June 24, 2007
You.tv or Lifecasting
An insightful and thorough article by Brian Solis for Social Computing Magazine on the phenomenon of lifecasting on the Web - past and present.
"... Get ready for lifecasting
Lifecasting is the new "it" term to describe one's use of video to project their life on the Web. Yes, it's been done before, but it didn't have a dedicated market category or a constant user base to support it.
The truth is that Web 1.0 spawned a series of online reality stars who enjoyed more than their allotted "15" minutes of fame. JenniCam, We Live in Public, and even the infamous DotComGuy, all dabbled in early forms of video lifecasting, capturing and streaming Internet video for the world to catch a glimpse of their not-so-sensational lives.
Then there was Web 2.0
Without mentioning how porn truly paved the way for the future of online video (even though it did), video blogging and podcasting helped carry the torch forward for citizen journalists and video on the Net
iTunes, P2P networks, and most certainly, YouTube, Bittorrent, among other video sites, provided worldwide broadcast channels and an eager, captive audience for anyone with a video camera and an ordinary PC or Mac to become overnight stars - making public access TV programming seem like a crystal ball for the future of user generated content.
The difference now however, is that users are feverishly participating in social media, creating an explosive frenzy which continues to inspire new producers (and new uses) for those video cameras laying around the house.
And not to mention, the new web has created an entirely new set of viewers and and the ability to watch content on the go via the latest fashionable mobile accessories such as cellphones, iPods, Macbooks, subnotebooks, Zunes, multimedia players (MMPs), etc., all which have evolved into the next-generation of portable TVs if you will.
Lifecasting reaches an all new level
Enter 23-year-old Justin Kan and his new project Justin.tv While lifecasting 1.0 was based on fixed video feeds, usually well-placed webcams, Justin.tv is reality television literally. He wears a camera and through the wonders of modern technology, streams live video and audio feeds 24/7.
It doesn't matter that Justin.tv has a limited lifespan and that it will, as many before, fall victim to our alarmingly shrinking attention span. With every new video, podcast, vlog, and now reality lifecasting, viewers are lining up and shouting for more. They're looking for the next big thing. And if they can't find it. They'll create it.
It's all about You.tv and the new, sophisticated, easy-to-use broadcast infrastructure that supports content creation and the ability to view it anywhere, anytime.
Justin.tv is much more than just a novelty, it's the beginning of mobile lifecasting.
... There are already live shows that are demonstrating the breadth and potential for lifecasting - which for the most part will all be categorized as livecasting because the only difference is the content, not the tools used to broadcast it.
Take a look at the new set of livestreaming platforms that facilitate You.tv. Read more
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