The “CSI effect”

Television dramas that rely on forensic science to solve crimes are affecting the administration of justice. The Economist reports.

A new phrase has entered the criminological lexicon: the “CSI effect” after shows such as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”. In 2008 Monica Robbers, an American criminologist, defined it as “the phenomenon in which jurors hold unrealistic expectations of forensic evidence and investigation techniques, and have an increased interest in the discipline of forensic science.”

Now another American researcher has demonstrated that the “CSI effect” is indeed real. Evan Durnal of the University of Central Missouri’s Criminal Justice Department has collected evidence from a number of studies to show that exposure to television drama series that focus on forensic science has altered the American legal system in complex and far-reaching ways. His conclusions have just been published in Forensic Science International.

The most obvious symptom of the CSI effect is that jurors think they have a thorough understanding of science they have seen presented on television, when they do not.

... According to Mr Durnal, prosecutors in the United States are now spending much more time explaining to juries why certain kinds of evidence are not relevant. Prosecutors have even introduced a new kind of witness—a “negative evidence” witness—to explain that investigators often fail to find evidence at a crime scene.

Read full article.

Related and Contradictory:

-- The "CSI" effect (Neotorama 2008)

-- A Study of Juror Expectations and Demands Concerning Scientific Evidence: Does the “CSI Effect” Exist? (pdf)

-- Study Debunks the "CSI effect" (CSI Files/Detroit News)

iPad Poised To Revolutionize Retail Industry

In the first weeks of the iPad launch, retailers have been largely left out of the conversation. But industry executives believe the device could have a major impact on everything from retailers' catalogs to e-commerce to enhancing the in-store experience. Business Insider reports.

... The first, most logical applications include e-commerce and interactive catalogs. But in time, the iPad could be used as a virtual sales assistant, allowing sales staff in the dress department to pull up coordinating accessories from the jewelry or shoe department.

Car dealers could customize a vehicle, showing customers colors and finishes, all while standing in the parking lot. Transactions could be completed without visiting a register and special orders could be placed on the spot.

Read full article.

Israel lifts ban on imports of Apple iPad

Israel will begin allowing people to bring Apple iPads into the country starting on Sunday, two weeks after customs began confiscating the tablet computers for fear they would interfere with other wireless devices.

[via Reuters]

Related: - Israel bans imports of Apple iPad

YouTube's first video

Although YouTube’s birthday is officially February 14, 2005, the first video was actually uploaded to the site exactly five years ago, on April 23, 2005, according to Mashable.

The video (above) is titled “Me at the zoo.” It was shot by Yakov Lapitsky and it’s only 19 seconds long, showing one of YouTube’s founders, Jawed Karim, at the San Diego Zoo.

[via Mashable]

Evil witch laser-sketched on the back of an iPad

Spotted on boingboing the evil witch from Snow White laser-sketched on the back of an iPad.

YouTube Video Rental Store Now Open (to Americans)

According to ReadWriteWeb, after experimenting with $5 rentals of Sundance Film Festival movies this January, YouTube has quietly begun offering a variety of movies and TV episodes available for rental at ReadWriteWeb">youtube.com/store. 48 hour rentals cost between 99 cents and $3.99.

"This rental (as well as all others) is currently unavailable in your country." Is the message I get in Switzerland.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Google, YouTube Received 10,000 Government Requests for User Data

Google and Google-owned YouTube received more than 10,000 requests for user data from government agencies in the six months ending Dec. 31, 2009, according to newly released data, reports PC World.

Like other technology and communications companies, we regularly receive requests from government agencies around the world to remove content from our services, or provide information about users of our services and products," Google says on a new site that sheds more light onto government demands for user information and requests to take offensive material off the Web.

Read full article.

The Pirate Bay, A Year After The Verdict

Exactly one year ago The Pirate Bay Four were sentenced to a year in prison, and on top of that each ordered to pay $905,000 in damages. The entertainment industries hoped that the ruling would set an example, but today The Pirate Bay is larger than ever before.

[via TorrentFreak]

Related: Pirate Bay articles

Israel bans imports of Apple iPad

USA Today reports that Israel has banned imports of Apple Inc.'s hottest new product, the iPad, citing concerns the powerful gadget's wireless signals could disrupt other devices.

Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10 of the lightweight tablet computers since Israel announced the new regulations this week.

The ban prevents anyone — even tourists — from bringing iPads into Israel until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards.

Read full article.

Is 3D TV hazardous to your health?

According to The NY Post, Doctors and researchers are starting to warn viewers about the potential dangers of spending too much time in front of a 3D boob tube.

Guidelines for Samsung's new line of 3D TVs warn against prolonged exposure to 3D TVs for kids (kids under 6 shouldn't watch at all), teens, pregnant women, the elderly, sleep-deprived people and anyone buzzed on alcohol.

They also point out that watching 3D programming might cause motion sickness, lingering depth perception problems, disorientation and "decreased postural stability."

The guidelines suggest taking frequent 30 minute breaks from TV watching.

Read full article.

[via TV Tattle]

Make your own Search Story Video in minutes

YouTube's cool new feature is finally being written up on Google Blog Spot.

The "Search Story Video Creator" allows you to make your own "Parisian Love" video, Google's hit commercial shown during the Super Bowl. All you need to do is type in your Google searches, pick some music and — presto! — you've got your very own Search Story to share with your friends or showcase on our YouTube channel.

Here's mine!

Why am I bringing this up again? I blogged about it a few days ago. Because I'm trying to get more views on YouTube. Thanks for clicking!

Younger Viewers Watching More TV On The Web

Nearly a quarter of all young adults are viewing more television content online, according to a new study by electronics shopping and review/research company Retrevo. Multichannel News reports.

According to a Retrevo "Pulse Report" of over 1,000 people regarding their TV viewing habits, 23% of people under the age of 25 watch most of their television content online compared with just 8% of people over the age of 25 watching most of their TV shows via the web.

The report also found that men are more likely to view TV on the web than women: 17% of men watch all of their TV content online, while just 9% of women sit in front of their PC's to watch TV shows.

Read full article. Via TV Week.

Labour launches YouTube manifesto

As the 6 May race for Downing Street began in earnest with the dissolution of parliament and the first full week of campaigning, Labour launches the document it hopes will take the party into a historic fourth term in office. The BBC reports.

... Instead of the usual door-stop heavy manifesto which people aren't all that inclined to read, the party has opted to place the document on a memory stick which can be uploaded to any computer, (although it should be pointed out a few hard copies were produced).

It has also produced an animated film to illustrate the pledges which will be available on video-sharing site YouTube , produced by advertising firm Ridley Scott Associates, set up by the the famous film director.

Read full article.

Should the US govt force all cell phones to carry TV tuners?

A former NBC News Vice President says it's time for the government to mandate a TV tuner in every mobile phone, a move that would cost device makers and consumers millions of dollars. Why? It would give mobile phone owners assured access to local broadcasts during emergencies.

Read full article in arstechnica.

YouTube's Search Stories Video Creator

Spotted on TechCrunch, the coolest new feature now on YouTube, Search Stories Video Creator. Lets you make your own "Parisian Love" style video, Google's wonderful search commercial that played during the Super Bowl.

Here's mine:

The House Effect: Are Real Patients Misled by TV Docs?

TIME magazine on whether real patients are mislded by TV series like House, and Grey's Anatomy.

... To most viewers, especially those in medical training, it's clear that such TV dramas only vaguely resemble legitimate medical environments. Indeed, in the 2008 survey, medical and nursing students said they did not draw any significant professional lessons from the programs. But the study's authors questioned whether mere exposure to the shows — and the slippery ethics presented in them — may still subtly affect doctors' or patients' attitudes toward the practice of medicine.

Read full article.

The Digital Economy Bill: a nightmare of unintended consequences

UK's Digital Economy bill, passed on Wednesday. According to Mike Butcher writing for The Telegraph, “Unintended consquences” pretty much sums it up. And not just unintended, but potentially disastrous. He writes:

During the 1960s Chairman Mao told farmers to kill crop-eating sparrows, an edict which produced a plague of the insects which the sparrows normally ate. Likewise, the Digital Economy Bill, in trying to support artists' copyright and tackle illegal file-sharing, is about to produce a new culture - in which ISPs and bewildered householders are deluged with threatening legal letters from the entertainment industry.

[via boingboing.]

Mad Men: the musical

Seeing the cast and crew of Mad Men singing Bye Bye Birdie could be the best thing ever to happen on YouTube – or the worst. [The Guardian via TV Tattle]

US TV series skyrocket on German TV portals

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Germans are watching more TV series on illegal online portals, according to a new study by German copyright production association GVU.

According to the study, the number of TV series available on online streaming portals skyrocketed in 2009. GVU counted more than 300,000 pirated series titles on 90 streaming sites, compared to less than 30,000 a year ago.

... Legal action against the bulk of the sites is unlikely since the vast majority are hosted on servers located outside Germany, where the GVU and German authorities have no jurisdiction.

Read full article.

NewTeeVee's Guide to Watching Web Video on the iPad

NewTeeVee has put together a guide to watching Web video on the iPad - without having to install a single app. A separate guide for iPad video apps will be coming soon.

'Debate needed' on digital bill

Opponents of the controversial Digital Economy Bill have urged MPs to give it "the debate it deserves" when it is discussed in the Commons later. The BBC reports.

The bill includes plans to give Ofcom powers to cut off internet connections of persistent net pirates and measures which could see some websites blocked.

Campaigners have booked newspaper ads claiming the government aims to "fast track it into law before the election".

The government said the bill had been debated several times.

Read full article.

Related:

-- Lords Copyright Change Could Block YouTube

-- Piracy Bill to Coast Broadband users extra $40/year

-- Queen announces Internet Disconnection Bill

Apple Sold 300,000 iPads On Saturday

As analysts estimate the number of iPads sold on Saturday between 600,000 and 700,000, Gizmodo has the real numbers. 300,000 iPads were sold on launch day, leading to 1,000,000 app downloads, and 250,000 ebook downloads from the iBook Store.

Or, according to Steve Jobs:

iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad.

Baja California Earthquake: YouTube Videos

Baja California Earthquake: YouTube Videos. Courtesy of Mashable.

CBS, ABC Plan Free iPad Shows - with commercials

CBS and ABC have inked deals with Apple to stream TV shows free of charge to users of the iPad, complete with commercial breaks - similar to the way they are streamed on the networks’ own websites.

CBS will stream shows through the iPad’s Web browser, while ABC will stream shows via an iPad application, reports MediaBuyerPlanner via The Wall Street Journal.

Marlee Matlin launches 'My Deaf Family' on YouTube

Marlee Matlin, the hearing-impaired actress who won an Academy Award as lead actress for her role in "Children of a Lesser God," has produced a short reality film called My Deaf Family viewable on YouTube.

Its meant to bring some insight into the pride and struggles of deaf people and how they cope. [The LA Times via EW]

Deaf and hard of hearing people make up one of the largest minority groups," she said in an interview through her interpreter, Jack Jason, "and yet there has never been a show, a reality documentary series that features what life is like for them."