I can't add much to this press release from CNN, detailing its partnership with Photosynth, which is part of "The Moment."
Now is there some liberal bias in turning the inauguration of Barack Obama into such a media swoon? I mean, isn't "The Moment" a bit pretentious? Sure there is. But everyone likes a ceremony, and moreover, the country is kinda liberal now, isn't it? And the world even more so. CNN, which has to compete with MSNBC here at home, and with the BBC, Al Jazeera, etc. overseas, can't be blamed for joining in on the fun, playing to liberals. That's competitive Cable Gaming in action.
But concerns about fairness aside, to its unvarnished credit, CNN is embracing new net-based technology, which oftentimes transcends ideology. Indeed, when The Cable Gamer thinks about the impact of technology on the news, she sometimes wonders whether technology isn't the new punditry, as well as the new artistry. That is, think about about the artistry of a company such as Pixar, the film company that Steve Jobs sold to Disney awhile back. (Although, of course, it's not really a film company, is it? Better to call it a digital company, where the technical virtuosity of the CGI product has nearly overtaken the scripts and voice talent.)
And the same with the promise of technology, and how it might supersede punditry. If everyone is creating their own media, well, then, the impact of any individual pundit is lessened. It's the difference between hawkers in the bazaar and priests in the cathedral, to borrow Eric S. Raymond's famous technoduality. Raymond was writing about open-source software vs. proprietary software (in which MSFT, interestingly, was on the proprietary/cathedral side), but the dichotomy applies here, too. If all of CNN's "iReporters" are liberal, well, then, CNN will put on a liberal show on Tuesday. And while CNN still has a duty to safeguard journalistic standards, the fact is that people have a voice, too. And so they will.
Which in turn gives me a chance to climb my blogsoap box and declare, yet again: For the news media to survive and thrive--be they Cable Gamers, or Net Gamers, or Convergence Gamers--they always have to be offering people better and better tools, so that they, the people, can be part of the show.
And that's what CNN is doing with Photosynth, from Microsoft. Here's the full text of the release:
CNN Enlists iReporters to Capture ‘The Moment’ of Obama’s Oath
Network to Use Microsoft Photosynth and User-Generated Photos to Create 3-D Image of Inauguration
CNN Worldwide plans to create the most unique view of the exact moment U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at noon (ET). Using Microsoft Photosynth technology, CNN and Microsoft Corp. will produce the first “synth” of a major historical moment.
Photosynth, part of the Microsoft Virtual Earth product family, enables users to create synths, detailed 3-D environments of photos that are identified by minute similarities and then fused together. In this case, the initial images comprise those captured on cell phones, cameras and mobile devices by inauguration attendees of the moment Obama is sworn in as president. From the vast sweep of the crowd to a close-up on the new president’s raised hand, every angle of this historic moment will be frozen in time. To see examples of synths, visit http://photosynth.com.
CNN is inviting people witnessing “The Moment” to take part in a special iReport assignment by e-mailing their pictures to themoment@CNN.com. The photos will post immediately to iReport.com, CNN’s user-generated news community, and shortly after the oath of office, viewers and users can see the resulting synths on-air and online. In staying with CNN’s long tradition of using technology to reinvent political coverage, the network will feature the synths on the Magic Wall. The use of Photosynth within the multi-touch environment will be made possible by the strong relationship among CNN, Perceptive Pixel and Microsoft.
Visitors to CNN.com will also be able to explore the images captured in this transformative moment on either their PC or Mac. Photosynth will allow CNN.com visitors to glide around the Capitol, thus virtually experiencing the occasion from every angle. For more details on sending in photos and to view the synths on Inauguration Day, visit www.CNN.com/themoment.
“We’re pleased to partner with CNN to bring this historic event to life through the eyes of those attending the inauguration,” said Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president, Microsoft. “Microsoft Photosynth technology enables an immersive experience for CNN to share with all of its viewers.”
“As the nation watches this momentous moment on Tuesday, CNN, through this partnership with Microsoft, will again make television history,” said David Bohrman, CNN’s senior vice president and D.C. bureau chief. “From the YouTube debates to the Magic Wall, CNN has proven itself as the network which embraces technological tools to engage viewers and allow them to witness news events in ways never before imagined.”
