Year / 2005

by Edward Champion

Web 2.0: Hype or Practical Extension of Medium Language?

Tom Coates offers this very interesting sneak peek at a new BBC feature called Annotable Audio. And damn, this has some serious possibilities. Essentially, users will be able to take an audio file and annotate specific sections of it for other users. If there’s any downfall to the idea, it’s that the brain (or, at least, mine anyway) may not be able to process text information and audio information at the same time. But as a reference tool, I can see this as an invaluable interface for something like a podcast. Let’s say, for example, that an interview subject mentions an arcane topic and the listener might be scratching his head, wondering what he’s on about. Well, the informative text is there, perhaps with a few links to other audio segments or alternative presentations.

The BBC has been very ahead of the curve in exploring new technologies. No accident that they were the ones to take on Douglas Adams’ notion of a Web-based Hitchhiker’s Guide. But with all this talk of Web 2.0, this Annotable Audio tool is the kind of thing that represents a transition point between the web language of today (hyperlinks) and its integration with other mediums (sound). And hopefully we’ll see other organizations and companies working to extend vernacular along these lines.

by Edward Champion

You’re a Slipping Bestselling Author, Dan Brown

All extroverts have suddenly become astonishingly antisocial. The sky has turned bright green. The ocean has turned hot pink. To get milk, you must squeeze it out of an iguana’s teat instead of a cow’s. Hot dogs and hot dog buns can be purchased in the exact same increment (both now come in sets of six)! Ants have decided that they were wrong about picnics and have proceeded to invade the banquets of the rich and snooty instead.

In a word, there’s been some small upset in the universe. Because The Da Vinci Code, that book which seemingly everyone has purchased, will NOT, repeat NOT be on the New York Times bestseller list this week.

Tears will be shed this weekend in the Dan Brown household. Fer shure.

by Edward Champion

Roundup

by Edward Champion

The Madness of King George

For the first time in Bush’s presidency, the majority of Americans has serious reservations about Dubya. And it only going to get lower. Not Nixon low, but close enough to strike blood. Little George Fauntleroy, of course, believes, “The way you earn credibility with the American people is to set a clear agenda that everybody can understand, an agenda that relates to their lives, and get the job done.”

But that’s just George’s problem. The American people clearly understand the problem and the disapproval is getting close to including just about everybody. This abomination of a leader has kissed so many girls and made them cry that running away only makes him look even more incompetent.

I’m wondering how many more lives or pennies per gallon it will take to get the approval rating down to the twenties. I’m wondering how much demonstratable corruption, dug up by Fitzgerald or the Phase 2 committee, it will take. Of course, it could be as simple as getting both houses back in next year’s midterm election, assuming there’s more Demo spine to stand on.