Digiculture

With a few exceptions, it’s been almost 10 years since I wrote “code” in any strict professional sense. Since then I’ve played with HTML and CSS, done a lot of SQL, and only skimmed the surface of Perl, Python and PHP.

I’m not a developer – and I don’t plan on becoming one. I’m running on a different track. So why am I going to MashupCamp?

1. First of all, you don’t have to be a programmer to mash things up. The simplest kind of mashup we usually call “aggregation”. My Tumblog is a mashup of a number of RSS feeds I create.
2. Secondly, that’s partly the point of mashups. Engineers who design online services address all kinds of big issues in their backend design. But those of us who use a limited set of functions exposed in an API don’t usually have to worry about that stuff – at least not at the the concept development stage.
3. Thirdly, anyone who uses the web already has an intuitive feel for how this stuff works. Even the most non-technical people use the terms “client” and “server”. We call. “It” answers. We send a request, we get a response.
4. In the past we’ve used web services in a “stand alone” kind of way. And while most end users tend to do the same with their desktop apps, any Unix command-line afficionado will tell you that there is a better way. If you can pipe commands together to build something better than the sum of its parts, why not do the same for web services?
5. OK so what’s the point? The point is about re-usability, modularity, not re-inventing the wheel. The advantage is that it encourages innovation and, when done right, benefits the masher, the mashee and most of all the end user.
6. Am I making any sense? Maybe not, but I might if I attended Mashup University. Mashup Camp V will begin with a day and half of training. In fact, you can start now if you want!
7. Another reason for me to attend is Intruders.TV. Our mission is to report on technology and innovation. This is a great opportunity to do so.
8. The final reason? JustRoutes.com. I’ve recently joined the Create programme for Digital Media Entrepreneurs at IADT in Dun Laoghaire. I hate driving, but my lack of knowledge of Dublin bus routes is a problem. Sticking to Luas and DART got me within two miles of the college last Thursday, but on my next visit I’ll take a bus to the door. That’s the power of a mashup. Could Dublin Bus have financed a project to develop this? Yes, for all I know they may be working on it. But two young users of Dublin’s public transport had the idea to do this for themselves – and it only took them 6 weeks. (Intruders.TV will feature JustRoutes.com on Thursday of this week.)

See you at MashupCamp!

Next week I’m giving a guest lecture to the media law class for the MA in Journalism at NUIG. I’m not a lawyer (and I don’t play one on TV either!), but Andrea Martin who teaches the course is. She’s a practising solicitor and an expert in media law, and she’s asked me to come and talk about my experience as a producer and publisher of digital media.

I’ll talk about Creative Commons, of course, and my DMCA experience! I’ll explain why traditional, locked-down copyright is a barrier to virality and to propagation via social networks. I’ll offer my tuppence worth on why I think producers and artists should view their audience as allies and as a marketing resource rather than as intellectual property thieves.

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome – especially from those of you with expertise or an interest in legal affairs and digital rights in particular.

Bernie quotes the Sunday Times on Google’s new PR offensive. I saw the first signs of it last week on my new favourite podcast. GigaOM interviewed Google’s VP of Search Products & User Experience, Marissa Mayer (check it out below). The fact that I found this interview so compelling says a lot about how integral Google have become to the online experience. But more than that – it highlights how media-shy the company have been until now. This interview stood out because I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a Google executive speak.

With a less significant company that would not matter, but Google is different. Now they are asking us to trust them, they need to let us get to know them.

The convenience they offer in return for the data they hold is certainly worthwhile. I’m saving a fortune in IT costs by using Google applications. But my data is outside my walls – on their servers. How do I feel about that? Conflicted. But there’s no question but that I’d feel a lot better if they communicated more.

In fact, whatever about Google’s “no evil” claims, I have to say I trust Microsoft more at present. Why? Because it’s not just Microsoft executives who communicate, it’s employees at all levels within the company. Microsoft’s blogging policy has changed the perception of that company. Sure, they’re not perfect. Who is? But at least we can talk to them.

I love it that Dominic Taylor of the White House Poetry society in Limerick has me on his mailing list, because it keeps me in touch with what they’re up to.

In fact, if, like me, you can’t make it to Limerick on Wednesday nights, they provide an excellent virtual experience. Check out the blog full of photographs while listening to the podcast of each gathering.

Anyway, a mail from Dominic today carries news of an extra event tomorrow night:

Credit where it is due.

Intruders.TV Ireland is going really well, due in no small part to the wealth of tech events in Ireland at present and the quality of the companies taking part in them.

But there’s no way I could do them justice without the skill and effort of Michael Kiely, videographer extraordinaire!

So, to the man behind the camera: take a bow! And thank you!

Neville Hobson on Intruders.TV

I’m very happy with the finished results on our latest podcast. “Books in the Park” was an innovative event organised by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Library Service last June – and part of that innovation was a podcast!

We’ve produced two 20-minute episodes which attempt to distill the spirit of that day. The organisers had set up separate “corners” for authors of children’s and adult’s fiction, and so we have one podcast from each.

These podcasts would not have been possible with the help of Brian Greene of Talking Voices. As soon as I was aware that this was an event with simultaneous activity on two stages, I gave Brian a call. His interview skills contribute hugely to the adult’s podcast, but that’s not all. When I was stricken with laryngitis last week, Brian kindly stepped in to do voiceovers for the final cut of that same episode! Thanks Brian!

Morning all – Hello to everyone I met at PodCamp Ireland and Barcamp Galway over the last two weekends. I’ve lots to say about PodCamp, but I want to finish a post on BarCamp first … and get some more sleep!

One thing I need to do is look through the Ustream archives from both events. The Galway ones suffered from poor quality sounds, and while I think we got that right in Kilkenny, we had problems with bandwidth there at times.

I want to flag any of the archived recordings that have poor sound – and probably delete those that are useless. You can help with that if you like! Just leave a comment regarding any videos you see on the ustream site, or here, or mail me or jaiku me!

Thanks to Michael Kiely, there are certainly no technical issues with the Intruders.TV episodes we recorded at PodCamp: the first of those will be released later today.

Go raibh maith agaibh!

 

 Digiculture #4 [24:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The long neglected Digiculture podcast raises its head and sniffs the air, sensing the impending gathering of podcast energy in Kilkenny. Can we have arrived already at September’s embers, and time for PodCamp Ireland?

Right then, let’s get on with it. PodCamp Ireland, The New Media Community Unconference, is tomorrow. It’s free to attend, thanks to generous sponsorship from Zenark, Microsoft, Blacknight and QBC. But do please let the sandwiches and Burco committee know you are coming: you can register online at podcampireland.com.

There will be plenty to learn tomorrow about the clear benefits of podcasting for business, marketing and branding as well as education and many other practical applications. But one person I’m looking forward to meeting tomorrow uses podcasting in a much more personal and no less practical way.

I’m hoping Grannymar‘s cold has cleared and that she’ll be able to travel to Kilkenny. If not, maybe she’ll be able to participate virtually, as she does so effectively on her blog and podcast. I had the pleasure of meeting her, and her daughter Elly, at the Irish Blog Awards last March. In this podcast I include some of the conversation we had on that occasion. We’re joined by Roger Galligan from IrishBlogs.ie, for a discussion about the power and proliferation of social media, and a late evening musing about “where is it all going?”

The conversation continues tomorrow, at PodCamp Ireland.

(Shout outs also to Brian & Sinéad, Krishna, Neville, Shel, Bernie, Ken McGuire, Keola, Dean and Martin.)

Music by Kilkenny band Saving J: Bus Stop.

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Just dropping in to confirm that I will be attending BarCamp Galway tomorrow. I’ll be reporting for Intruders.TV of course, and also taking part in a panel on how to grow a community presence online.

I spoke to Aidan Finn who’s helping to organise it, and we’re hoping to be able to broadcast some parts of the event live on Ustream.TV/edgecast. John Breslin has details of the programme for the day.