Tuesday, March 14, 2006

The Physics of Friendship

Well, well, maybe love isn't serendiptious, but is predicatable. Don't have time to discuss this now, but I will return to this topic this weekend when I'll be working from poolside in Florida on Spring Break. The diagrams themselves are very interesting to contemplate.


The Physics of Friendship from PhysOrg.com

By comparing people to mobile particles randomly bouncing off each other, scientists have developed a new model for social networks. The model fits with empirical data to naturally reproduce the community structure, clustering and evolution of general acquaintances and even sexual contacts.
[...]

ScanR Turns Cell Phone Pics Into Usable Documents

ScanR Turns Cell Phone Pics Into Usable Documents

Friday, March 10, 2006

Phonecams egg fighting teens on.

The Mercury - News - 03/09/2006 - Police: Fight fueled by students: "Police said the fight might have been fueled by some other students as several teens, including those from neighboring municipalities, showed up with video cameras or cell phone cameras to document the incident, police said."

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Internet harassment roils S. Korea

Slander suits brought against Internet gossips. "Dog poo" girl case follow-up. How CyWorld monitors malicious speech.Internet harassment roils S. Korea

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Netomat = photos, RSS, chat mobile phones, PCs | News.blog | CNET News.com

Take a minute to read this one carefully and then check out netomat. This is a potential money-maker for good photographers.Netomat = photos, RSS, chat mobile phones, PCs | News.blog | CNET News.com

Technorati tags:

Friday, February 24, 2006

Innovative use of phonecams to curb graffiti in the UK

"Yob" is "boy" spelled backwards, by it means trouble boy. But instead of the "happyslapping" story where the punks take pictures of themselves roughing someone up, the leaders of this British town have turned the tables. When citizens see a problem like graffiti, they send in a picture with their phonecam, and the town takes care of it.

The French are interested enough to send over a camera crew. What a good idea this is, to harness the lowly phonecam into civic work.HEN News : Harlow Star : Yob rule crusade brings French TV crew to town: "They were investigating new innovations in tackling yob culture on this side of the Channel. Harlow's particular attraction was its pioneering camera phone reporting system.

The scheme, launched last year, allows residents to take digital photos of graffiti, flytipping or other anti-social acts and send them via a phone line, along with details, to Harlow Council."

Monday, February 13, 2006

EETimes.com - Startup sees bright future for in-phone projector

This is how our phones will become ubiquitous devices. I have seen keyboards that are projected on a surface so the keys are like a regular keyboard as input devices. Going for virtual keyboards and projection screens is a killer app idea in my opinion. EETimes.com - Startup sees bright future for in-phone projector

Thursday, February 09, 2006

INSIDE JoongAng Daily

In Korea, you can call your cyberworld now. INSIDE JoongAng Daily

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Smoking out photo hoaxes with software | CNET News.com

Not phonecam per se, but don't you just love a good fake photo? The giant grasshopper, the disappearing dictator, celebrity heads a poppin' on other bodies...Smoking out photo hoaxes with software | CNET News.com

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Consumers Will Snap 228 Billion Images on Camera Phones by 2010, Says InfoTrends/CAP Ventures | Tekrati Research News

Consumers Will Snap 228 Billion Images on Camera Phones by 2010, Says InfoTrends/CAP Ventures | Tekrati Research News: " * The total number of images captured on camera phones will reach 228 billion by 2010, exceeding the number of photos taken on digital still cameras and film cameras combined.
* Camera phones will put immense competitive pressures on one-time use cameras and low-end cameras.
* The rapid growth of camera phones will create growing opportunities for printing and sharing of images. The value of camera phone photo printing will reach approximately $7.0 billion by 2010, approximately 60% of which will take place in the home.
* Image messaging revenue will reach $6.8 billion by 2010, and will increasingly become a part of other value-added multimedia services.

"

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Unstrung - Technologies to Watch in 2006 - Wireless Networking News Analysis

I love the end of year collection of lists and predictions. If you like them, here is one withUnstrung - Technologies to Watch in 2006 - Wireless Networking News Analysis: "five less-hyped technologies that will change
the way companies do business over the next 12 months."

But don't forget the perennial favorite, Google Zeitgeist.

Moving to the big, er, small screen near you...

Cell phone film festwebsite. What next?


The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Contest: Think big with small tool: "The rules of the contest are simple:

There must be a story, a narrative and sound, and the film must be shot on a cellphone. The movies can be edited digitally on a computer or a cellphone that has editing functions.

The technical quality of the movies will depend on the cellphones, some of which can film with greater resolution than others. To ensure fairness, all submissions will be judged in basic VGA (video graphic array) quality, Lynch said."

Monday, December 19, 2005

Improve your cell phone photos

Here is some practical advice from The Detroit News: "Pictures taken by cell phone cameras are small by definition, and can be difficult to see. But there are ways to make better cell phone pictures possible. Kodak recommends placing subjects against a plain background, so the eye is less distracted. Try to shoot people at eye level -- that means crouching down to take a picture of a child or a pet. Play with different angles; you may get a better shot of friends if it's taken from above."

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Topless dancing trouble for tavern owner

Topless dancing trouble for tavern owner : "Massey said the undercover officer saw some men patrons videotaping the dancing with cell phone cameras.The Bob-In was used three years ago for a setting in 'Empire Falls,' an HBO movie based on Richard Russo's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. HBO did extensive renovations to the bar, in which Paul Newman, Ed Harris and Helen Hunt acted."

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Do you blog? Chicago Bloggers are meeting up

If you can herd cats, you can organize bloggers, right?

Actually, this is a first attempt to gather Chicago area bloggers to meet and talk about our interests as bloggers. There are at least 125 folks waiting for someone to organize a weblogger group in Chicago, so I reserved a room at Columbia, and here is a call for any interested parties to show up and see where we go from there.

On either coast and even in the hinterlands, blogger organizations exist and provide social and professional kinds of help to bloggers. Chicago is writer's town, but so far, has had no "blogger central." I am looking for other people to help me organize a loosely coupled collective and web portal to connect Chicago Bloggers to other media, to training and workshops, and to other people.

If you are a blogger, please consider coming out for this meeting. If you are not a blogger yourself, can you print/post this poster and get it out where bloggers might see it?

There is no fee to attend the meetings, but as I am going to provide some refreshments, I will accept $2.00 donations from those who care to help out.

MSM types, students, literati, digerati, podcasters, novices, vloggers -- anyone who is interested in blogging and is located around Chicago is invited.

Here are the details and a link to RSVP if you decide to check it out:

Chicago Bloggers Group
Open to any interested bloggers (or potential bloggers)
Initial meeting
12/21/05
7-8 p.m
33 E. Congress 2nd floor Room 219
(Journalism Dept. Columbia College Chicago)

Details and RSVP at:
http://blog.meetup.com/351/boards/view/viewthread?thread=1584572

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Circus protest brings out phonecams.

STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County: "near-naked 18-year-old woman sat on a crowded downtown street corner, chains wrapped around her ankles, to protest what activists allege is the mistreatment of circus elephants. People stopped to stare and snap photos with cell phone cameras. It was 35 degrees in the sun, but a goose-bumped Amy Jannette said she'd sit there, 'For as long as I can.'"

Happy slapper denies killing

icSouthlondon - Happy slapper denies killing

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

ABC News: Girl, Slaying Suspect Had 'Secret, Intimate Relationship'

And they used their phonecams to send intimate images of each other back and forth.ABC News: Girl, Slaying Suspect Had 'Secret, Intimate Relationship'

A movie projector in a cell phone?

Well, I was just getting into Flickr.com and sending my photos online as soon as they are snapped. Movies? projection? from a cellphone--well why not? Projection would be a good response to the aging--phonecam dilemma. As we age and our eyesight fades, the LCDs get smaller. If I could project the images at various sizes, I would shell out some bucks for that....A movie projector in a cell phone? | CNET News.com

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Money from those phonecam pix?

I can't vouch for it, but it is intriguing (and possibly offensive, as is encouraging phonecamparazzis...) and its online now. Spy Media is paying for photos, including ones from phonecams.

Can you say "revenue model?" The small print reveals that it costs a "token" to list a photo for sale, or it will after the introductory period.

Vanity photo press or efficient market for photos? We will keep an eye out and keep you posted. Spy Media

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Print your phonecam photos from Flickr at Target

Flickr clicks with Target for photo printing | CNET News.com

scanR blog

Phonecamers: check out this site. It has links to apps for your wireless phonecam so it can send faxes, capture whiteboards, capture info from wine labels--very cool. scanR blog

Friday, October 21, 2005

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Band Films Music Video On Mobile Phone

KIROTV.com - Technology - Band Films Music Video On Mobile Phone

Making movies for the real tiny screen

Stop motion "ponca ani" or phonecam animation is taking off in Korea. They can look like Matrix, and have hundreds of frames. Well, I guess you could do this while commuting? Read on.INSIDE JoongAng Daily

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Wireless in the Subway in Chicago


Chicago Tribune | What's in store
: "CELL SERVICE IN SUBWAYS
Status: In March 2003, the CTA approved a $11.2 million construction contract to wire the Red and Blue Line subways for cell phone service. A number of riders have said the inability to use cell phones underground is a safety issue because it prevents them from calling 911. But the CTA says the main focus was to improve communication for emergency professionals such as police officers and firefighters. According to CTA spokeswoman Ibis Antongiorgi, cell phone service would be a side benefit for customers.

Coming down the track: The CTA says it put out a competitive bid to telecommunications providers in June 2004. Because the bid is active, no further details are available to the public, Antongiorgi said. Once a bid is accepted, however, the CTA estimates it will take 30 days to get the service up and running.
"

New Study Reveals Consumer Desire to Print Camera Phone Pictures; Survey Details Consumer Attitudes and Camera-Phone Printing Behaviors

New Study Reveals Consumer Desire to Print Camera Phone Pictures; Survey Details Consumer Attitudes and Camera-Phone Printing Behaviors

Friday, September 09, 2005

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Flickr Helps Identify Flasher

I think this one deserves thought after your initial reaction which if you are like me was a guffaw. I almost reflexively tried to look at the image, but flickr has removed it. Yet when I have been flashed in real life, I don't want to look. Go figure. Flickr Helps Identify Flasher

Concert etiquette 101: A guide for show-goers - The Daily Aztec - Opinion

Concert etiquette 101: A guide for show-goers - The Daily Aztec - Opinion

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Katrina Coverage is a Test of Preparedness

Peripheral to main thread, but it's an interesting look at photography in times of disaster and the idea of the iconic image. For this storm, it was taken by a pro, not by a phonecammer. Katrina Coverage is a Test of Preparedness

Monday, August 22, 2005

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Technology -- Remote parenting

Take Zigbee (the network that will connect your home appliances) and add in parental worries over latchkey kids. Voila--kid tracking. I am not sure I would want to communicate with my young ones via alerts and email. I always relied on a good watchdog and nosy but kindly neighbors...SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Technology -- Remote parenting

Technology News: Mobile Devices : Cell Phone Users Annoying Many in Their Midst

Etiquette meets cellphones. Technology News: Mobile Devices : Cell Phone Users Annoying Many in Their Midst

Friday, August 19, 2005

Minors get mobile mania--even in China....

Minors get mobile mania: "They are taking advantage of this sophisticated equipment to cheat on tests or download restricted information from computers,' said Huang Rong, dean of the No 101 Middle School in Beijing. 'Among a group of 45 students, 35 children have mobile phones. The phones of the remaining 10 students were taken away by their parents.'"

Wired News: How Mobile Phones Conquered Japan

Wired News: How Mobile Phones Conquered Japan: "As one college student is quoted as explaining to his professor, 'A lifestyle with keitai is so natural that one without (it), or one from which (it) is taken away, sounds unreal.'


And by understanding how a once-alien technology became such a natural extension of everyday life in Japan, we may yet understand what is in store for the rest of the world."

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Segregated Saudis Flirt Via Bluetooth

I love these kinds of flips where modern technology reverses some long-standing effect in the modern world. My daughter was in Saudi recently and got kicked out of the Four Seasons Hotel dining room for being a female.

I guess the phonecam and bluetooth can be a might warrior against outmoded ways of behaving. Segregated Saudis Flirt Via Bluetooth

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Romancing the lens - Livewire - Technology - smh.com.au

What goes around, comes around. What is high tech becomes declasse and then flips into high art. Romancing the lens - Livewire - Technology - smh.com.au: "The irony is that as the technology improves, the challenge of
making art with primitive equipment is gone. There will come a day
when photographers in search of a novel medium will be scouring the
op-shops looking for obsolete 1 megapixel phone cameras and
publishing their romantic results on the web."

Study: Camera phone market will top digital cameras | Tech News on ZDNet

Study: Camera phone market will top digital cameras | Tech News on ZDNet

Main Page - Camerapedia.org

Main Page - Camerapedia.org

Voice Genesis: Products: Vemail ~ VoiceEmail: End User

This looks cool. It accesses your email from any account on your phone. Then you can answer the emails with a voice message. The person you send the reply to, gets connected to the Voice Genesis servers and gets the reply from them.

About $5/month and the site lists carriers who have this service now. Voice Genesis: Products: Vemail ~ VoiceEmail: End User

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Warning for citizen photographers.

The dangers of being a photojournalist are certainly real.

I think their point about CNN and other conglomerates which offer to take the citizen material and gladly publish it "for free" is an artifact of the mindset of media types who look down on people who aren't "in the business." I have written on the Poynter blogs and discussed this elsewhere. If it reads like journalism, it ought to be credited and paid for like journalism. Oh, my kingdom for a decent model of micropayments...Press Gazette - Journalism matters. Every week.

Monday, August 01, 2005

Cell Phone Cameras Can Scan Merchandise

abc7news.com: Cell Phone Cameras Can Scan Merchandise If its listed on amazon, you can price it online as you look in-store.

Bradenton Herald | 07/31/2005 | THE YOUTH CELL PHONE CRAZE

Pew just came out with a research report on teens and media, and no big surprise if you know any teens, they use SMS (text messaging) instead of email. This article contains the useful glossary of SMS abbreviations, but you know KRW--kids are watching-- (my new take on PRW which stands for "parents are watching") so I can't write more now...Bradenton Herald | 07/31/2005 | THE YOUTH CELL PHONE CRAZE

Link to Pew's Teens and Technology: Youth are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation

NE Asia Online 2005 Aug : Mobile Phone Memory CardsMade Semi-Removable

New tech for cell phones. NE Asia Online 2005 Aug : Mobile Phone Memory CardsMade Semi-Removable