Usable childbirth
By kmaage. Tuesday, 13. November 2007, 15:02:45
Recently my wife and I had a baby. 
We were able to do a little "photo blogging" to facebook right from our recovery room (thank god for Opera Mini).
Not to be outdone, other friends of ours seem capable of live status updates using facebook, "Brian is at the hospital. Mandie's being induced, and we should see Ruby sometime today." 3m ago
It got me thinking of how crucial it is to be connected with friends and family during and immediately after big events. Gone are the days when your mom would call and ask how the baby was doing. Now she sends a Skype chat, asking for you to post more Facebook photos.
As much as we would like to constantly post updates, we may not realize that we're kind of busy actually experiencing the event, and won't be able to do the work of involving others and reporting. One thing I kept thinking was, "this would be great to post this," and then immediately afterward, "Sheesh, I'm going to have to remember to go back later and download these pictures to my computer...then upload them...then send a message to mom...then..." I remember the sinking feeling of all the work I would have to do later, and wishing it could just be done for me somehow.
This problem will not go away no matter how usable the tools become for reporting life-event status. It's in the very nature of the problem, (or "problem" some old-timers might suggest). We can't do two things at once.
My prediction: As people appreciate how technology is making it easier and easier to have their family and friends involved "live" in important events, and as they envy their friends who somehow are able to post blow-by-blow accounts of the events as they happen... A new class of service industry will arise, the "personal assistant." Similar to a photographer, the person will be available throughout the event, taking pictures, recording audio, capturing video moments, and then posting them live to their clients website/msn/facebook/myspace/skype/email/etc.
Maybe I should change my line of work...
We were able to do a little "photo blogging" to facebook right from our recovery room (thank god for Opera Mini).Not to be outdone, other friends of ours seem capable of live status updates using facebook, "Brian is at the hospital. Mandie's being induced, and we should see Ruby sometime today." 3m ago
It got me thinking of how crucial it is to be connected with friends and family during and immediately after big events. Gone are the days when your mom would call and ask how the baby was doing. Now she sends a Skype chat, asking for you to post more Facebook photos.
As much as we would like to constantly post updates, we may not realize that we're kind of busy actually experiencing the event, and won't be able to do the work of involving others and reporting. One thing I kept thinking was, "this would be great to post this," and then immediately afterward, "Sheesh, I'm going to have to remember to go back later and download these pictures to my computer...then upload them...then send a message to mom...then..." I remember the sinking feeling of all the work I would have to do later, and wishing it could just be done for me somehow.
This problem will not go away no matter how usable the tools become for reporting life-event status. It's in the very nature of the problem, (or "problem" some old-timers might suggest). We can't do two things at once.
My prediction: As people appreciate how technology is making it easier and easier to have their family and friends involved "live" in important events, and as they envy their friends who somehow are able to post blow-by-blow accounts of the events as they happen... A new class of service industry will arise, the "personal assistant." Similar to a photographer, the person will be available throughout the event, taking pictures, recording audio, capturing video moments, and then posting them live to their clients website/msn/facebook/myspace/skype/email/etc.
Maybe I should change my line of work...
By dantesoft, # 13. November 2007, 16:05:42
Now that's an idea. You would just have to make it simpler than doing the work yourself, which means a little more front-end work but really. Why not?
We have those annoying photographers at weddings, anyway, why not make it live? Rent-A-Reporter: You make news, we'll report it. (At least to anyone who's interested).
I don't think it's a bad idea and I'm loving the tag lines, "You birth 'em; we'll snapshot, video, upload and share," or "Shoot your baby; then share the shots."
Anyway, it would require a definite technological adeptness and skilled labor but could be fun.
Yum
By WillYum, # 13. November 2007, 18:11:29
By Lawmune, # 13. November 2007, 19:42:18
In related news, I'm going to be having a baby this summer.
By Eddie_Lopez, # 13. November 2007, 20:49:10
Congrats!
And regarding the tiresome shoot-upload-share cycle, I recommend you keep an eye on... Eye-Fi
http://www.eye.fi/
Just snap the photo and have an Internet-enabled laptop nearby, and *whoosh* it's on Flickr!
By anonymous user, # 14. November 2007, 01:29:17
By IceArdor, # 14. November 2007, 03:14:24
A webcam would be a definite plus, but only a webcam would be somewhat disrespectful to your friends' time, don't you think? Only a small number of people would be capable of tuning in live. "Near live" through tools like facebook offer the best of both worlds. Video clips (edited and tweaked for best quality by your digital assistant, of course) in coordination with a live webcam would be ideal.
By kmaage, # 15. November 2007, 10:15:47