the first time in history have the tools to enable direct access to most of our shared culture and knowledge it is important that policy makers and citizens strengthen the legal concept that enables free and unrestricted access and reuse.” (http://publicdomainmanifesto.org)

I …PAD? really I PAD! What were they thinking? They have really lost their cool naming this one.

and there you go, as expected! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFNQE_TzQNI

Update: 29/1/10:  this one is even better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4 (thxs Sarah or he link)

Google set to sell ads for Streetview. The first steps into the GeoMedia commercial renegotiation of the Virtual MAp

As I described a long time ago in the GeoMedia study (hopefully soon to be published in an article) companies that have invested in Geomedia applications, such as google maps and street view will soon se and invest in the commercial potential of their administrated Virtual Space. The question is are we going to see a fight over representations of public space. Landmark monuments would offer great location for virtual ads. Think the statue of Liberty or the Eiffel tower with a big “Apple” or “Coca Cola” ad rotating over them. We are only witnessing the beginning. Things are going to get more interesting real soon when companies institutions and private citizens will realize the potential use of their virtually represented spaces.

LINK to the abstract of my article on Geomedia: here

LINK to articles on this story: here

“A New Approach to China” Google stops Censoring of search results in China!

Well this is major news today! Google has stopped its collaboration with chinese authorities and stopped the self censorship imposed by the chinese government to operate in China. This follows what Google described as vicious hackers´attacks on some of it´s chinese based Gmail accounts (owned by chinese human rights activists). The impact of this decision will be huge. I can only commend their response.

This is the link to the official Google post describing the events and the action taken.
ttp://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html

“Sixthsense” closes the gap between the Real and Virtual world.

A really noteworthy invention from the mind of the young and talented Pranav Mistry closes the gap between real and virtual worlds. Things are really getting interesting.

PS. Why is Maes presenting the “SIxthsense” and not the designer himself?

3D Video, the evolution continues.

The other day the BBC reported on a new start up company that since March 2009 offers 3D imaging technology and 3D videos of live events for users to interactively enjoy. The company called Yellowbird touts this new technology that will change the way we experience events and videos. Almost two yeas ago I already reported on another company Immersivemedia the first to offer this same technology (pictured on the left) and 3D videos. Despite Yellowbird being still in development and rather rudimentary in comparison to Immersivemedia technologies (long available to the military and the public) both companies and the new found public and media attention are a sign of the new momentum that 3D imaging is gaining. Once again I still think that the best of these new technologies and applications has still to come. The technology to support these applications is already here, they just need to be refined and rethought outside the box. Watch demos here (Immersivevideo) and here (Yellowbird). My original 2008 article is here

“Ready or not, the latest 3D technology is coming home”

A good article on incoming 3D technology here at endgadget. I know we tried it before and it did not work. But I am confident that things will be different this time, so look out for 3D technologies coming home soon.

 

NET Neutrality: Just when we thought things were getting better

“U.S. Senator John McCain has introduced legislation that would block the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from creating new net neutrality rules, on the same day that the FCC took the first step toward doing so.”  Reuters full article here

Needless to say, Net Neutrality is the biggest battle we are facing today to maintain a free internet. It is amazing how the rhetorics of McCain´s proposal totally twist the reality of the facts.

If you do not know enough about it, DO read about it  here

PS. I cannot find info regarding the author of the image, if you do know who made it please let me know and I will credit.

International Visual Sociology Association Conference live stream

I have set up a live stream of the Cumbria conference with the hosts in Carlile this is the direct link:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cumbria-ivsa-2009
started at 10 am GMT 22d of july look for program on visualsociology.org

The Pirate Bay Sold for $7.8 Million

Another one going down in history with the likes of Mosaic (many will wonder what that is/was right???) and what about the first peep to peer file exchange software? name it in less then 2 seconds if you can. The name is more catchy but its faith equally predictable. Naturally the game is not over neither the debate.

Audiovisuality in the Era of Digital Convergence

This is the link to the Phd course on “Audiovisuality in the Era of Digital Convergence” that I organized in collaboration with Professor Taisto Hujanen. Selected contributions will be published in the forthcoming special issue of “Visual Studies”, “The New Economy of the Image” that I am editing for publication at the end of the year. Stay tuned for more details.