Technology

see also
Aesthetec Studio

hat tip Bre Pettis

see also
Rave Rover

Technology is making possible also sorts of interesting devices, including this new musical instrument.

hat tip Gizmodo

Two weeks ago I posted FITM - Breakfast Club Mashup, a post about a couple fan created videos for the song Lisztomania by the French band Phoenix (wikipedia). I had a chance to watch the official video recently. The video is fine as far as music videos go. However, I was struck by how much more I enjoyed the fan created videos. With video technology getting cheaper and more widely used, encouraging fan videos is a great way to interact and connect with fans as well as generate cheap and effective promotional material.

see also
FITM - No Budget, No Plan, No Rehearsal, No Problem

I'm fascinated by ingenious ideas and this design for a folding UK plug is no exception. I haven't been able to find out any information as to who the designer is. However, it appears that the design is a submission for the James Dyson Awards (UK Folding Plug System).

hat tip boing boing gadgets

With current events in Iran demonstrating the impact of social media, it is worthwhile taking a look at what Clay Shirky (wikipedia) has to say about the changes internet social media is bringing. Clay gave this speech in May 2009.

Clay discusses events in Iran in this Q & A

I previously discussed Clay Shirky's thinking in Now We Can Do Big Things For Love.

People wanting to better understand the social and economic impact of internet technology would do well to seek out Shirky's writing and presentations.

hat tip @GuyKawasaki

While hanging out in a pizzeria late last night, Brad of the band Merchanise mentioned to Andrew Dubber that there was no budget for a second video to support an upcoming album. So Andrew suggested they make a video then and there using his digital camera (it has video capability). This is the result.

Find out more at Andrew Dubber's blog.

Here is a great mashup of the Magnum PI theme and Star Wars. I love how technology and the internet has allowed all sorts of interesting creativity.

Here is a side by side comparison of the original Magnum, PI open with the Han Solo, PI open.

hat tip Gizmodo

Apparently local television stations in Canada are on the verge of disappearing, or so they would have us believe based on their propaganda (if you are interested in finding out about the other side of the discussion you can read the contrary propaganda).

To be honest, I haven't spent any time looking into this issue. Perhaps I should, but advances in technology are game changing and media of all types are in a period of chaos while new business models are being developed. And as a result, I am generally wary of businesses claiming that something "isn't fair."

But what if local television stations did disappear? So what? We are told that local television is beneficial. Perhaps it is, but even if local television does disappear, local news and shows won't. Just as journalism is distinct from Newspapers, so it is with local television.

A HighDefinition camcorder or two, a TriCaster and an internet connection is all you need to get in the game. There will alway be people dedicated to bringing us the local news in a visual format and technology is making easier for more people to participate. Local news whether it's visual, audio or print, isn't going anywhere.