web 2.0 ideas

Here are three web sites that I would like to see --

1. A virtual trade show in which each store has an instant messaging window (as in meebo.com)
2. An advertising campaign for... nothing. So much of advertising is designed to create dissatisfaction, consumer demand and overconsumption. Instead, let's have an on-line campaign in which people / creative agencies submit commercials and advertisements that are designed to make people happy with what they have.
3. A shoulder surfing website, in which you can go and passively watch OTHER people surf the web.

Please leave a comment if you know of any such sites...

Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us

This is an interesting new-media video reflecting on the meanings and ramifications of the hyperlinked, hypertexted, interactive, participatory web today.



Source: http://mediatedcultures.net/ksudigg/

Bus tracking in Finland using FLASH-OFDM

This link shows the current position of buses in Helsinki, Finland.

Note that it doesn't seem to work in Firefox (although it works in IE and Safari).

The technology is based on FLASH-OFDM, which has been deployed in Finland by Digita.

http://research.wspgroup.fi/hklajoneuvot/

Volcano High

http://www.mtv.com/onair/volcano_high/

This is the MTV re-dubbing of a Korean martial arts movie that takes place inside a special high school... Volcano High.

"It’s a hip-hop kung-fu flick with mind blowing special effects backed by an impressive cast of celebrity voices including Andre 3000, Lil' Jon, Snoop Dogg, Method Man and Mya. Brace yourself, Grasshopper."

Here is the link to the video on peekvid (while it lasts):


http://adrama.peekvid.com/s3306/

Google TV: is it real?

This is a video of a beta feature from google... or perhaps an elaborate mockup of a feature that google should provide...



Here is commentary:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/28/google-tv-an-elaborate-prank/
http://michikono.com/blog/2007/01/28/googletv-examining-the-evidence/

Is it real? Apparently not, but it points to a big potential change from traditional broadcast to internet delivery in the next few years. (Ref. tv.peekvid.com).

Update: I just saw this video from the same source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8Wi7XRXCA
It's hilarious. These videos are from an art studio called Fatal Farm, which is in the business of creating mock commercials and in this case semi-plausible technical hoaxes...
http://www.fatalfarm.com/main.html

Update: a related posting - Bill Gates on the internet television revolution:
http://news.com.com/Gates+Internet+to+revolutionize+TV+in+5+years/2100-1041_3-6154009.html

www.peekvid.com

Not sure how long this site will last, but it links to a wide collection of TV shows and movies.

Issues of legality aside, it is quite enjoyable to stream and watch commercial-free episodes of TV shows one after another. The technology appears ready for making this experience mainstream, but the right legal / business model hasn't been established yet. Perhaps Apple or Netflix (or Google) will make this work...

My favorite shows on this site are The Office and Scrubs. By watching the episodes consecutively, it makes it easier to be more aware of the larger structure and connecting themes of the series... Actually, there are some similarities between these two workplace sitcoms: transition from newbie to seasoned veteran through the crucible of work, the latent love affair between two co-workers who are best friends, the flawed but well-meaning boss/mentor...



Some comments on peekvid:

http://www.freedomtodiffer.com/freedom_to_differ/2006/12/peekvid.html

http://digg.com/gaming_news/Wii_Browser_Alluc_org_Peekvid_com_Ultimate_Time_Waster

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070117160314AAquyDK

Mac vs. PC ... in Japanese

Here are Japanese versions of the Mac vs. PC ads.

http://www.apple.com/jp/getamac/ads/

It's notable that they capture the content ("Virus" and "iLife") and the spirit of the originals precisely. The salaryman with horn-rimmed glasses captures the awkwardness of John Hodgman's "PC" character, while the other actor embodies laid-back slacker confidence.

UPDATE: Here is the British version:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/29/apple-uk-im-a-mac-im-a-pc-smashing-isnt-it/