by Julia Schrenkler
Member since:
August 31, 2005

Would you sign up to be watched online?

January 28, 2008 12:20 PM EST
views: 119 | rating: 10/10 (3 votes) | comments: 15

Have we come a long way since JenniCam? Weekend America had a story that still has me wondering who would consider "lifecasting" 24-7.

From Signing Up to be Watched:

Jody Gnant has been streaming her life on the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the last six months.

Would you sign up to be watched online? What if your friend or family member had a lifecast? Don't we all sort of lifecast just by publishing our stories and pictures on the Internet?

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Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
American Public Media
Objects in Mirror
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Comments: 15

Richard B. Jan 28, 2008, 12:38pm EST
no
*LORA* M. Jan 28, 2008, 12:43pm EST
no
Christopher K. Jan 28, 2008, 12:44pm EST
if i got paid for it sure,i wouldnt mind.....
Christopher K. Jan 28, 2008, 12:45pm EST
we are watched online as it is by the govt and most people think they secluded online,lol
Susan Budig Jan 28, 2008, 1:04pm EST
Um, I'm TV-challenged, so I just say, "no." Does this lifecasting mean every single minute? I mean, each er, move?

Well, no, I wouldn't do that.
Richard Frisbie Jan 28, 2008, 1:26pm EST
so much of what we do is subject to public scrutiny - whether we know it or not - that a 24/7 broadcast of our lives is not such an unusual situation. I would be bothered more by the familiarallity everyone would feel towards me - without knowing me - than that I was living such a public life.
Kempion X Jan 28, 2008, 3:09pm EST
I know Jody Gnant. I'm a regular in her chatroom on her life-cast. I see how much pressure life-casting puts on Jody, but I also see the benefits of it. In perspective, I would say the benefits outweigh the pressures.

Stop by and check out Jody's Life-cast. http://www.jodygnant.tv/
Christopher D. Jan 28, 2008, 3:15pm EST
I was a Lifecaster back in the jenicam days. It can be a little invasive at times. Some people treat webcam people like animals in cages and ask them to do "tricks" I am a member on ustream now and a friend of jody gnant of jodygnant.tv . ustream.tv has brought to the internet what we originall hoped for back in the jennicam days. Dialup and technology was not capable of live streaming in the 90s. I bow to the ustream.tv people for bringing innovation and progress to the internet. Thank YOU. hipdad from ustream channel hipzone.
Jennifer B. Jan 28, 2008, 3:17pm EST
I'm the Murielle mentioned in the article. I have watched the evolution of the net, from the days when it was non-commercial and access was limited, to now. Back in 1994, I had a conversation with a late friend of mine, where I discussed what I saw was eventually going to happen. People would no longer buy computers with tons of space on it. The computer would become an appliance and get plugged into the "world brain", in which everything they needed - the word processors, spreadsheets - all of that stuff, would be available online. Streaming is just another evolution of that. From the early days of webcam streaming in offices to webcams at home to watch the house while people were on vacation, the "lifecast" is just the next evolutionary step in the connection of people and ideas.
Jennifer B. Jan 28, 2008, 3:18pm EST
Most certainly streaming was available and capable even on dialup in the 90s. I am one of those who did it.
Christopher D. Jan 28, 2008, 3:32pm EST
My area didn't provide the proper technology for streaming then. IF I could have afforded a real server at around 400 a month I could have.
Kempion X Jan 29, 2008, 1:18pm EST
Stop by and check out Jody's Life-cast. http://www.jodygnant.tv/
Julia Schrenkler Jan 29, 2008, 1:53pm EST
The focus on the technological evolution isn't what I expected... but then again, neither was this quote from Jennifer B.:

"the 'lifecast' is just the next evolutionary step in the connection of people and ideas."

Is it? Personally speaking I like people just fine, but don't necessarily want 24-7 access to their lives and ideas. Does anyone else here?
Susan Budig Jan 29, 2008, 2:07pm EST
Frankly, Julia, I'm often happy with Christmas card exchange. ;-) Limited contact does a lot for a relationship.

Here's an old fogey tune updated: If the Creator wanted us to have 24/7 access to one another, It would have hotwired our brains in a Grand Link.

I don't want to know your thoughts on most subjects. I don't want to share my thoughts on most subjects. What's the point of Lifecast?
Auntie Smedley Jan 30, 2008, 12:35am EST
No, thank you! I'd much prefer to live my own life in the "real world" than watch someone else live theirs in the virtual one.

And I certainly would not care to broadcast my life on the internet! Good Lord, don't we already have enough privacy intrusions of the "big brother" nature, with video cameras everywhere in public spaces and cell phone records made easily available to those who want them? Why in the world would anyone want to live on stage?

Those 15 minutes must be mighty seductive.

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